Let's see your customized saddles

[Benny G]

I didn't want to hijack Cowboyvon's thread, but would like to see other saddles.

These saddles are both very similar. They are on Flat Creek Packer trees, 3/4 rigging. The older one that I ride is a 15 1/2" seat, 3" cantle with a 1 1/2" roll.
The new saddle is a 16 1/2" seat with a slightly taller cantle. I traded the new one for a started dog that was going pretty good. The saddle maker is Marlin Horton, who has since retired. He came up with the tracks and his wife tooled the lion and dogs.









Brett, That's a sweet surprize for sure!

[Mike Leonard]

Here is a saddle my son Scott had built last year by Master Colorado Saddlemaker Bob Klenda of Meeker. Bob is slower than molasses in January but his work has been graded among the best. He has been Colorado Saddlemaker of the year.

[Mike Leonard]

Here is a saddle I really like to ride. I had Buck Profitt of Mancos, Colorado build this for me about 15 years ago. This is a Olin Young Tree and is very comfortable and fits a lot of horses. I have done some heavy roping out of it and this tree was originally designed for steer tripping. I put a set of bulldog taps on it and that saves you some in the puckerbrush.Buck built me a set of small bags,breast collar and a saddle rifle scabbard to match it. He also built my wife a very nice Wade. Old buck has retired but he was a sure nuff old cowboy and a fair hand in the leather shop.

[Spencer]

I had this one made by Jeremy at ranchsaddle.com. I spec'd it out and he made it. So far the quality seems excellent, very comfortable for the long rides. He also made taps and a saddlebags for it. I am having another smaller set of saddlebags made for it right now.

[Al Vallejo]

Here's a saddle that I've rode for over 30 years, I got it from a friend and at the time I wasn't interested in who built it, just that it fit my horses and I felt comfortable in it. It's pretty plain, the only thing that really stands out are the ox bow stirrups. I rec'd them from one of the rancher's I hunted lion, sheep, deer & elk on his ranch. His name was Roscoe Hall, and this pair of stirrups were featured on the cover of the Western Horseman magazine back around the mid 60's.

[Arkansas Frog]

Mike L that is a beautiful Buckskin.

[Mike Leonard]

Thanks the buckskin is Buster he is 6 years old. He is out of a Watch Jack Joe stud, and a Beau Bonanza/Bartender mare.

He is dog gentile and you can jump on him in the pasture with nothing on and ride him with your legs. He actually belongs to my Step Son but he seems to be more interested in trucks and girls right now so Buster stands around a lot and looks pretty. LOL!

[Mike Leonard]

Here's is a photo of my favorite saddle, and my favorite old horse Nicky. this saddle was built at Wilson Coggshall Saddlery in Miles City, Montana by Peter De Verbeck. Pete Verbeck was a faboulus saddle maker and just about every real cowboy up in that country from the Little Missouri, to the Powder to the Yellowstone rode or wanted to ride a Verbeck saddle back in the 50's &60"s. This one is built on and Ellensburg Tree double bullhide covered. I had Master Saddle make Monte Beckman of John Day change out the rigging to a custom 3/4 flat plate with all custom silver ranch hardware by Russell Yates of Rotan , Texas. My Mom had this saddle made for my 12th., birthday and I have rode it hard ever since and it is still in great shape. It has been soaked in lion and bear blood from the critters carried in over it and still it cleans up and looks right.I had to replace the horn once when the horse i had did a double summersault off a lava bluff when chasing a wild cow in the Country between Eagle Creek, Arizona and Blue Vista. Lots of critters been drug with this old saddle.Sort of like a faithful old rifle or shotgun you remember those little nicks, dings and scratches and where you were when it all came down, LOL!

[sourdough]

You can send that buckskin My way. That truck and girl stage is long past gone for me. That way he could be road around and look pretty! LOL

mike great story to your saddle, Benny G very nice tooling done on your saddle as well thanks for sharing I hope others step up to the plate and post there rides

it's funny how thing change in our lives girl, and trucks to horses, hounds, tack, and guns.

sourdough

[Big Horn Posse]

I like a metal oxbow stirrup. Like the weight of them and how my foot fits in them. Guess it is the cutter in me. This photo is of my best mountain pony and stud Freckles Six Choice at 2 years old. I really miss that colt. He was one hell of a horse and awesome producer.

[Mike Leonard]

Tessa,

If you zoom in and take a close look you can see the metal Oxbow stirrups I use. These were also built by Russ Yates of Rotan, Texas. They have my brand on them in Sterling. these are a flat bottomed Oxbow and very comfortable even if you wear a roper type boot rather than a packer or buckaroo type boot with the bottom set up for a traditional oxebow.

[Big Horn Posse]

Mike,

Good deal. I got mine at King's Get most my gear there as I like keeping it local

I see you have a few sorrels in your remuda. I am particular to a red horse and a red dog....... hmmmm wonder why that is???

[Brady Davis]

[Powder River Walker]

Mike our 5 year old stud looks just like that buckskin. Also Mike if you are finding it hard to ride all those good outside saddles I will take one of them off your hands.

My wife has a set of ox bows that are made out of CAT piston rings. they are real nice to ride but they suck when you unsaddle and they whack you in the shin.

[Mike Leonard]

Oh damn that hurts! I have been saddling in the dark by the trailer left stirrup throwed over the top for cinching. And old Gus takes a move and that dang thing flips back over and smacks me on the beak. Damn! That will wake you up without coffee!