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Saddles what is the most functional type?

J

Judith

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Dec 29, 2005
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I'm jumping in with both feet and building a saddle. (prayers should be forwarded to Bob Land who figures he can teach me something :)
What I would like to know is should I go for a "Wade" style or a "Ranch" style?.
My butt is in the saddle 6-10 hours per day,often I head back to the barn and put an english all purpose saddle on as I can "feel" my colt better and frankly the cheap western saddle I ride in would make Jinglebob shudder :D . I am mostly riding trails etc when I am working babies just putting in time and wetblankets. I was thinking of a super wide horn as I seem to spend a fair bit of time slammed into the darn thing. Any other suggestions?
 
My appologies for being blunt, but if you don't know what style you want, you don't have any business building one for yourself. My recommendation is to try out each type for a week or two, then you'll know what suits you. A short ride or even just a day or so might not be long enough. Beg & borrow from your friends!
 
Hey, no apology necessary. Sounds like common sense. At least when building one yourself no one is disappointed if I make a complete disaster of the thing :) If it turns out looking even remotely saddle shaped I will be surprised. Bob assures me that it will in fact turn out all right. He literally stands over your head so you dont have the opportunity to screw up too bad. I will swipe some saddles from the girls. Problem is that around here most people are reiners or cutters, so they would ride in that type. I need a saddle for daily riding use .
 
Judith said:
Hey, no apology necessary. Sounds like common sense. At least when building one yourself no one is disappointed if I make a complete disaster of the thing :) If it turns out looking even remotely saddle shaped I will be surprised. Bob assures me that it will in fact turn out all right. He literally stands over your head so you dont have the opportunity to screw up too bad. I will swipe some saddles from the girls. Problem is that around here most people are reiners or cutters, so they would ride in that type. I need a saddle for daily riding use .
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JF gave good advice.

If built properly, there sholdn't be any difference in "feel" between a slickfork and a swell fork. All things being equal.

However, most think a slick fork is narrower feeling. Only if you use a longer seat than what you would use in a swell fork. If you want to be wedged up against the swell so as to not get bucked off or fall of, then a swell fork will feel wider, as you are right up against the swells which is over the top of the bars where they swell and turn out to fit the withers and shoulders of a horse.

I would say go with a slick fork and then you can put bucking rolls on to make you more secure, if you need them. If you are comfortable in English, you should really like a slick fork. But I would still borrow and try some others, tho' don't be overly concerned with how they feel. That is all in the ground seat and you will make that the way you want, when you build the saddle.

One thing, don't use any more leather than you have to as it will make the saddle heavier. Also don't use any heavier than you need. Same reason. Thickness doesn't necessarily equate to strength, tho' most think it does. Go look at the old saddles that cowboys rode for a lifetime. The leather wasn't that thick, it was just good and strong.

I just sent a barebones, spanish rigged saddle, to a friend. He called today to tell me how much he likes it, as it is so much lighter than the saddle we built for him.

Not much leather, just what you need and no more.

Thats why I like small, round skirts. Less weight for me and the horse to pack around. I don't ride in brush so don't need large skirts to protect my horse from thorns.

Oh and the bigger the horn, the more weight that will be spread over a big surface when one lands on you. But make sure to make a large enough cap so you can hang onto it when you want or need to. If horns was just for ropes, they would mount them on the back!

A large horn cap is nice to rest a hand on when you ride, if that is your style.

All of this is just my opinion and is freely given. Remember, you get what you pay for. :wink:
 
Thanks soooo much JB. Heck, I trust ya, heard you might know a thing or two about saddlemaking :) :P Rumor is your actually a damn fine craftsman :) Do I dare ask how your very first saddle end up :)You made more than one so I am guessing it turned out right pretty . I always wondered about the difference in the amount of leather used. Seems some saddles have a huge amount and others are cut up really high. Lighter is definately a better option. I will definately go with less skirt. I heard I am in for about 150 hours of work. I'm doing it as a fun project but I have a real respect for saddlemakers now! Wow!

Jinglebob, do you have any photos of your work? You must be very proud of it! It is a really neat craft, took me 40 hours to braid a rawhide reata and I thought that was tough........
 
You have gotten great advice so far. I am confident that JF and JB know what they are talking about.

JB could you post the site for the trees that you use. I lost the site when computer crashed. Maybe you could tell me do they make a tree other then a Wade? Are you building on trees other then a Wade?
 
