New to forum

[3arrows]

Hello, thanks for letting me join this forum, Im happy that I found it. I am retired and my wife and I just started a used saddle business. Right now we sell only on EBAY, but will eventually have a store front to display our tack. One thing that Im looking for is a way to identify saddles, right now we only buy Bona Allen, Simco, Circle Y, Billy Cook and Hereford and a few Big Horns. There are a lot of used "no name" saddles and Id like a way to identify them, if for no other reason, to stay away from the junk out there, but more appropriately to find some good deals. WE only intend to sell good used western working, pleasure and trail saddles. Any suggestions as to how to identify the older saddles that were farmed out as "no name" by some of the bigger saddle makers?? Any books that would help with this??? thanks for any help that you might give... ron :horse:

PS: Im also learning how to repair them, as Im very adept at fixing and repairing just about anything..

[David Genadek]

I think once you do more repair and learn more about saddle construction you will just learn what is important in the market you are trying to supply and the names will mean less and less as you progress. You will develop a list of criteria that you will measure saddles by that will be right for your target market.

David Genadek

[3arrows]

Thanks Dave, good advice. I started today actually, I bought an old saddle at the local tack auction and completely disassembled it tonight. It had a broken "O" ring rigging on the off side, the cantle is cracked and no stirrup leathers, so I got it for $17. The saddle turned out to be quite a nice saddle. Im going to repair it, stain it and see how it turns out. The leather is still in great shape, with no cracking or deterioration. Thanks for the advice... ron