Saddles

[turnerriver]

I’ve enjoyed this thread but anytime I get near a saddle in person I close my eyes and hurry past it. The last thing I need is more and bigger leather items.
They sure are pretty though.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[bamabiker]

I've seen some at flea markets and antique stores and wished I had a reason to buy them.
I did see a black guy one time that rode a Honda Valkyrie and he had replaced the original seat with a saddle. Said he was riding an iron horse .

 

[ME94]

Inherited a saddle from my father in law, when the had the old leather replace the tree was stamped 1908. The saddle is heavy and well built; when I get home in will take pictures and post some photos. I also have a Texas saddle that is awsome also and a couple tucker saddles that are really comfortable. None compares to the 1908 saddle.

 

[reccpd101]

McClelland saddles are the most uncomfortable I have ever rode. I'd love to have one as a conversation piece but not to ride.

I do still own my old roperbut it hasn't been on a horse in 30 years. My father bought it at a cattle sale about 60 years ago. I still like to ride but have no place to keep a horse so the few times a year I get to ride it's on someone elses horse with their tack.

 

[SAFireman]

I still have the horses, but the saddles get to come inside nowadays....

The first one I had made is an A-fork style. It was built by Circle Y, their factory is close to my home and they made it to order.

The second saddle is by Lebman in San Antonio, TX. I came into possession of this one by way of an old holster & western art collector that I know. It was made 1920-1930 in Lebman's downtown workshop. It is the only saddle that I have ever seen with a chain border (like ship anchor chain). I had it restored by my saddle maker buddy in Bryan, TX. It hasn't been near a horse since then.

I have several other saddles, but no pictures of those. They all live in my home and stay in the AC and out of the heat.

 

[Rpg]

A number of years ago my sister used my western saddle and my jumping saddle as trade in on a new flat saddle for her Arab mare.

I’ve still got a fair amount of tack including a pack saddle and panniers, but haven’t had a chance to use them recently.

I got out of the horse buisness a long time ago. My sister still likes to feed horses she gets little use from, other than as pets.

 

[turnerriver]

“ The second saddle is by Lebman in San Antonio, TX. I came into possession of this one by way of an old holster & western art collector that I know. It was made 1920-1930 in Lebman's downtown workshop. “
Hyman Lebman made other interesting items as well as saddles and had an exclusive if suspect clientele, google his name for a fun read.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[crazyphil]

Would all saddle and no horse be kinda like all hat and no cattle?
I have the hat, but no cattle.

 

[boykinlp]

I’ve enjoyed this thread but anytime I get near a saddle in person I close my eyes and hurry past it. The last thing I need is more and bigger leather items.
They sure are pretty though.
Regards,
turnerriver

John,
You are one of the ones that I thought might have a saddle! Their size is definitely a drawback.

I still have the horses, but the saddles get to come inside nowadays....

The first one I had made is an A-fork style. It was built by Circle Y, their factory is close to my home and they made it to order.

The second saddle is by Lebman in San Antonio, TX. I came into possession of this one by way of an old holster & western art collector that I know. It was made 1920-1930 in Lebman's downtown workshop. It is the only saddle that I have ever seen with a chain border (like ship anchor chain). I had it restored by my saddle maker buddy in Bryan, TX. It hasn't been near a horse since then.

I have several other saddles, but no pictures of those. They all live in my home and stay in the AC and out of the heat.

Scott,
Those rigs look really nice to guy who knows nothing about them, but is willing to research. What else is there to do during this epidemic?

Would all saddle and no horse be kinda like all hat and no cattle?
I have the hat, but no cattle.

Phil,
You are another guy that I thought might own a saddle, but no horse. I mean, after all, you ARE crazyphil!! You match awesome holsters with hats and knives. Looks like Scott can match awesome saddles with hats and guns.

I keep trying to tell myself, "A saddle is just more leather to appreciate." And from some of the terrific posts here, I see that a saddle can be displayed for all to admire.
Larry

 

[SAFireman]

Scott,
Those rigs look really nice to guy who knows nothing about them, but is willing to research. What else is there to do during this epidemic?

Larry

Larry,

There is a whole big story behind Lebman's in San Antonio. I won't clutter the thread with it.

