[faroutfax]

I saw THE most gorgeous Dale Chavez reining saddle in my fovourite tack store today. *drool* Can we say gorgeous! The tag said used but it looked new. $1999. Not a bad price considering my Billy Cook came to $2000 including tax. I'm also considering buying a show halter by Dale Chavez. So can anyone give a general critique of the brand. Also how would you compare the width of a Dale Chavez vs a Billy Cook?

Thanks

I'll try to find a picture.

[luvs2ride79]

There is NO compareson from Chavez to Cook, lol. It would be like comparing a Carolla to an SLK . Both run great and will last for a long time, but the difference in "feel" is unmeasurable. Chavez saddles are LOVELY! That is a total steal for $1,999. I remember seeing some beautiful Chavez show saddles with moderate silver for sale for $3,500 back in 1997...

[faroutfax]

I can't find any pictures

But it is a medium oil. It has a cream seat. Typical reiner outline. And studs outlining the skirts, pommel, cantle etc. It has a diamond shaped silver peice on both rear skirts. Gorgeous but simple conchos. Wooden Sturrips. And floral tooling everywhere except where your leg hangs on the fender (the other part is tooled though) And the back dees are engraved beautifully!

Oh and the halter I'm looking at is $350 canadian

[MissLKcee]

Dale Chavez is really, really nice stuff. My show saddle is a Chavez and I absolutely love it. I mean I would prefer a Blue Ribbon or Phil Harris show saddle, but the absolute cheapest I could get one of those new is like $8000. IMO, Chavez is 3d in line to Blue Ribbon and Harris- very top notch! I really don't see a comparison between Dale Chavez and Billy Cook, there is nothing wrong with Billy Cook though, I mean I do love their roughout training saddles- they're my favorite! My show saddle is worth almost $6000 new, so $1999 is definitely a steal for a Dale Chavez.... I'll post a pic of mine:

[Sue B]

Speaking from a rider's view point....Chavez makes a nice looking saddle...with some very nice features....beautiful tooling, nice silver...attention to detail like the lined fenders and jockeys. Halters are definitely worth the investment...some of the nicest I've seen. However, taking a 20 minute jog around a WP ring or a few minute reining run is not the same as actual use and abuse...which I can attest to Cooks being up to the task and then some.

Speaking from a dealer's stand point - I can't really post those words on this board!

Just a couple of comments that I will make form this view point about the manufacturing and pricing of these saddles: 1) an unconfirmed, but highly suspected thought that these...as are many other saddles with similar elegant tooling and silver work....are made in Central America...not here....leading to 2) which is confirmed...they are significantly over priced.....about 5 years ago...we put what was supposed to be $1500 saddles in the shop for less than $1000 and still made our standard markup on them! His tack has a similar over priced markup.

Now to the short version of the real issue: Chavez did not stand behind his guarantee. The design of his reiner (and all his saddles that I have seen) damaged a horse's back. He did, in the end, replace the saddle...but not with a duplicate. If you want details...PM me.

Look at these pics for a comparison...I would say that Chavez had addressed the issue to some degree (skirt top line used to angle downward behind the cantel)...but compare the Cook skirt and how high that comes up in the back....

[StellaHUS]

I have a Dale Chavez show saddle and I love it. I also have a Dale Chavez show halter, love it too.
I bought my saddle off Ebay from a lady who was no longer showing. I got a great price and it looks brand new. I am even having to set the stirrups.
My saddle has the full quarter horse bars. I did a lot of research on saddles and for the money I believe the Dale Chavez was the way to go. I cannot tell you how comfortable my saddle is and it fits my horse perfectly. I was pretty nervous buying a saddle sight unseen but I knew what seat size, bar size and type of Dale Chavez I wanted so it was just a matter of sitting back and waiting until the right saddle at the right price came along. Another thing that impressed me about the Dale Chavez's is how they seem to keep a good re-sale value. I don't have any intentions of selling mine but it is nice to know.

[AQHA Hunter]

All I can say is that a friend of mine, who was training and showing AQHA WP professionally at the time, had a really nice-looking Dale Chavez reiner and said he hated it. Sure, it looked nice and was made with nice materials, but was very uncomfortable and not a balanced ride. It just sat around. I think he was showing in a Broken Horn instead.

[SaddleUp158]

The family I show with has a couple Chavez saddles and they are wonderful! Very comfy and beautiful!

[MissLKcee]

I'm going to agree with a few people... my Chavez saddle is awesome, I like it a lot...but it isn't super comfy. I use it only to show, and I thank god that I don't use it any more than that haha....

For comfort, I would go with a Billy Cook over a Chavez... but for appearance/show Chavez over Billy Cook for sure... I have only ridden in the Billy Cook training saddles though, and I LOVE how comfortable they are...

[faroutfax]

Hmmm.... well if I did buy this saddle it would be my every day saddle. Trails, winter puddles etc. Comfort is deffinately a major factor