When did the Whitman saddles stop...

SaddleUp158 · 07-23-2008, 08:53 PM

When did the Whitman saddles stop production? I was looking online and it appears that Norman took over the Whitman line, but the saddles are not quite the quality they were before. I saw that there are Whitman Crabtree and Whitman Campbell saddles, are these the older Whitmans or newer? I just purchased a Whitman Crabtree off ebay and was wondering. Here is the link to the sadde I purchased http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=300242807051

Jrchloe · 07-23-2008, 08:58 PM

I believe the Whitman Crabtree is more of a brand model (like Ford Mustang) and the Whitman Campbell is a Whitman design saddle made by Campbell. But TackCollector will know better than me. Congrats Whitmans are very comfortable. Let us know if you need help finding the correct spot for the stirrup bar.

SaddleUp158 · 07-24-2008, 11:20 AM

Thanks! I wasn't expecting to purchase one so soon, but when I have been checking ebay and tacktrader each week. So when I saw this one at the price it was at, I was advised to snatch it up!

Jrchloe · 07-24-2008, 11:38 AM

Is the saddle black or brown? I know its not important now but I can not stress how much better Prussian irons with black pads look especially if you don't want to draw attention to your feet (this was drilled into my head by my trainer more than my equitation instructor).

Is your horse home from driving school yet? Do you have any pictures of you guys doing saddleseat? Hehe would love to see them :-D.

SaddleUp158 · 07-24-2008, 08:26 PM

Lol! We have not hooked him yet, he was having some problems understanding that when being long lined he was not being lunged. Then when she would step behind him with the lines he did not like it at first. So we backed off a bit and started taking it a bit slower. I found out a few weeks or so ago that I do NOT have to show him this year in the futurity in order for him to eligible for the alumni program next year. So we have decided to really take our time with him and let him grow up a bit more before showing him. He is only three and looks like a 2yr old. He is being allowed to be a baby right now and is frolicking in the pasture with the 2yr old filly, and loving every minute of it!

I am taking saddleseat lessons from a lady who just moved to my town. She seems to really know her stuff! I told her that I have ridden for years, but never SS and am a total fish out of water in the cutback saddles. She has had me on a different horse each week, and that is nice. Today she had me slow gaiting! I am moving to where my horse is now, so hopefully I can start working him consistantly now, and this winter take him for lessons with me. I can't promise when I will have pics of me SS, but rest assured as soon as I have some I will post them!

The saddle is a dark brown. I will keep in mind what you said about the irons. In fact, I may eventually be replacing the leathers and irons, they don't look like they are in the best of shape.

Jrchloe · 07-24-2008, 08:29 PM

If you are interested there a few out of print SS riding and training books available on amazon that you will probably find helpful. Let me know and I'll give you a list.

SaddleUp158 · 07-24-2008, 08:39 PM

Sure that would be great. We are leaving for a show, but as soon as I get back and have some money again, I will try to get one or two! Since I am moving him back home I will save a lot of money not paying board, just feed costs. So hopefully I will be able to save some money to send him for a month of training this winter or spring. Can't decide if it would be better to send him at the beginning of his new training or just before the show season starts up.

Kat&Ashton · 07-25-2008, 08:33 PM

I had one of the original crabtree equitation saddles from the 1980's. It was in near perfect condition and I recently sold it. The woman talked me down to 800, because she saw rust on the sliders. Um..it was the shadows, it had zero rust on it, and was kept inside. None the less it killed me selling that saddle, but I needed my hunter saddle. I know I could have gotten more for it, but oh well.

SaddleUp158 · 07-26-2008, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kat&Ashton

I had one of the original crabtree equitation saddles from the 1980's. It was in near perfect condition and I recently sold it. The woman talked me down to 800, because she saw rust on the sliders. Um..it was the shadows, it had zero rust on it, and was kept inside. None the less it killed me selling that saddle, but I needed my hunter saddle. I know I could have gotten more for it, but oh well.

Wow! The lady I purchased mine from said it is about 15 yrs old, so that would make it....hmmm... around a 1994? lol, it is really late and I can't think. I am glad to know that they hold their value! I have been lurking around ebay and tack trader waiting for something nice to pop up, but I just keep seeing all the new or like new ones for sale at $150 and ran when I saw those! My instructor seems to think I got a good deal on this one. Granted she hasn't seen it, only heard about it. She said she would pay up to $1200 for one like you had and the one I purchased. SHe has an older Whitman as well and it is incredible!

Tack Collector · 07-27-2008, 07:13 AM

Gee, I can't recall exactly when Whitman went out. By 2001 or 2002, I think English Equestrian Group owned them and Miller Harness. And some of those last "Whitmans" were out of the Crosby factory in England and had the Crosby / Exselle tree with the Whitman adjustabars stuck on it.

Campbell I think was orginally ('way back) a USA competitor that Whitman bought out. Either Whitman or Campbell or both were in Cincinnati OH at one time, then Whitman moved to Kalamazoo MI where the Norman saddles are now made. Whitman owned the Campbell name. Some Campbell and Coventry were made in England for Whitman, and later, those brands were made in the USA Whitman factory and were essentially Whitmans just priced lower. My tack store owner friend was selling that line and his friend prices to me were about the same regardless of whether the brand was Whitman, Campbell, or Coventry. The wholesale prices on those must have been close. Just bigger markup on Whitman.

The Crabtree, technically, was only sold by Bobby Beech at National Bridle Shop. It had a special plate on it that said Crabtree but other than that was a standard Whitman.

You can get black fillis pads for the irons that came with the saddle. If you can't find them let me know. If the adjustabars are rusted in place, I'll tell you how to loosen them.

