Walden Farm and Ranch

10 Western Saddles Every Cowboy & Cowgirl Should Know About

In This Article

Western saddles include many types of saddles used for different Western riding disciplines.

Each type of Western saddle is set apart by different characteristics that make them more specialized for a specific job or discipline.

These include Trail, Barrel Racing saddle, Roping saddle, All Around, Reining, Cutting, Show, Mexican, Vaquero, Western Dressage, and Australian.

What Is A Western Saddle?

A Western saddle is a type of horse saddle designed for Western riding disciplines, such as ranch work, trail riding, barrel racing, roping, and Western pleasure riding. One defining feature of a Western saddle is the saddle horn.

Features Of Western Saddles

Western saddles, designed for a variety of Western riding activities like ranch work, trail riding, and roping, have several key features:

Different Types Of Western Saddles

There are many different kinds of horse saddles for many different purposes. But in all these shapes and sizes, the basics stand true: comfort and safety for you and your horse before anything else. 

Top Western Saddle Brands

While there are a lot of Saddlery's, they are not all created equal. A great saddle has a high quality saddle tree built with quality materials, usually wood. It also used top quality leather or hide, tough stitching, and the saddle horn won't break or wear down. These are our favorite Western saddle brands.

Teskeys Saddlery

Teskey's Saddle Shop, nestled in Weatherford, Texas, the heart of the cutting horse world, began its journey in a modest double-wide garage around 1999. Founded by Jeff Hartong, this humble start has now blossomed into a bustling hub with approximately 75 dedicated employees.

Specializing in crafting saddles right in their Weatherford workshop, Teskey's offers a diverse array of saddles. Whether it's a custom order or a saddle designed for specific activities like barrel racing or ranch duties, they've got it covered. Renowned for their blend of quality and affordability, Teskey's saddles have earned a stellar reputation in the horse industry. In 1998, Weatherford welcomed Michael and Anissa Teskey, who set up their saddle and tack shop in this cutting horse locale.

Double J Saddlery

Established in 1991 in Yoakum, Texas, Double J Saddlery is a testament to three generations of unmatched craftsmanship in handmade products.

Beginning with a focus on high-quality saddles and tack, this family-run business has broadened its horizons to encompass trendy handbags, belts, and accessories. The heart of Double J Saddlery lies in its team of highly skilled artisans, whose dedication to excellence and strong work ethic shines through in every product.

Billy Cook Saddlery

Billy Cook saddles, from Billy Cook Harness & Saddle Manufacturing, Inc., boast a legacy starting in 1953. Founded in Greenville, Texas, by Billy Cook, a dedicated horseman and saddle maker, these saddles are known for their hand-tooled quality and affordability. Each saddle, marked with the "Billy Cook Maker" stamp, showcases the company's commitment to craftsmanship. These saddles have become icons in the equestrian world, offering a diverse range of western saddles and tack, all made in the USA since 1953.

Crafted in Sulphur, Oklahoma, Genuine Billy Cook saddles are renowned for quality. The company's range includes barrel racing, trail, and ranch saddles, serving various riding needs. Despite changes over the years, including Billy Cook's passing in 2019, the company continues to produce high-quality handmade saddles and leather tack, preserving its cherished legacy in the horse community.

Circle Y Saddlery

Since 1960, Circle Y Saddles in Yoakum, Texas, has been a prominent name in crafting Western horse tack and saddles. Renowned for their superior Western saddles, including those designed for trail riding, ranch work, and barrel racing, Circle Y is dedicated to ensuring both rider and horse comfort and functionality.

The leather in Circle Y saddles is highly praised for its quality, contributing to the saddles' reputation as "absolutely gorgeous," "comfortable," and "well-crafted."

The 1682 Sunflower Flex2® Trail saddle, for instance, uses "apache leather," a unique distressed brown leather known for its grip, balancing between the smoothness of grainout leather and the tackiness of suede.

While opinions vary regarding the resale value and features of older versus newer Circle Y saddles, the consensus is clear on the exceptional quality of the leather used, especially in older models.

Colorado Saddlery

Located in Westminster, CO, Colorado Saddlery has been a trusted name in the production of top-notch saddles and tack since 1945. Catering to both casual riders and professionals, they offer an extensive array of equestrian products, including saddles, tack, bits, spurs, pack equipment, and more.

Colorado Saddlery is celebrated for its enduring commitment to quality in the equestrian world. Their saddle collection encompasses various types, such as ranch, roper, trail, and wade saddles.

