Good Ranch Saddle

[cowgirlrae]

I appreciate that explanantion, for several years I worked in a tack and saddle western store, we sold TexTan, Circle Y Crates, we sold the high mid and bottom end including some synthetics, and a few production saddles from a local saddle maker. I learned how to do basic repair and lots about the saddle industry.

Daily, folks would come in and scoff at the 'factory' saddles and be wanting a 'hand made' saddle, we then explained that every saddle was 'hand made' even in a factory they are hand made, even nylon and plastic saddles are hand made.... there is no machine that makes a saddle. A little education was frequently necessary.

Quite frankly I would have bought (and have ) the high end circle Y and Textan long before I would have even considered the "hand made" rigs made by the local guy. His workmanship and hardware simply were not as good, and having something fully tooled and nicely finished was out of the question. He was no more than a parts hanger.

But we sold a bunch of the local guys saddles too because he made people believe that because he cut and hung the parts they were "better" handmade you know, crafted and custom....... not churned out of a factory..... bah

Thank you for saying it well

[hidepounder]

Just prior to reading this thread I made a post in another thread where I commented on the difficulty for new enthusiasts to become educated about their horses and the equipment they need to own in order to have a safe positive experience. The source of education all too often comes from the delivery driver for the local tack/feed store....who just happens to be filling in for the gal who normally runs the sales floor, and who by the way, was taught by the previous delivery driver. This is what all too many people are exposed to and so it's easy to understand how they could be so mis-informed. One can't just run down to the local saddle shop anymore and get educated because custom shops just don't exist much anymore!

I can tell you from personal experience that there is absolutely no way to know what goes into (more likely what doesn't go into) a contracted production saddle. My first one came apart in the middle of the short round in a roping and I found myself sitting in the middle of the arena wondering what in the hell just happened!! I should have known better though...when I was a young man one of my first jobs as a tooler was in a shop that contracted Billy Cook roping saddles. The saddlemakers (no previous experience required) used to have races to see who could complete certain operations faster...like building horn caps on the bench, soaking them and pulling them on...loser buys the beer. When they were finished the saddles where shipped back to Texas and were sold as custom made Billy Cooks. I would rather become a near sighted Matador than dally on one of those saddles!

Of course that was a very long long time ago, but I believe that over the years saddle contractors, succumbing to the pressures of competition, have greatly refined their skills in producing junk. It's all just plain depressing! I can report, however, that the delivery drivers are doing a bang up job these days! Just try to convince the owner of a new Crates that he hasn't just bought one of the highest quality saddles on the market! And what's worse is when the new guy gets to meet others who share his new found passion, he is completely reassured because his new found friends were taught by the first delivery driver!!!!!!

Don't get me wrong.....I'm not saying that there is not a place for production saddles...there is....and I'm still roping on one!!!! The problem is that the general public has nowhere to go to learn the difference between custom and production saddles and therefore cannot make an informed decision. There may be very good reasons why someone would be willing to build a custom saddle for the price of a production saddle, but I would sure want to understand the circumstances. Things cost what they cost! I just can't help being suspicious when offered a new Corvette for the price of an Accord! Ya know....sometimes when it's just to good to be true.....

Okay, I've carried on long enough. I'm probably just a little over sensative from trying to explain the difference between one of my belts and an embossed one from China! I lose that argument every time!

Bobby

[Shelly]

Just prior to reading this thread I made a post in another thread where I commented on the difficulty for new enthusiasts to become educated about their horses and the equipment they need to own in order to have a safe positive experience. The source of education all too often comes from the delivery driver for the local tack/feed store....who just happens to be filling in for the gal who normally runs the sales floor, and who by the way, was taught by the previous delivery driver. This is what all too many people are exposed to and so it's easy to understand how they could be so mis-informed. One can't just run down to the local saddle shop anymore and get educated because custom shops just don't exist much anymore!

