Quality 

   The saddles I build are all completely handmade and genuinely  hand tooled and carved using the best materials available. The leather in my saddles is all number 1 grade domestic heavy skirting, the finest Latigo, chap leathers, rawhide and bark tanned Shearling wool that I can find. I use no mass production shortcuts in the design, construction, or workmanship and I do all the work myself. I strive to produce the kind of saddle that lives on for generations, a timeless piece of functional artistry, cherished by all and bestowed upon the next with pride and honor. From the basic, no frills rough-out ranch saddle to the fully carved living room art piece, I approach each project with the same enthusiasm and dedication to excellence. The reason is simple and straight forward. My name is on it and where I come from, that stills means something.

 Trees 

The saddle tree is the foundation upon which the saddle is built and just as a building is only as good as it's foundation, a saddle is only as good as the tree. It must be true and square, strong yet light weight, built to last and built to fit both rider and horse. It is not an easy goal to achieve and requires considerable skill and experience. Some saddlemakers make their own trees. Personally, I prefer to specialize in crafting the saddle and let the tree makers specialize in tree making. For me it is a better use of my time and talents and is a recognition of the fact that specialization produces better results.

When it comes to saddle fit, what the purchaser of a custom saddle needs to fully understand is that a horse's back is not static, it changes over time and throughout it's range of movement. No saddle will fit a horse, let alone all horses or even a group of horses perfectly at all times. Therefore, saddlemakers strive to fit a range or types of horses reasonably well under most circumstances or under specific circumstances or disciplines. The proper use of padding should not be ignored as it plays an important role in overall saddle fit as well.

Suffice it to say here that the quality of my saddles doesn't stop with the parts that you see. Every effort is made to insure that the tree is made correctly, fits both rider and horse within acceptable standards and is suitable for the intended use. The customer has the option of requesting a particular tree maker or I will order the tree from the tree maker that I am most comfortable with and can depend on to supply a quality tree on time.

As for fitting the rider, the tree plays an important role but not in the way many people believe. The name of the tree has nothing to do with the way the seat feels or rides. Trees are named for the type of swell or fork and to some extent the type of horn although horns are totally interchangeable like the cantle and bars. What determines the way it feels to you when you sit in it is the shape of the ground seat that the saddlemaker builds onto the tree. This, of course, can be enhanced or hindered by the shape or type and placement of the bars and type of cantle, which may be generally associated with a particular named tree but there is nothing concrete about it. There are no industry standards that govern saddle trees.

Construction and Design

The construction techniques I use in building my custom saddles are taken from the tried and true techniques that have been passed down through the ages from saddlemaker to saddlemaker. With the addition of modern leather tanning available today, better glues, varnishes, fasteners and finishes, and better tools, we are able to produce a stronger, more symmetrical, more durable, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing saddle than ever before.

The work begins with the ground seat, which can either be all-leather or built with a metal strainer plate for added strength, less leather and therefore, less weight and closer contact. The trade-off is less flexibility and a harder seat. The leather ground seat will break-in to the rider's shape like an old comfy shoe, but with time, it can also begin to break down as well, like an old shoe.

As with all aspects of design, there is a compromise. Either method is perfectly acceptable depending on the intended use. All things considered, the strainer plate seat is the accepted industry standard for hard use. With either method, I spend quite a bit of time and effort shaping it to have a comfortable, balanced ride. It can be either deep or flatter depending on the rider's personal preference.

The next consideration in saddle construction is the type of rigging which can be attached in various ways, also depending on the saddle's intended use or requirements. The flat plate rig is very popular and probably the best compromise between strength, rider comfort, contact with the horse and stirrup swing. The in-skirt can be made almost as durable and gives the greatest contact and comfort. The next choice is the double Dee or Ring style rigging, either of which can be quite strong but can also obstruct somewhat the swing of the stirrup leathers if installed up higher and if not, can be prone to stretch or unevenness if dropped down too far. Another option is the Stohlman Dee style rigging which is very strong and can be dropped down for better stirrup swing and rider comfort. Regardless which style rigging is chosen by the customer, I make sure that it is well designed for the tree, is as strong as possible, provides for good stirrup swing and goes on with absolute symmetry.

Guarantee

I stand behind my product 100%. If you are not 100% satisfied with the custom saddle you receive from me, I will refund the price less shipping  if returned in new condition. (Initial deposits may be held until the saddle is resold). However, your satisfaction with my work is the primary goal and every effort will be made to get it right the first time or, failing that, work on it until we do. I believe a customer would rather have the saddle they expected rather than wait several months for a saddle and then get nothing but their money back if it's not right.

My saddles carry a warranty against defects in material and workmanship for the working life of the saddle for the original purchaser under normal conditions and specified use. Wear and tear or discoloration is not covered and any unauthorized alteration , abuse or neglect will void the warranty.

Price

Base price is $2500 with a $800 deposit to cover the cost of materials, plus shipping and insurance. Texas residents pay 6.25% sales tax.
The base price includes the following:

1. High quality, rawhide wrapped wood tree, your choice of bar styles, swell, cantle height and shape and dish, type of horn, and seat length.
2. Choice of leather weight, color and tannery, (i.e. Hermann Oak, Wickett & Craig, etc.).
3. Center balance shaped groundseat. Strainer or all leather, shaped to fit your needs.
4. Latigo, off- billet or off side latigo and keepers.
5. Lined 3" rear cinch with billet sleeves, fancy stitched and lined billets.
6. Plain brass or stainless steel slotted conchos over leather rosettes, 1/2" latigo saddle strings, 6 places, will be bored through the tree unless otherwise specified.
7. Bark tanned shearling wool lined skirts, your choice of shape, (round, semi round, square or semi square), close contact or straight. Blocked to the tree and fully leather plugged.
8. Straight up, hand stitched leather cantle binding.
9. Latigo or mule hide horn wrap.
10. Double Dee or ring rigging, your choice of position.
11. 3" Twist and wrap stirrup leathers and stirrup hobbles. Stirrup leather length will be custom fit to your personal measurements.
12. Rope strap, your choice of styles, cross over, regular slotted, and attachment options.
13. Hardwood stirrups, tin bound. Your choice of styles, leather covered and laced.
14. All edges will be hand burnished to a high luster and sealed.
15. Serial numbered for quick identification.
16. Finally, the entire saddle and all leather accessories will be finished and preserved with 100% neatsfoot oil and Fiebings TanKote.

Options priced accordingly and all prices subject to change. Please call or email for current price quote and current delivery times. Wait time could be as much a 6-12 months depending on backlog.