Custom Western Saddles

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How to Choose a Saddle

Buying a Custom Western Saddle

A custom made western saddle is truly an investment! It is a saddle that if well cared for will hold its value and can be passed down to future generations. It is also an investment in yourself and your hobby (or profession). The horse enthusiast knows there are few things better in life than being on the back of a good horse, on a comfortable saddle, in the company of friends. If you are considering purchasing a custom made saddle, we would assume that your interest in horses is serious. You will be spending "big bucks" for any custom made saddle, but remember that when you spread the cost of the saddle out over a period of years of enjoyable use, it costs you very little to get exactly what you want.

Since it is such an important investment, you need to know about the experience, craftsmanship and integrity of the saddle maker that you are considering making your saddle. You need to ask about the kind of tree (which is the framework for the saddle) and the quality of the leather, hardware and fleece. You also need to know the quality of the padding that goes into the seat. This can make all the difference in your pleasure on even a short horseback ride. More...

Buying a Side Saddle

(Written by a side-saddle enthusiast Julia Perry)

The best advice I can give you is to gather as much information about side-saddle as you can from everywhere you can, books, the internet, (the Yahoo Side-saddle Group is VERY informative, Various Sidesaddle Organisations, THE Sidesaddle Association, and other riders etc. I wish so much that I were able to say "here, speak to so and so, they will find you a saddle and Make Sure it fits both you and the Horse", but it's not that easy. Learn as much as you can and then trust your instincts. Why do I say that? Because I consider myself to know, well, not very much at all about side-saddles and horses, but over the years I have found I know far more than I thought I did, and a Lot more than some people who profess to have knowledge on the subject!

Some years ago I had a lesson with a SSA instructor, and I'm very sorry to say that I heard her tell another student that it "doesn't matter if the saddle is too long, all your weight is carried forwards". Wrong! If the saddle doesn't fit....the saddle doesn't fit! If it would be too long as an astride saddle, by that I mean sitting too far back on the horses kidneys, it's too long as a sidesaddle! It doesn't miraculously stop crashing about on a horses kidneys just because it has the name "side-saddle". More...