jwwright

Gary, 2 1/2" is my standard. I have made many miles riding 2 1/2" leathers, and I have not seen any disadvantage. I have found the advantage to be quicker break in time. JW

Thank You for the generous comments Steve and Ben.............Ben, I'm sorry that I don't have any close up photos of the conchos on this saddle. However, Jayson Jone's website is www.jaysonjonesspurs.com , and you can see quite a bit of his work there. Jayson's work has become some of the most sought after by cow-lectors of bits, spurs and hardware in the Texas tradition. He's also a real good cowpuncher and friend. Thanks again, JW

I finished up a couple more Buster Welch Ropers yesterday, and this rough out is one of them. The conchos and hobble ring were made by Jayson Jones. Thanks, JW.

Nice work as usual Steve. JW

Great looking tree, as usual Jon. The few Wades I have built have all been on fiberglass encased trees built by you........so I reckon I see no problem with it! The customers have all been very pleased, and you are correct........they are very nice to build on. The lightest saddle I have built thus far was a ranch cutter for my wife. It is 32 pounds ready to ride, including cinches..............it could weigh 30 or a shade less if we took off the iron oxbow stirrups and replaced them with lighter stirrups. JW

Very nice work Tyrel. JW

Thank You, cjf. JW

Nice work, and Thank You for your service. JW

Thank You for your generous comments, and good luck with your project. JW

Thank You, Bob. Steve, that is a Jeremiah Watt stamp. JW

Thanks for the comments. The rough out rigging along with rough out skirts is a pretty common and favored combination here in the southern plains / Tejas. Quite a bit different taste than the northern or buckaroo ways. Thanks again, JW.

I finished this one up yesterday. It is a spec saddle that I built between orders, and is for sale. Olin Young 13" swells, 15 3/4" finished seat. Swells, rear housing and stirrup leathers stamped in a geo pattern, the balance is rough out. Many Thanks, JW

There is no set order to do things, and everyone will come up with a process that works for them. I personally do gullet, then ground seat, cantle back & filler, then block my skirts on. The skirts can be drying while I work on the riggings, etc. JW

Steve, great work as usual from you. Your work always gives me a standard to aspire to. JW

Steve...........gullet is 6 3/4" wide by 7 1/2" tall. 4 1/2" handhole width. 93 degree NW bars. Cantle is round 12" wide by 3 1/2" tall. Horn is 2 3/4" tall by 3" guad cap. JW

Chuck, I don't necessarily get excited about dry spots. I have spent most of my days riding lots of different horses each day, with maybe 2 or 3 saddles in the tack room. Not always gong to find that perfect fit. If there is no swelling, and the horse is not sore, then dry spots don't bother me. As someone else mentioned previously........it also depends on what you are doing riding that saddle / horse. The saddle I ride my stud horse with fits him great. If you get on and cruise around the country looking at cattle, or work on some dry work in the arena, the sweat pattern will be perfect. If, like I did this morning, though.......you spend some time roping some fast cattle.......up and down in the saddle, leaning this way and that, you know how it goes..............then the hair was a bit ruffled and little drier in the wither pocket area. Just my opinion. JW

Kelly, as Bruce mentioned, Jon Watsabaugh is at Des Moines. He's a great tree maker and saddle maker............I think it would be worth your trip. Send me a PM if you would like his contact information. I'm not too sure how often Jon checks in here. JW

thanks guys. JW

Thanks folks. Bob.......in most ranch horse competitions, you have to box your cow, get one turn each way on the fence, then rope it ,stop it, turn and lead it off. For those kind of deals where I need to rope, yes I will ride it down the fence. However, since I am getting older and more wussified ( is that a word?) I find that I do tend to get hold of the horn more on the fence turns..........so, in AQHA or NRCHA cowhorse I will most likely opt for one of my ranch cutters with a horn that is more conducive to old cowpunchers grabbing hold! Thanks, JW

Been a while since I posted anything, and looks like things have been a little slow around here. So.....this is a saddle that I finished up about 6 weeks ago. Built it for myself, and it had a ride or two on it before I took photos. Modified Association with a wood post horn. The tree was made by Jon Watsabaugh. Thanks, JW

Real nice as usual Steve. JW

Thanks for posting this Bruce. The Ranching Heritage Center is a great deal. Way back when they first got it going, I participated in some fund raisers they did, and have been there several times. However, it has been a while. We intend to get down that way in the Fall of this year, and I will get some photos. JW

Bueno!, Senor Brent. JW

Bob, I certainly meant no disrespect by my comment, nor was I attempting to engage in a "war". I didn't interpret Keith's remarks that way either. I agree with you Bob...........a fella needs to do what is working for him and his customers..........all the while observing and studying others. I learned long ago that there is always room for improvement and learning. JW

Well, I will agree that there is no doubt in my mind that a person who has sure nuff made a living horseback has better insights into SOME aspects of saddle making / saddle fit. I have probably made as many horse tracks as anyone alive my age (circa 50). I have made my living from the back of a horse all my life. The only time I have done anything else was to take a town job for a couple years in order to keep things solvent......and I was still horseback then more than most. This is not to brag, or boast, or participate in one-ups-manship.........simply background as to where I am coming from. All that said, I will say as well that you don't need to have suffered a heart attack in order to be a heart surgeon. You don't need to have been a top NBA player in order to be a good basketball coach (in fact usually those guys are not good coaches). What is required is understanding of the essential elements of the profession, in any pursuit. JW