This is one of those saddles that I cannot decide whether I love it or hate it. I usually don't care for two toned saddles like this, but this one is oddly appealing. I like the contrast of the light leather with the black trim. I think I would like it more if the leather were a bit darker, perhaps a dark oxblood color. I think the spots are just silver studs, not rhinestones (if they are I retract my previous statement and hate it), and there is just enough silver to make it pop. It also looks fairly well made.
Now, this next one I truly hate. Not only is it an odd conglomeration of different colored leather, but you can tell that it is a cheap piece of crap. All of the skirts are curling and it is brand new, the whole thing just looks poorly made. Why would you make the lower skirts black and the seat dark brown? It looks like they just had some leftover parts that they threw together to make a saddle.
I think the first one is nice. It is not to bling-y if that is a word, and the two-tone is done in a tasteful way. I agree it would look better if it was done in a darker leather, but I don't like light colored leather on saddles as a whole. Maybe it is just because I am an english rider, but I feel like the light leather looks unfinished.
ReplyDeleteI agree the first saddle isn't awful. Not what I would buy but not awful. Second saddle does look like they said to them selves "Well we have all these extra pieces lets put them together someone will buy it". Honestly if people want a cheap saddle get a synthetic or go to a used tack store.
ReplyDeleteIronically I own the saddle that is shown first. Well not the exact one she got the picture form but one juts like it lol, if that makes sense. And anyway yes they are studs not rhinestones and it is a very well made saddle, very comfy and gets compliments everytime i run my horse. I however was not a fan of the black stirrups and so switched them out for a pair of alumminum stirrups. The saddle when new is a lighter oil which does look odd, but as with all leathers, the more use it gets, the darker it gets. Mine has been used and broken in to the point it is a niced medium color, like a dark honey color, looks really nice now
ReplyDeletethe second saddle looks like something they had an apprentice saddle maker craft to see if he'd be any good at making saddles... I bet he failed
I would use the first saddle, that is a nice looking saddle. The second made me loose my breakfast. haha
ReplyDeleteI don't own a horse, but do leatherworking and have never outgrown the pre-teen-girl/horse thing, so I enjoy the blog. Anyhoo, I like the first saddle, it looks like something I wish I could make. :) Not overboard on the tooling and bling.
ReplyDeleteThe second one . . . ewwwww! I think that the horrible yellow parts may be the "Nature-Tand" drek that Tandy/Leather Factory brought back a couple years ago, which I haven't seen anything made from that doesn't scream Groooovy 60's dude. I think there may be a bit of bad photography/lighting there, too, making the yellow worse. Or maybe I just *want* the lower fenders to be dark brown, not black. Anyway, they're too much dark, should have switched and made the upper fenders dark and the lower ones light if they were going to go for that color combination, IMO.
And while I'm at it, WTF is up with saddle makers using the ugly carp from Tandy/LF like the faux-ostrich and the nature-tand? I get wholesale prices, which are better than their "club" prices, and I still get better prices on better leather from other suppliers.
I agree with you on both saddles. The first would look great on a buckskin, IMO. The second one? Three colors is a bit overboard, and the leather looks rather cheap.
ReplyDeleteThe first one is fine. Not really objectional but not especially attractive either. The second one however is ugh-lee. The yellow,brown and black do not work.
ReplyDeleteI like the firs one, would like it more if it were something other than a barrel saddle, but still, overall A+ for looks.
ReplyDeleteSaddle (if you can call it that) #2. Looks like a major fail on several levels.
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Definitely like the first one. My students have one similar to it, only it doesn't have the black trim along the edges and the rawhide roll on the back is white. It does have the black seat, though. It's a Circle Y barrel saddle and is lightweight and very comfy.
ReplyDeleteSecond one: YEEEEAAAAH. If you had some weird AppyArabFriesianClydeQuarterWalking cross that's a palochampagneblanketspotsvarnish that looks like God had leftover horse parts and decided to put them all together and see what he'd get, it might work.
I kinda like the first one. Makes me think of a classy palamino in a parade.
ReplyDeleteerm, the 2nd one.. it looks like the rigging might just fall out. not a safe saddle by any stretch of the imagination.
ReplyDeletethe 1st one looks well made, but is much much too busy for me. too much to look at i think.