There is a SD Myres fully tooled saddle at the TX Ranger museum that I would love to have. The only SD Myres saddle that I have ever seen in person.

 

[crankyoldlady]

Wish I still had my Hereford Aristocrat. Wonderful memories.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

My dad gave me his Herford saddle in 1980, 11 years before he died. I
used it until 2000 when I switched to all mules. The Herford did not fit
any of those. I passed the saddle along to my nephew, dad's grandson,
and he has it at his house on the old home place, but no horse.

 

[Broke Hoss]

The horses are gone, but the saddles are still around; about 5 of them anyways.

My favorite pleasure riding saddle was originally bought by my MIL from a Sears & Roebuck catalog. It's lightweight; sits well on most horses & is quite comfortable.

 

[boykinlp]

Larry,

There is a whole big story behind Lebman's in San Antonio. I won't clutter the thread with it.

There is a SD Myres fully tooled saddle at the TX Ranger museum that I would love to have. The only SD Myres saddle that I have ever seen in person.

Scott, you and John are right. I just googled and read the H. Lebman of San Antonio history. He definitely had some interesting customers. The kind that you wouldn't want to make mad. Mr. Lebman must have been really talented in both gunsmithing (from the story) and saddle making from Scott's pictures.

It is funny that you mentioned Myres saddles. When I started this post, I looked on the internet for some pictures of some of their work. Since they made such beautiful holsters, I thought their saddles would be superb too. Considering the company was called SD Myres Saddle Company, and were advertised as making "The World's Finest Saddles", I thought I would find quite a few pictures. I hardly found any, but I did find this catalog from the 40's.
Larry

 

[Mblhopo]

How many have heard of Ted Flowers saddles, He made mostly parade saddles, Ted was known all across the country. I live about 20 miles from his shop, Ted was killed by a family member back in the 70s. He used a lot of silver on his saddles and they were very ornate...……………………………………………..M*

 

[keith44spl]

I've owned two saddles in my life.......
Had a purty bad wreck on a bronc and broke the tree in my first'n.

I had Ben Swanke build me this'n back in the last century.

My Dad kidded me a right smart about having a forty dollar saddle and a ten dollar horse.

At that time, a thousand dollar ranch horse was a prize...
A three thousand dollar saddle was king's ransom for a working cowboy.

I guess the grandson's will have to draw straws for it.

.

 

[bamabiker]

Wish I still had my Hereford Aristocrat. Wonderful memories.

That's one fine looking filly.......and the horse ain't bad either.

 

[Pig Hunter]

Mr. Dave, our taste In guns and saddles seem to go hand in hand yours is pretty much the one I'd like. Right now I have an association treed Ozark out of Waco with round skirts. Always wanted a nice Wade tree with round skirts 7/8 rigged, bullhide tree. Just can't justify it as much as I ride now. For those that feel the lack of a seat between the bars on a McCllean saddle makes it uncomfortable, it was to maintain military bearing. On a diet of beans and hardtack it would be hard to keep neat orderly ranks with every other trooper leaning right or left to break wind. In one of them saddles you can sit up straight no matter what.

 

[jmace57]

My mom's family were cattle ranchers in south Texas. When I think of them, I think of the combination of smells of leather, horse sweat and oats.

 

[boykinlp]

I've owned two saddles in my life.......
Had a purty bad wreck on a bronc and broke the tree in my first'n.

I had Ben Swanke build me this'n back in the last century.

My Dad kidded me a right smart about having a forty dollar saddle and a ten dollar horse.

At that time, a thousand dollar ranch horse was a prize...
A three thousand dollar saddle was king's ransom for a working cowboy.

I guess the grandson's will have to draw straws for it.

.

Dave,
I was hoping you would respond to this thread. You said that you broke the tree on your saddle. As bad as that would be, I hope none of YOUR bones were broken! I would guess the tree was made of hard wood and would take quite a lot of force to break it! That is why it takes a real man to be a cowboy. You, sir, fit that description.

I really like your saddle. My only question is "What kind of dog is that big shaggy white one, with the leather straps and buckles, in the lower left of your picture??" Just kidding, of course, but what am I looking at?
Larry