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Kigers In St Louis
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1# |
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(Date Posted:04/11/2007 2:09 AM)
Reply to : OkieKigers
Now, a couple of months ago I bought a Weaver trail saddle and spent some bucks on it, it sure is a great saddle, too. But to be honest, that little $60 saddle is every bit as good. Maybe not a purdy, but every bit as good.
Who else has an old gem like mine?
Hehehe.....My daughter is riding in my old 14 inch hereford western saddle and also my old Crosby all purpose english saddle....Plus the hubby has an old Circle Y we bought at an auction for $200....It's an old but good one too! They may not be as old as yours, but they are getting up there! Angela
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To me, horses and freedom are synonymous.
~Veryl Goodnight
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tiffany1fantasy
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2# |
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(Date Posted:04/11/2007 2:42 AM)
Oh yes...I have one of those a real beauty every young horse has had this thing on their back it has been rolled on and dumped in the dirt and variety of other things. When I got an extra rider it is the saddle I use, it fits just about anybody without extreme withers. Not to mention the wear and tear in turn, has made it the most comfortable on any butt size. Like yours I believe the seat is small but stirrups are long. It was a freebee. My brother's friend sold his horse knew I had some, gave me his old saddle. I am not sure how old but though it may not be as old as yours it was used as much. stitching in non-existant on the horn, everything was leather when I got it cinches, straps and all but sense then nylon has taken it's place in the many years I used it. leather conchos and straps just rotted off came loose last month  I really would like to see if it could be revamped. Baling twine works as stirrup keepers and it is also like yours light at about 25 lbs. It is a oldie and I have sold other old saddle before, but for some reason I have always declined to sell this one and it still sits in my tack room today.
here it is..
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website: aldrichfarm.com
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OkieKigers
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3# |
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(Date Posted:04/12/2007 9:07 AM)
Gosh, Tiffany, hang onto it, it is worth it to have it refurbished.
When I took mine into the shop, Carter was with me, and you know how men are, the fella just looked right through me and offered Carter a $100 credit on a new synthetic saddle (worth $150) , in trade for my old ugly one. Whoa, bubba, it's my saddle and the answer is NO. But you know what I'm sayin', those new material saddles are purdy but they won't be around in 5 years if you ride very much, but if you're looking at an old one that still has a sound tree after decades, chances are it is worth fixing! The saddle maker knew it too.
Yep, yours has about the same spread as mine does!
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If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle. --Rita Mae Brown
http://www.wilnet1.com/~okiekigers
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tiffany1fantasy
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4# |
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From: USA
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(Date Posted:04/12/2007 10:20 PM)
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website: aldrichfarm.com
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Verano
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5# |
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07/23/2003
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(Date Posted:04/12/2007 10:21 PM)
I love the look of those old western saddles though I've never felt comfortable riding in them.Just not used to so much leather between me & the horse,but what I wanted to reply to was the comment about the synthetic saddles.
I agree that a western saddle made of synthetics probably won't hold up...certainly not if it's a working saddle..used for roping or real cattle/ranch work...however,I bought a new Wintec All Purpose saddle(neoprene!) back in 1984.Used for endurance,literally thousands of miles of tough trail riding,conditioning & competing.Only replaced the billet staps in 2000,then sold it (for nearly what I'd paid for it) and it's ridden in nearly daily & stiil used for endurance & going strong ! I do ride with a saddle cover that protects the saddle from tearing from brush (plus it's extra cush for the tush) so my saddles look brand new when I remove the covers.I bought a new Wintec while I was in Australia & had it shipped back here which I ride in now & love.Amazingly durable for the kind of riding I do....but I'll admit I can't help but run my hands over the beautifulold leather hand tooled saddles for sale at the local tack store.They're works of art !
I have a hand made bosal,made in the '50's by a local horse trainer that I rode a couple of young horses in back in the '80's but it's getting fragile & it's such a treasure(beautiful braided reins..mecate'?) so it hangs on my wall as decoration now.Love the old gear !
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pepperja
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Kigerrose
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6# |
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09/06/2002
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(Date Posted:04/13/2007 5:29 AM)
I ride my Kiger with a 1940' s Tom Mix saddle (A-fork). Very high pomell and horn, but it fits. I also have a 1950 ladys saddle made by a local saddle maker, Kuck and Bonney. The Kuck and Bonney was given to me used when I was 16 years old, so has had many, many years of riding. Finally had to put a new ladigo on it a couple of years ago, but that was all. The Tom Mix was also a gift. It is not very pretty but very comfortable. I don't think I would ever buy a new saddle.
