[prairiegirl]

I just bought this pretty saddle off Ebay. It has no maker/stamp on it. I have searched the internet, high and low, for information or pictures of another like it but had no luck. I am very curious to know more about it--age, who it's made by, where--and I'm hoping that because it's so distinctive looking someone can make a guess just by looking at it.

(Or maybe a suggestion on where to start my search for details on it?)

It's pretty much my dream saddle. It's gone to the saddle repairman for a few weeks--for new sheepskin, conchos tightened, restitching on the stirrups and a new stirrup leather--but I will post an "after" photo when it is back home.

A value idea would be nice too for insurance purposes...or whether it's worth insuring at all. I know it's very eye-catching but I don't know if it has any "vintage" value or not.

Thanks so much for any information.

[prairiegirl]

Nobody?

[Peg D]

I don't know but I will take it off of your hands, I just came across an old one my self.... what does the previous owner have to say? What was the item description. Copy it and lets see what they said about it.
Can I ask what you paid for it?

[Xiphias]

It may well be a custom made saddle, and the maker just did not put their mark on it....it is a really pretty saddle...Cathy

[prairiegirl]

Thanks

Peg D: I'll let you know if it doesn't fit my mare after it's back from the saddle repairman It is a lovely saddle for sure.

Get ready for this...I paid $100 WITH shipping...and the saddle man says it will cost about $300-400 to get it to the condition I want it. So, all in all, a heck of a deal! (My wedding present to myself with hubby's blessing, ha ha.)

The seller had no details on the history but did mention that it "might be custom". That's all. (I might add that I had a bit of a scare with it--the seller took almost two weeks to ship it after promising next day shipping, excuse after excuse, and then wanted to charge me extra because SHE decided to ship it airmail rather than the pokey slow cheap method I wanted because she "didn't want me waiting too long for it". Hellllooo, I already waited two weeks and didn't die! I had two other saddles shipped ground mail and they both came in less than two weeks, however neither fit me and my horse right. Anyhow, this saddle arrived ONE MONTH after she shipped it! Yes, one month. So much for airmail being faster...what a hassle! Then when it arrived she'd packed it so poorly that there were holes all over the box where it was weak-no tape--and she'd squished it into a smaller box and bent the skirts and fenders badly! Thankfully the saddle guy says that will correct itself on a proper rack. Grrrrrr!)

Thanks ladies!

[Sandra-A1]

While I do not know the brand...let me toss the following information out for you to consider as it might help you find out more about your saddle.

Buckstitching like that was very popular on saddles in the mid to late 1960's and early 70's then it went out of style. The buckstitched lacing in the cantle makes me thing that this was a saddle from the 1960's.
Also, even though the angle of the photo is not a full side shot.....it appears that saddle has a rise in the seat at the front and that makes the saddle look like it has an 'equitation seat' which also was popular with some of the show riders during that time period....I knew several females back then who insisted that was "THE" style seat to have.

[cjohns]

Wow....sounds like you got a really great deal. I'm always on ebay looking at saddles. Too bad I missed that one. I would have been bidding against you. Very nice saddle

[prairiegirl]

Sandra A-1 Yes! It is an equitation seat! I love them...the style and comfort. Sorry, I should have mentioned that. I would have posted the photo of the full side but it turned out very dark. Thanks for the information, that really helps, finally an idea of the age!

CJohns Thanks...with the description though you might have thought twice. Ha ha. It was sold three times before, returned each time because it was "worse than described" and I'll admit when it arrived I was a bit shocked. Apart from being absolutely filthy in general (I know, it was around horses but if you're trying to sell something and it's been returned three times you might want to wipe it down at least!), the stitching holding the suede backing was ALL gone so the suede behind the fenders and under the top skirt was flapping in the breeze, there was layer upon layer of electrical tape on the horn, the seat had a tear in it and some of the vinyl-y cover is worn to white, the leather was falling off both stirrups and the fleece was worn right through to the skirt. While it was sold as a fixer-upper the seller didn't mention any of this. When I saw it, however, I wasn't about to complain mainly because it's just darned pretty and I knew my saddle guy could fix 'er up!

Thanks everyone!

[itsmetigress]

Prarie I would definatly report her to Ebay...people like her are getting so bad everyone is scared to even attempt to buy stuff from there anymore.

[Sandra-A1]

I am going to go out on a limb and date this saddle in the 1970's because it has an 'equitation seat'...and I found the following information online:

Reining saddles, like barrel racers and cutters usually have free-swinging fenders and stirrups to allow you flexibility and mobility with your horse. Reining is sort of like fast dressage in a Western saddle. You need to keep your balanced centered in all movements. There is usually a rise in the front area of the seat for helping to hold your seat into the rear of the saddle seat. This rise can help an inexperienced rider to control movement of the lower back and hips by slightly forcing your seat into the cantle. The rise should be comfortable, not restrictive. This was sometimes called an equitation seat in years past. With competition in the show arenas being as good as it is today, it is best to ride in a saddle that does not obviously help you ride in an equitation show class. When judging two equally qualified riders on horses that are as good as they can get, the judge will get picky to find a winner. The rider using fewer “restrictive measures”, (aids to hold you in proper position such as a high front rise with a deep ground seat and high cantle combinations, like the characteristics of the 1970’s equitation seats), will be selected as the winner.

The above was found here: A guideline for fitting rider to saddle - saddlezone.com - a discount dealer of quality saddles and tack.

Also the following company is supposed to do saddle appraisals so you might want to talk to them: New & Used Western Saddles For Sale - Horse Tack

You can probably find even more.....