Judith said:
Thanks soooo much JB. Heck, I trust ya, heard you might know a thing or two about saddlemaking :) :P Rumor is your actually a damn fine craftsman :) Do I dare ask how your very first saddle end up :)
THE FIRST ONE I EVER WORKED ON WAS ONE I TRADED FOR. THEN I RE-DID IT THE WAY I WANTED IT. USED A HAMMER, HOOF KNIFE AND A JACK KNIFE. IT WAS PRETTY CRUDE, BUT IT SURE MADE MY BUTT SMILE WHEN I RODE IT. I STILL HAVE IT. THEN I MADE A YOUTH SADDLE FOR MY KIDS. I STILL HAVE IT ALSO. THEN I BUILT A SADDLE FROM THE GROUND UP. STILL HAVE IT. IT'S PRETTY EASY TO TELL THEY WERE MY FIRST ONES, BUT I WAS WORKING ON MY OWN WITH A BOOK. DIL LIKES THE FIRST ONE, I BUILT FROM SCRATCH.

You made more than one so I am guessing it turned out right pretty . I always wondered about the difference in the amount of leather used. Seems some saddles have a huge amount and others are cut up really high. Lighter is definately a better option. I will definately go with less skirt.

LOOK AT SOME OF THE BARREL RACING SADDLES. THEY ARE LIGHT AND CUT HIGH IN THE SKIRT, UNDER YOUR LEG SO YOU CAN "FEEL" YOUR HORSE BETTER.

I heard I am in for about 150 hours of work.

ONLY ONE I EVER TIMED MYSELF, TOOK ME 43 HOURS, WITH OUT COUNTING ANY TIME FOR LEATHER OR GLUE DRYING, THAT WAS JUST ACTUAL TIME I WAS WORKING. I'm doing it as a fun project but I have a real respect for saddlemakers now! Wow!

Jinglebob, do you have any photos of your work?

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE AT www.dennisranch.com

You must be very proud of it! It is a really neat craft, took me 40 hours to braid a rawhide reata and I thought that was tough........

I BUILT ONE OF THOSE ALSO. IT NOW HANGS ON THE WALL OF MY SADDLE MAKING SHOP. I USED IT SOME BUT WAS AFRAID OF BREAKING IT, SO HUNG IT UP AND BOUGHT A CHEAP, ONE FROM SOUTH AMERICA. LOTS OF WORK IN ONE OF THOSE AIN'T THERE? :lol:

YOU SHOULD BEG RAWHIDER TO POST SOME PICTURES OF HIS WORK. IT'S JUST PLAIN AMAZING. HE BRAIDS SOME RAWHIDE STRING ABOUT THE SIZE OF HORSE HAIR. AND THAT AIN'T A TYPO, NEITHER.

IF YOU BEG HIM ENOUGH, I'LL BET HE'D POST SOME PIX.
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WOW! That's all I can say :) I guarantee there won't be any tooling on mine, looks like it would take forever to make it that fancy.
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
You have gotten great advice so far. I am confident that JF and JB know what they are talking about.

JB could you post the site for the trees that you use. I lost the site when computer crashed. Maybe you could tell me do they make a tree other then a Wade? Are you building on trees other then a Wade?
Click to expand...

If you are talking abouty the "foam" trees, they are from La Porte Saddle Tree company. He doesn't have a website. 970 227 8011
Leave him a message and he'll get back to you. It's his cell phone and his name is Shawn. Tell him I sent you.

He has 4 differnt styles. Two slickforks and two swell forks.

My wood trees come from Timberline Saddle Tree company. He doesn't
have a website either. 435 789 8228
Randy is the name of the boss, but anyone who answers the phone can get you a catalog.

I have been very satisfied with both of thesae tree makers and would recomend them both highly. They are good folks and sure turn out a good product.

Right now I'm running a little stronger to the Wades, but I did build one on a foam roper and the next one will be on a foam roper also. I think I will be building one on a foam Modified Association, for the guy who starts my colts. He hasn't let me know for sure what he wants it on.

I guess it really runs half and half. :)
 
I teach a leather craft class once a year. I can tell you that building your first saddle is not an easy task. I think you are approaching it the right way, just take it slow and enjoy it.
Asks lots of questions and don't rush anything. Dusty Johnson, a saddle maker from Colorado, put out a video on how to build a saddle. I use that in my classes, its a step by step and it comes with some patterns that really help.

Let us know it it goes as you are building it.
 
We built Lil Lilly's first barrel saddle. I did the pattern, measuring...adjustin..etc to cut out all the pieces. Mr Lilly done the cuttin out part. I did all the tooling, then we put the thing together ourself. It was a job...but it was extremely fun and rewarding.
 
