Billy H

Hey JW, Great looking rigs! Glad to know that your staying busy, tough times for most folks -- hope to see a change in our economy soon. I have not tried a Skirt rig yet--seems like it would be a challange to make square and even. Always like to see what the Mad Cow is up to. Billy

Steve, great looking saddle! Half Breed saddles look sharp and I like a roughout seat. It is good to see your work, makes me try harder.

Thanks JW, Trying to figure out these new DSLR cameras ( lots of buttons ). Been looking at your Gelding for sale more than a time or two, really nice. Thankyou Adam, The Icelandics are my kids horses, but I have worked with my sons horse quite a lot and have a saddle I built that works well. It has 22 inch bars with a fair amount of relief in the back and kept the skirts short at 25 inches, does not look out of place it is also a Slick Fork. Icelandics are truly a amazing horse.

Hi Denise, Yes you are right I need to lengthen her stirrups. I am in denial--I told her she can not have any more birthdays! She just rolled her eyes, smiled and walked away. She has grown almost 3 inches since July. Thanks Billy

Oops, try one more time. It looks like my little girl has just about out grown her saddle--- they grow so fast!

Yesterday was just about perfect for riding! So I thought I might do a little show and tell with my kids. They are riding one of our Icelandics with their saddles I made for them.

Tyrel, What a beautiful piece of working art! I am always blown away at the talent of you folks on this forum. Your work shows so much detail to fit and finish. Casey suggestion to have that saddle in a show is a good one, but I know your client has other intentions--- a well built saddle will last a life time. My favorite piece is the the Gullet, really cool layout. My hat is off to you! Billy

Hi Ryan, Ditto on a beautiful saddle. You have a very distinctive style that I like a lot. Your tooling has lots of life to it, especially on your cantle front with nice stitching on the Bind. Really nice job--- I will bet the customer had a big smile when they received it. Billy

Hey Keith, You bring up a great point about putting new saddles on a horses back; really hard to tell if that saddle will fit well after it has had a chance to break in. In fact I have read more than once of folks on this forum who have purchased a saddle that they thought fit good, rode it several hours and found problems. Trying to return a used saddle is very difficult. There are great benefits to having a custom saddle built from the Saddle Tree up. Billy

I have found that with new saddles and a broken in pad or blanket will take about ten rides or so. Those rides need to have moist heat to penetrate to the shearling and skirt .

Congrats! at the Art Of The Cowboy Makers. You do beautiful work. Billy

That is a beautiful saddle! I really like your Taps, very classy. Regards Billy

Hi Bruce, I like the looks of your customers saddle. You did a nice job! If you don't mind, I have a question on your customers age. Was he a older cowboy? Reason I ask is I have found that alot of folks in their upper 60's and beyond prefer this kind of seat. I know my Dad would not have a saddle built any other way. Now adays seems folks want to be more centered in the saddle. I don't really know if there is a right or wrong. About a year ago, I went on a qwest to try and figure what was the perfect Ground seat. I came home more confused than when I left. Billy

Very nice work! Did the saddle sell at the show? Regards Billy

Hi Steve! Thanks for all the info on a all leather ground seat. Your way of fitting the seat jockey before putting fork cover and cutting hand hold worked really well for me. I am having trouble understanding how you would sew the ground seat and what it is actually doing? Sorry I am a little slow sometimes:helpsmilie: Thanks Billy

Good looking saddle!! Rough out seats make sense to me. Is this one fresh off your bench?

JW, I must apologise---I need to practice Forum edicate. This thread was about your top notch saddles and not about my issues with a horse. I think I am spending to much time with horses, cow's and kids. When I presented the question, I was still digging sand out of my ear for the second time that day. Always look forward to seeing new saddles from the Mad Cow. With Respect, Billy

Hey JW, Good looking Rigs! I figured pretty soon I would see something from ya. Always look forward to your next. On another note---------- I have a 4 year old Gelding, with some mounting and dismounting issues, gets real sporty when I swing my leg over gettin on or off. Thought I might get some insight from a guy who has done a fair amount of training and starting Colts. Thanks Billy

What a beautiful piece.

Well now your gonna have to tell me how you get family to pay for work done!!!!!!!!!! LOL Billy

Josh, Nice Job! From the looks of the back of the cantle, this will be your personal rig. Nice to have one of your own to use. Billy

Hi folks. First thing is---Joel sorry if this thread took a direction that you did not intend. I know that it has happend to you before, but you come across as a fellow looking to gain knowlege and seek opinions. I know I have enjoyed those threads that you have started and have gained some food for thought. I will also agree with you (Joel) that i am not a industry cop---don't want to be. I have also realized that to support a family in this business would be very hard, especially given todays economy. You Makers (Saddle, Tree ,Tack) out there who are doing just that---I take my hat off to you. Keith Siedel, Troy West, Steve Brewer, JW, Jon Watsabaugh,Bruce Johnson-----------------the list goes on, the Nikkles. All producing top end equipment for sure. I think folks like you have integrity. Integrity is a word a code of conduct that is disappearing. I sure could be wrong, but integrity is not something you police, either you have it or you don't. Your probably scatching your head, wondering if I have been pouring something extra in my coffee this morning------not today. New saddle maker is what I am, working very hard to produce good equipment, we all have to start somewhere. You top hands are producing better stuff now than you did 15 years ago im sure----------- well maybe Keith was born with a swivel knife in your hand. (Just kidding, your work blows me away my friend) Billy