I can tell you from personal experience that there is absolutely no way to know what goes into (more likely what doesn't go into) a contracted production saddle. My first one came apart in the middle of the short round in a roping and I found myself sitting in the middle of the arena wondering what in the hell just happened!! I should have known better though...when I was a young man one of my first jobs as a tooler was in a shop that contracted Billy Cook roping saddles. The saddlemakers (no previous experience required) used to have races to see who could complete certain operations faster...like building horn caps on the bench, soaking them and pulling them on...loser buys the beer. When they were finished the saddles where shipped back to Texas and were sold as custom made Billy Cooks. I would rather become a near sighted Matador than dally on one of those saddles!

Of course that was a very long long time ago, but I believe that over the years saddle contractors, succumbing to the pressures of competition, have greatly refined their skills in producing junk. It's all just plain depressing! I can report, however, that the delivery drivers are doing a bang up job these days! Just try to convince the owner of a new Crates that he hasn't just bought one of the highest quality saddles on the market! And what's worse is when the new guy gets to meet others who share his new found passion, he is completely reassured because his new found friends were taught by the first delivery driver!!!!!!

Don't get me wrong.....I'm not saying that there is not a place for production saddles...there is....and I'm still roping on one!!!! The problem is that the general public has nowhere to go to learn the difference between custom and production saddles and therefore cannot make an informed decision. There may be very good reasons why someone would be willing to build a custom saddle for the price of a production saddle, but I would sure want to understand the circumstances. Things cost what they cost! I just can't help being suspicious when offered a new Corvette for the price of an Accord! Ya know....sometimes when it's just to good to be true.....

Okay, I've carried on long enough. I'm probably just a little over sensative from trying to explain the difference between one of my belts and an embossed one from China! I lose that argument every time!

Bobby

Awe, I love ya, Bob! Great read - I am sure you get some of those same 'looks' I get when trying to explain the difference...no one home! Some just never do learn to appreciate or 'see' the things that make it what it is...I've tried to spot those that my gut tells me that no amount of explanation will be necessary because it's wasted breath!

[joe59]

Shelly, Bobby,

It seems that I am chasing you around the leatherworker site. I agree with both of your comments. I used to tear myself apart by becoming involved with justifying my prices. I realize that in this business that there are certain jobs I would rather not do, (srtap work and belts jump to mind) but that goes with the territory. I do this work to get my name and reputation out and about. I would like my costomers to come to me because they want ME to build their saddle. If you want me to do the job, this is what it will cost. If time permits, I try to build a "spec" saddle to have on hand. Sometimes the spec saddle will sell a custom one.

On this topic, there are posts that compare saddles to cars. I go a few steps farther. When I was doing a repair and my knife "slipped" I cut my hand almost to the bone. There was some serious bleeding and tendon damage. I did not haggle with the Doctor about price. He put my hand back together and I paid the bill. I use my Vet, not because he is the cheapest, but because he is darn good at what he does. The tree maker I use may or may not be the cheapest, I do not know or care. We have an excellent working relationship and more importantly, he stands behind his work.

Recently, I have seen warning lables on saddles. Is this because they are falling apart and the company is playing CYA? I believe that most people are asking the wrong question. Instead of asking "Why do these saddlemakers charge so much?" they should ask "Why is this saddle so cheap?". How a saddle is made should be more important than how much it costs. As a rule, the best saddle makers are the ones who have spent time in a saddle.

Enough said.

JOE

[Jeremy Stead]

Hi Everyone,

I came back here to check on all of the posts and see what's happening when it comes to my name.

One thing I don't understand is this poverty level , I don't watch my leather dry, I work on another saddle after I for instance wrap a wet swell.

Or when have two orders back to back with the same skirts I cut them.

I always cut extra parts like stirrup leather, gullets, etc, So I will be ready for the next order.

I'm inexpensive and doing what I love, and not poor.

Edited August 3, 2010 by Jeremy Stead

[Huntet02]

Wow I should have read this before buying my Wade production saddle from Teskeys .........later being bucked off for what I thought to be a BAD prod saddle but the good folks on here educated me better....:head_hurts_kr:in reading this I learned all my lessons a year after this thread.

Edited September 9, 2010 by Huntet02