Custom Saddlemaker Recommendations

[Bosalita]

Hello, I am new to the forums.

I have been looking for a custom saddle maker to build me a saddle. I'd like a wade, but it can be relatively plain. I would like a rough out, at least on the seat and fenders. My budget is between $2000 and $3000. Do you know of any good saddle makers?

Also, I ride pretty wide horses. My widest mare right now fits pretty well into a 7", but use a pad of about 1/2" thickness. I was thinking of going with a 6 3/4" on 93 degree bars. Does this sound reasonable?

Thanks.

[rsandi5218]

Try Mark Howes

http://www.dhrss.com/

Randy

[Bosalita]

I have looked at his web site. Have you owned one of his saddles?

[rsandi5218]

Yes. Got one about 3 years ago. Is a cable rigged saddle. Best saddle I've had. Fits most any horse and has held up real well.

Randy

[Excess]

I was shopping for a saddle for awhile. I've tried a few and shopped around for a maker. I had a list a mile long, but needed an "in between" saddle so I got one from Tim Shatraw of Sacred Heart Saddlery. Well........it turns out....that my "in between" saddle was just so damn perfect that I can't even conceive of getting any other saddle now! Here's his site: http://www.sacredheartsaddlery.com/

[kennewman]

checkm out mad cow saddlery on facebook for a looksee. jerry wright forumite, a mere suggestion, canoeman

[Bosalita]

Randy, have you roped off of the cable rigged saddle? How does it hold up? I understand that it lightens it up pretty good, but does the cable sore a horse at all where you cinch it down?

Excess, do you know what the wait time is on the Sacred Heart saddles? I was hoping to keep my wait down at six months or so.

What is the wait on Mad Cow Saddles?

Also, can anyone tell me anything about Len Babb saddles out of Paisley, Oregon? http://www.lenbabbsaddles.com/ Has anyone owned/ridden one? What is the quality like?

Thanks, everyone!

[CarolH]

I had my rough out wade made by Gary Winckler. I think he has an add in the classifieds here on the site.

I love my saddle, he made it to fit a really wide horse that I had, but have used it on several different horses and have yet to have any problems or make them sore. I thought he was very reasonably priced.

I have also sat in a saddle made by Mark Plumlee, he is out of Snohomish WA, very nice seat, felt like it was made for me.

Good luck.

[Bosalita]

What was Gary's base price? I can't find it on his web site.

[Scout]

Double H Ranch Saddle Shop out of Ft. Collins, Colorado. Owner is Mark Howes. He builds nice saddles within your budget -- he does do cable rigged (or whatever rigging you'd like). I'm into my second cable rigged saddle. Lots of working cowboys rope out of these saddles and ride them all day. Great shop to deal with. You'd have to contact them to find out timing -- am sure it somewhat depends on what you're asking for, re: tooling, features, etc.

Have also got Frecker saddles -- more money though and a long wait for custom.

[rsandi5218]

I've roped with my cable rigged saddle a lot. Nice thing about the rigging is that the latigo will pull down to the lowest point and settles in based on the horses build. I like this better than a flat plate D that is set in one place. I have not had any sore horses. There seems to be a closer fit and better feel. And the whole saddle is a lot lighter weight. I've had a lot of other wade saddles, but I'll have this one forever.


Randy

[nomad]

I have a wade on a Ben sawankie ray hunt wade tree It has a rough out seat and fenders and a wedding ring geometric stamp on the remainder. I am close to finished with it If you have an intrest send me an e-mail.
I can give you some more details. I want $2800
James Nomad@cowboystory.com

[Bosalita]

Does anyone else have any reccomendations?

[Sue]

Andy Stevens in Elko is sure making some nice saddles. http://andystevenssaddlery.com/saddles.php

[Excess]

Bosalita - I dunno the wait time - but email Tim and he'll get back to you quickly. I'm still very happy with mine and wouldn't trade it for the world. I do know that he has a real nice one for sale right now for a decent price.

[CSST]

Bosalita, there are cowboys up and down the front range using the Double H Cable rigged saddles. The cables don't sore the horses up. You can rope in them all day. And if you do have any problems, Mark will work with you on a solution. The trees are guaranteed for life. The strip down saddles start around $750 and go to $1850 and the shop specials start around $2500. Take a look at the web site, dhrss.com.

[Dennis Z.]

I had Len Babb build me a saddle in 1995, while I was working on the ZX. I've roped a hell of a lot of cattle with this saddle. It has an all leather ground seat. I've rode many a mile in this saddle and I am still riding it today. I own other well built saddles, but none of them have as good a seat as Len Babb's.

[Tosch]

What Dennis Z. "forgot" to mention is that he is a saddle maker himself. I am sure he would response if you would contact him.

[Dennis Z.]

I am just a beginner. My goal is to one day put in a ground seat as good as Len Babb's. My post was in response to a question about Len Babbs saddles and I answered that question.

[AWSpinks]

I got this one last year from Mad Cow. I would highly recommend.

http://www.eclectic-horseman.com/horsemanship/showthread.php?t=1166

[Bosalita]

Thanks very much to all who posted ideas. I have decided to have it built by Nancy Martiny http://www.martinysaddle.com/. She had a tree that fit my needs very well, so I won't have to wait as long. I am really excited! She is a very nice person to deal with and does beautiful work.