The best selling Colorado Saddlery saddles include the Colorado Reagan Youth Roper, Colorado Elk Mountain Trail Saddle, Colorado Roughout Cody Trail Saddle, and the Colorado Steamboat Mule Saddle. These saddles come in a variety of sizes and styles, meeting the diverse needs and preferences of riders.

Martin Saddlery

Martin Saddlery, nestled in Greenville, Texas, is a bespoke saddle maker celebrated for its masterfully handcrafted leather tack and saddles. The hallmark of a Martin Saddle is its use of premium leather, with each piece meticulously cut from two corresponding sides to guarantee uniformity and excellence. The saddles, predominantly made to order, occasionally include a limited selection in stock.

Best selling Martin Saddlery hinges on its exceptional craftsmanship and selection of high-grade materials, notably Hermann Oak and Latigo leather. These leathers are chosen for their superior quality and enduring durability, underscoring the company's focus on reliability and safety in their products.

The careful selection and cutting of leather from matching sides for each saddle not only exemplify Martin Saddlery's commitment to quality but also highlight their dedication to creating dependable and durable saddles and tack. This focus on using the finest leather is a fundamental characteristic of Martin Saddlery's distinguished craftsmanship.

Billy Royal Saddlery

Billy Royal saddles stand out for quality and craftsmanship, made from supple, durable leather on lifetime-guaranteed trees. They cater to various disciplines with styles like Western show, reining, and work saddles.

Best selling Billy Royal saddles include the show saddles feature detailed hand-tooling ideal for competitions, while the reining saddles have a close contact design and pre-turned fenders for immediate use. Work saddles, suitable for breeds from Arabians to Quarter Horses, are built on custom wooden trees with a wide gullet for comfort.

Designed by Schneider’s and manufactured in Mexico, the saddle trees come with a lifetime warranty. Billy Royal saddles are known for their top-notch quality and versatility for different riding needs.

Silver Royal Saddlery

Silver Royal saddles are renowned for their unique designs and features, catering to a diverse array of riding disciplines and preferences. These saddles are celebrated for their colorful and fun southwestern flair, with deep seats, roughout jockeys and fenders for optimal grip, and distinctive geometric carved seats.

Silver Royal uses stainless steel in-skirt rigging, leather-covered stirrups, and Tough1 Quick Change fender buckles, offering both durability and convenience for riders.

An example is the Silver Royal by Tough1 Jackpot Barrel Saddle, which is designed specifically for barrel racing and includes a rawhide-covered tree, full quarter horse bars, and precise measurements for the horn, swell, gullet, cantle, and skirts.

Reinsman Saddlery

Reinsman, based in Texas, specializes in high-quality saddles for diverse Western riding disciplines. Their range includes trail and endurance trail saddles, designed for comfort and function, as well as a variety of saddle pads to ensure horse and rider comfort. The company’s commitment to quality makes their saddles suitable for various riding needs.

Best selling Reinsman saddles include trail saddles like the 1554 Omaha Flex2® and Julie Goodnight series, ranch saddles for ranch work, durable synthetic/hybrid saddles, versatility and all-around saddles for various activities, show saddles for Western shows, mounted shooting saddles for competitions, and training saddles are all part of their collection.

Cashel Saddlery

Cashel Saddlery is renowned for its diverse array of saddles and saddle pads, each designed with a focus on comfort, security, and versatility. Their saddles cater to a wide range of activities, including training, colt starting, pleasure riding, and competition.

Best selling Cashel saddles range from training to competition. These saddles are well-regarded for their combination of security and comfort, making them a popular choice.

Additionally, Cashel Saddlery's range extends to saddle accessories, providing riders with practical items like bottle holders, cantle bags, horn bags, and horn saddle bags. These accessories are designed to complement their saddles, further reinforcing Cashel's commitment to creating a comprehensive and rider-friendly experience.

Final Thoughts

No matter which Western saddle you choose, there is one for you. Each one has it's own unique features that make it perfect for whichever discipline you love. With these Western saddles, every cowboy and cowgirl will be ready to tack up and go for a ride.


Richard Sutherland

 RichardSutherland@bitsnspurs.org

Richard is a western lifestyle author for Bits N' Spurs, the weekly newsletter that keeps pace with today's rodeo. His articles are featured on dozens of rodeo and Western related websites and provide a window to the world of cowboy culture.