Jinglebob said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
You have gotten great advice so far. I am confident that JF and JB know what they are talking about.

JB could you post the site for the trees that you use. I lost the site when computer crashed. Maybe you could tell me do they make a tree other then a Wade? Are you building on trees other then a Wade?
Click to expand...

If you are talking abouty the "foam" trees, they are from La Porte Saddle Tree company. He doesn't have a website. 970 227 8011
Leave him a message and he'll get back to you. It's his cell phone and his name is Shawn. Tell him I sent you.

He has 4 differnt styles. Two slickforks and two swell forks.

My wood trees come from Timberline Saddle Tree company. He doesn't
have a website either. 435 789 8228
Randy is the name of the boss, but anyone who answers the phone can get you a catalog.

I have been very satisfied with both of thesae tree makers and would recomend them both highly. They are good folks and sure turn out a good product.

Right now I'm running a little stronger to the Wades, but I did build one on a foam roper and the next one will be on a foam roper also. I think I will be building one on a foam Modified Association, for the guy who starts my colts. He hasn't let me know for sure what he wants it on.

I guess it really runs half and half. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks JB, I think it was Hitching Post Supply that you told me to check out. When I googled Laporte Saddle trees I got lots of favorable reponses. That cable rigging sure sounds intriging.
We may have to make a deal yet. :wink:
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
Thanks JB, I think it was Hitching Post Supply that you told me to check out. When I googled Laporte Saddle trees I got lots of favorable reponses. That cable rigging sure sounds intriging.
We may have to make a deal yet. :wink:
Click to expand...

Okay, but none of that funny money from Canada. These people down here don't seem to thinks it's worth as much as this stuff. :wink:

I did make a trade with a neighbor for some hay, this winter. He wanted a saddle and I wanted some hay. Not too bad of a trade. :)

'Course, for the cost of the trucking from your place to mine, it might be a lot cheaper to just pay cash. :lol:
 
cowsense said:
BMR..........if you're pressed for time I could be persuaded to head south and check saddles out for you..........would only cost you my actual expenses! :wink:
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Now that's a buddy. I'll be darned if I have ever seen anyone sacrifice so much for a friend, in such a long time.

What a guy you are cowsense. :D

Hey, if you would do it along about the end of January, the first part of February, the Rapid City stockshow would be going on. There would be lots of good things to study up on there. :wink:
 
Jinglebob said:
cowsense said:
BMR..........if you're pressed for time I could be persuaded to head south and check saddles out for you..........would only cost you my actual expenses! :wink:
Click to expand...

Now that's a buddy. I'll be darned if I have ever seen anyone sacrifice so much for a friend, in such a long time.

What a guy you are cowsense. :D

Hey, if you would do it along about the end of January, the first part of February, the Rapid City stockshow would be going on. There would be lots of good things to study up on there. :wink:
Click to expand...


Boy with "FRIENDS" like you two a fellow could get into alot of trouble. :roll:
I do have some horses that would work fo trading stock. I know for sure that you don't have enough of those. :D
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
Jinglebob said:
cowsense said:
BMR..........if you're pressed for time I could be persuaded to head south and check saddles out for you..........would only cost you my actual expenses! :wink:
Click to expand...

Now that's a buddy. I'll be darned if I have ever seen anyone sacrifice so much for a friend, in such a long time.

What a guy you are cowsense. :D

Hey, if you would do it along about the end of January, the first part of February, the Rapid City stockshow would be going on. There would be lots of good things to study up on there. :wink:
Click to expand...


Boy with "FRIENDS" like you two a fellow could get into alot of trouble. :roll:
I do have some horses that would work fo trading stock. I know for sure that you don't have enough of those. :D
Click to expand...

I'd be afraid they wouldn't understand me. You see, I don't speak Canadian. :wink:
 
Jinglebob said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
Jinglebob said:
Now that's a buddy. I'll be darned if I have ever seen anyone sacrifice so much for a friend, in such a long time.

What a guy you are cowsense. :D

Hey, if you would do it along about the end of January, the first part of February, the Rapid City stockshow would be going on. There would be lots of good things to study up on there. :wink:
Click to expand...


Boy with "FRIENDS" like you two a fellow could get into alot of trouble. :roll:
I do have some horses that would work fo trading stock. I know for sure that you don't have enough of those. :D
Click to expand...

I'd be afraid they wouldn't understand me. You see, I don't speak Canadian. :wink:
Click to expand...

JB........I would be available to translate.........and would only charge my road and entertainment costs! BTW horsetraining cuss words pretty well translate word for word between the two languages :!: :wink:
 

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