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OkieKigers
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7# |
Rank:none
Score:3498
Posts:1938
From: USA
Registered:
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Time spent:
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(Date Posted:04/13/2007 10:36 AM)
Okay, i don't have a "before" picture, but here's what that saddle looks like after the tune up. I only spent $57 for new fleece and stitching up two tears. Personally I thought the tears were really bad, but they don't show in the picture so either the saddleman was really skilled, or that kind of problem isn't as hard to fix as i thought it would be. But anyway, just to give you some idea if anyone is thinking about sprucing one up, I can say that it was worth it to me. A couple of more Neatsfoot applications and this saddle should be back into service:
Jeanne, I've got a synthetic saddle too and I DO like it, but if I had it to do over again, I would get one with a round skirt (mine is square) I have to admit that I haven't put it to the test, it hasn't been used a whole lot. My biggest disappointment is that the leather swells scratch very easily; its a thin leather, for all i know, maybe goatskin.
I also think that old stuff is priceless. I was reared on a 1948 Texas Stockman saddle that I dearly loved. It fit a higher withered horse than we ride today, but was still a good saddle. It started to give up the ghost around 1995. One of my sons claimed it (all my boys learned to ride in it too) and he has kept it for a conversation piece.
Wow, hang onto that bosal. Is it horsehair? If so, lucky you! Hehe, you just made me think of bits! One of my boys was asking me the other night about various bits; I only recommend two bits now, depending on the horse, and that's a full cheek snaffle or a medium port, medium shank curb. I threw away all my gadget bits years ago. When I think about some of the bits I used when I was younger, I really start to feel sorry for a couple of the horses I rode back then. One I'll never use again was the Tom Thumb and even worse was a long-shanked snaffle and I can't even remember who convinced me to use something like that. I don't like a mechanical hack either; I had a hackamore mare once, but I rode her in the old "McCarty". I doubt that I could remember how to tie one now, that's been a while back!
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If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle. --Rita Mae Brown
http://www.wilnet1.com/~okiekigers
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kiger4kaitlin
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8# |
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Registered:
09/18/2003
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(Date Posted:04/13/2007 11:34 PM)
Reply to : OkieKigers
Who else has an old gem like mine?
I've got one...looks a lot like Tiffany's. It was a hand-me-down from my big sister. I used it all though my heavy duty riding years and then it sat for a long time in a barn. I've worked hard to restore it but have been hesitant to use it now. Maybe one of you can give me some ideas how to work the front skirting back into shape. The very front that would rest on the shoulder is slightly warped and seems like it would pinch.
Thank you for posting this thread Bettye.
Jenni
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www.caringbridge.org/wa/kaitlin
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. -Galatians 5:22,23
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Verano
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9# |
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Score:268
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07/23/2003
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(Date Posted:04/14/2007 12:13 AM)
Hey Bettye,
The bosal I have has leather braided reins-I know horsehair is traditional but this fellow made this one with what he had on hand so it's all leather.He was just an old time cow-boy horse trainer who started alot of colts here for people many years ago.He's in his 90's now.
i bought a 2 yr old arab filly from him & he gave me the bosal to start her with & I did,though I had no experience using one.It did the job & when I switched her to a snaffle she was already so light that I had no problems .I know bosal training is quite a skill in itself & I sure don't know the proper way to school a horse in one but she was able to pick up on my body language and the feel of the reins on her neck to turn as opposed to pulling on her mouth to turn or stop her.
I don't use any gimicky bits either.Amigo uses a very wide,fat copper mouth eggbutt snaffle that he's very comfortable in & the arab switched from a snaffle last year to a side-pull bit-less that actually feels like a bosal noseband covered with nylon braid with rings on each side that the reins attatch to.I've always felt that "less is more" when it comes to bits & the harsher the bit,the better the rider needs to be to prevent hurting the horse.
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pepperja
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OkieKigers
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10# |
Rank:none
Score:3498
Posts:1938
From: USA
Registered:
09/03/2002
Time spent:
1273 hours
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(Date Posted:04/14/2007 10:29 AM)
I've got a sidepull, but I have to wrap the heck out of it, it's a pencil noseband and would just slice the face if i didn't pad it...funny, how something bit-less can be harsher than something in the mouth. I know the trend is towards snaffles these days but I still will defend the use of a curb bit. It just needs to be understood how they work.
Jenni, not sure how bad your leathers are bent, but get a barrel saddle rack to store it on. If its just a bit off, you can probably rescue it, but if it's a definite crease you may be stuck with it. How bad is it?
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If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle. --Rita Mae Brown
http://www.wilnet1.com/~okiekigers
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Verano
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11# |
Rank:none
Score:268
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From:
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07/23/2003
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(Date Posted:04/14/2007 9:15 PM)
My side-pull is finger -thick(fat finger) & nylon braid covered.I put a fleece cover on it when I began using it cause my arab pulls like a train when he's racing ...or anytime he's out in front & was worried I might skin his nose up before he caught on.Now that he understands the concept it works great.I really like it cause he can eat along the trail & at vet stops with nothing in his mouth.Very important for endurance horses.
But like I said before,it's not the bit it's the hands of the rider & the training of the horse.A couple years ago a woman rode her horse on Tevis with a neck rope,no bit at all & finished the ride.I'm impressed !!! but I'd never try it !!!
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pepperja
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. That is pretty sneaky you know
The old saddles truely are made better I believe and a good saddle should last you a life time, or even more to be handed down the family as your was.