Billy H

It’s a small world my friend- especially when it comes to saddles. To bad we live in different states or I would have you over for a cup of joe. We could compare notes. I really appreciate when folks post their work. Again your saddle looks great, would like to see it on one of your wifes horses. Billy

Farrieremily, Not sure where you are exactly - but you might try Jon Watsabaugh. He was in Iowa a few years back. Really talented Saddle Tree maker and also a Master Saddle maker. Super easy guy to talk to. Regards Billy

Rob, A few years back I went to a seminar put on by Keith Seidel on creating ( patterns ) for saddles. Super helpful! In a nutshell if he was starting from scratch for a new saddle - Keith would build his patterns like building a saddle - layer by layer with butcher paper ( tape or tack ). Skirts, Rigging, Rear jockeys, Seat jockey, Fenders....... Step back a ways from the saddle and see if all the lines are flowing the way you want. The first part of class was drawing the saddle on paper - gives you a starting point to go from. His class was more detailed than what I am trying to express, but that was what I brought home in my little brain. : ) Keith is quite talented! His saddles are taken to the highest level for sure. Hope that helps. Billy

Rob , I'm a big fan of Flatplate rigging also. This saddle had fairly short skirts and I narrowed the Cheyenne roll to help its lines a bit. This saddle I think needed a shorter Cheyenne Roll with more angle This saddle had a very shallow skirt - so I used a Ring Rig to help the saddles lines a bit. The past few years Ring Rigging has fallen out of favor, but I like them a lot. Looking forward to your next saddle! Regards Billy

Great looking saddle! I think we all have preferences in line , shapes , rigging , skirt size and ........ Your rigging looks good - most importantly is it's function! You mention your flat plate not having the lines you would like to see. But I see a well constructed rigging with very short skirts. That throws my eye off a bit and also a large Cheyenne roll with short skirts. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. I find it hard to balance shapes when using short skirts. Again great looking saddle Billy

Good Job Horsemint! for a 1st saddle it looks very well done.

Good looking saddle! Really like your Taps- well done.

Really nice little saddle-- I have found that time in the saddle with a little heat and sweat tend to make that leather lay down over time. Great Job!! Billy

Blue62, For your Second Saddle it looks great! One thing you might try (if you want seat jockey to lay flat against fender and skirt) . When you first start putting Seat Jockey in -- try and bring leather from sides into the center of your seat. Lay your leather in the saddle -- bring up some leather from sides and make a little hump in center of seat with this leather. Start compressing leather fibers in center until it starts to lay flat again. Repeat that process 3 maybe 4 times. By doing so--- the leather on sides of seat jockey will lay tighter against sides. Just a thought. Regards Billy That 10 yr Girl is pretty lucky

The younger generation seem to like it-- they can change out the conchos. Cross, Scull/Cross bones, what ever they're into

Josh-- maybe a little bit of both. Can't say that they do much except to keep from flopping around. This is a picture of one with same design I did a couple of years ago.(backside)

New Breast Collar

This Wade saddle came in at 32 lbs. I am pretty sure that most of it's life will be enjoyed on trails and cattle drives but would certainly rope just fine at a Branding.

Ken and Ron, I think both of you bring up good points. Back in the 70's , 80s and even the 90's it seemed saddles where heavier. Saddle trees a lot of the time had double rawhide covering, 3 inch full double stirrup leathers were pretty much the only thing put into cowboy saddles. Skirts I thought were bigger and fenders I thought were bigger also. It may not jump out at you - but each one of those parts of the build start adding up to more weight. Skirt rigged saddle were not common place as they are today in my opinion, that also is a weight factor. Even doing fully covered leather stirrups or metal covered stirrups add weight to the saddle. Billy

Thank you mudman