Sage

Good Morning All, Late night Demons were keeping me up last night and some how I came across this post about seat rigs. Thought the concept was very interesting, then Troy West posted a saddle he did back in 2002 ( A Mother Hubbard ) seat rig. WOW ! Unfortunatley that picture keep me up even longer ! Could not stop thinking how Troy made that saddle. Truley amazing

I like your stamp and border. Nice job !

Morning Darcy, I have been looking at your saddle and I just am so impressed at your workmanship! You are quite a talented maker. Like I said to Steve Mason, I wish I could be the mouse in the corner and watch you make a saddle. I truley enjoy you and all the other Makers posting works and adding some insight and tips to better a final result. Thank you and to all !!

Hi Steve: I have been looking at your new Wade. I would truley take pride in putting it on any horse I ride !! I hope that you don't mind me saying this but I see alot of Dale Harwood influence in your work. His 2008 saddle in the TCAA is one of my all time favorites. I wish I could be the mouse in the corner and watch you build a saddle. Thanx for posting

Huntet02, First---Your not ignorant in not knowing all the ins and outs of your saddle and saddle tree. You buy a saddle to ride and enjoy not to build one! Second--- The way I see it, you've had a string of bad luck and maybe some questionable decisions. Shoulda--coulda--woulda, we have all been there. Third--- Keith Seidel was right on target with his comment's of the saddle maker you took your horse and rig to. Wow--- you take the time and energy to load your horse to show--he in turn makes off the cuff statements without first looking at the horse out of the trailer, not putting the saddle on the horse and cinching up and finally--not having you sit in the saddle. Very unprofessional in my opinion. This is a great forum--I think to share Ideas, thoughts, knowledge, experiences and maybe opinions. So--------- my thought and maybe opinion for what it is worth is sell the saddle back to the saddle company at a loss, chalk it up to a learned experience and press on. Get back to you riding your horse-- Spring is here! life is to short! Save your pennies and get a great saddle from the likes of Seidel, JW Wright or any of the great Makers from this forum who will back their product with pride and professionalism. Ok let me have it. Sage

Good Morning, What has been suggested about having a saddle maker go over your saddle is sound advice! Hauntet---I have been reading your post's, and excuse me if I have missed something. But it sounds like you know your horse and have had her for a while. You bought a new saddle and rode this this horse and saddle combination at least 4 times and things were good. Then you took this same combination on a trail ride and the horse was acting up maybe from the start and things just became worse as the day went on. Then got the horse home and have been riding with trainers with this same combinations with ok results? If I may--- Let me tell you a experience I had not to long ago. Had a older gelding that was born on the ranch, he and I had been around each other for more than 20 years. After that many years you tend to get to know each other fairly well. Saddled up one morning to go check some fence, he was acting up just little, figured we could work it out and thought we had done just that. Things had been going just fine---- then I found myself floating about 3 feet above horse and saddle, hit the ground. After the stars went away I was asking myself--- what the H_LL happend! My horse was just standing there, took my rig off and really looked over things. All looked good. Saddle up again, and for the rest of that day it was a challenging time just to get back to the barn. Next day that horse and me and same rig went out to do the same thing, it was a great day of riding! Sometimes your just going to have a bad day with a critter and thats all there is to that! Sorry for being a wind bag! Keep us posted. Sage

Mr. Seidel, You are absolutely correct---the saddle being discussed needs to be physically inpected by a professional. As I stated-- pictures can be deceiving. I would like to lose the bet for Huntets sake. (The more questions Huntet can ask the better chance of resolve.) P.S Mr. Seidel, I have enjoyed reading some of your posts and have applied some of those suggestions with success in producing a better looking saddle. Thankyou! Sage

If your Rigging is truly Not square, your saddle will not work on any horse until corrected and made square. Having a saddles rigging set square is a must!!! Sage

Good Morning, Lots of great minds and experience working with you! As stated by Dr. Johnson and JW, pictures can be deceiving. But I would bet a Fancy cup of coffee from those pictures that you have posted-- Rigging may also be contributing to your issues. Post 32---- pictures tell me that the saddle rigging is not square from near side to off side. If you take that plus the lump you have mentioned I can see why your horse is reacting that way on a incline. Hope you can get things worked out. Sage