07-23-2008, 08:53 PM	#1
SaddleUp158 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,755 Images: 68	When did the Whitman saddles stop... When did the Whitman saddles stop production? I was looking online and it appears that Norman took over the Whitman line, but the saddles are not quite the quality they were before. I saw that there are Whitman Crabtree and Whitman Campbell saddles, are these the older Whitmans or newer? I just purchased a Whitman Crabtree off ebay and was wondering. Here is the link to the sadde I purchased http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=300242807051

07-24-2008, 11:38 AM	#4
Jrchloe Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 219	Is the saddle black or brown? I know its not important now but I can not stress how much better Prussian irons with black pads look especially if you don't want to draw attention to your feet (this was drilled into my head by my trainer more than my equitation instructor). Is your horse home from driving school yet? Do you have any pictures of you guys doing saddleseat? Hehe would love to see them :-D. Last edited by Jrchloe; 07-24-2008 at 12:52 PM.

07-25-2008, 08:33 PM	#8
Kat&Ashton Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,196 Images: 52	I had one of the original crabtree equitation saddles from the 1980's. It was in near perfect condition and I recently sold it. The woman talked me down to 800, because she saw rust on the sliders. Um..it was the shadows, it had zero rust on it, and was kept inside. None the less it killed me selling that saddle, but I needed my hunter saddle. I know I could have gotten more for it, but oh well. __________________ *Red Sox Fever (Red)* *10 year old QH Gelding.* *Hunter, Pleasure, and Trail horse.* *I have been Snowballed x1*

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Black Whitman Leather 22" Dressage Girth - $20	Andalucian	Equine Classifieds	3	04-28-2008 11:08 AM
Whitman CC saddle for sale. 200 obo includes cavalier feild boots!	merlin	Equine Classifieds	32	04-20-2008 08:49 PM
Is Whitman a quality brand english saddle? quick	Heavenly Jumper	Tack & Equipment	5	02-16-2008 09:04 AM
2 western saddles for sale and 2 saddles wanted!!!!!!!!	riding_reaper	Equine Classifieds	11	06-24-2007 12:57 PM

07-23-2008, 08:58 PM	#2
Jrchloe Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 219	I believe the Whitman Crabtree is more of a brand model (like Ford Mustang) and the Whitman Campbell is a Whitman design saddle made by Campbell. But TackCollector will know better than me. Congrats Whitmans are very comfortable. Let us know if you need help finding the correct spot for the stirrup bar.

07-24-2008, 11:20 AM	#3
SaddleUp158 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,755 Images: 68	Thanks! I wasn't expecting to purchase one so soon, but when I have been checking ebay and tacktrader each week. So when I saw this one at the price it was at, I was advised to snatch it up!

07-24-2008, 08:26 PM	#5
SaddleUp158 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,755 Images: 68	Lol! We have not hooked him yet, he was having some problems understanding that when being long lined he was not being lunged. Then when she would step behind him with the lines he did not like it at first. So we backed off a bit and started taking it a bit slower. I found out a few weeks or so ago that I do NOT have to show him this year in the futurity in order for him to eligible for the alumni program next year. So we have decided to really take our time with him and let him grow up a bit more before showing him. He is only three and looks like a 2yr old. He is being allowed to be a baby right now and is frolicking in the pasture with the 2yr old filly, and loving every minute of it! I am taking saddleseat lessons from a lady who just moved to my town. She seems to really know her stuff! I told her that I have ridden for years, but never SS and am a total fish out of water in the cutback saddles. She has had me on a different horse each week, and that is nice. Today she had me slow gaiting! I am moving to where my horse is now, so hopefully I can start working him consistantly now, and this winter take him for lessons with me. I can't promise when I will have pics of me SS, but rest assured as soon as I have some I will post them! The saddle is a dark brown. I will keep in mind what you said about the irons. In fact, I may eventually be replacing the leathers and irons, they don't look like they are in the best of shape.

07-24-2008, 08:29 PM	#6
Jrchloe Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 219	If you are interested there a few out of print SS riding and training books available on amazon that you will probably find helpful. Let me know and I'll give you a list.

07-24-2008, 08:39 PM	#7
SaddleUp158 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,755 Images: 68	Sure that would be great. We are leaving for a show, but as soon as I get back and have some money again, I will try to get one or two! Since I am moving him back home I will save a lot of money not paying board, just feed costs. So hopefully I will be able to save some money to send him for a month of training this winter or spring. Can't decide if it would be better to send him at the beginning of his new training or just before the show season starts up.

07-27-2008, 07:13 AM	#10
Tack Collector Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dreary Station (near to Coma) Posts: 366 Images: 76	Gee, I can't recall exactly when Whitman went out. By 2001 or 2002, I think English Equestrian Group owned them and Miller Harness. And some of those last "Whitmans" were out of the Crosby factory in England and had the Crosby / Exselle tree with the Whitman adjustabars stuck on it. Campbell I think was orginally ('way back) a USA competitor that Whitman bought out. Either Whitman or Campbell or both were in Cincinnati OH at one time, then Whitman moved to Kalamazoo MI where the Norman saddles are now made. Whitman owned the Campbell name. Some Campbell and Coventry were made in England for Whitman, and later, those brands were made in the USA Whitman factory and were essentially Whitmans just priced lower. My tack store owner friend was selling that line and his friend prices to me were about the same regardless of whether the brand was Whitman, Campbell, or Coventry. The wholesale prices on those must have been close. Just bigger markup on Whitman. The Crabtree, technically, was only sold by Bobby Beech at National Bridle Shop. It had a special plate on it that said Crabtree but other than that was a standard Whitman. You can get black fillis pads for the irons that came with the saddle. If you can't find them let me know. If the adjustabars are rusted in place, I'll tell you how to loosen them.