I really love the Coats saddle I've ridden for 4 years. It's a really hard flat seat but after riding lots of other new and used barrel saddles through the years, this is the first saddle that doesn't make my back a little sore after a hard run where there might be some snap, and it sure fits my horse perfect too. :) http://www.coatssaddlery.com/

My Mike Pish custom cow horse saddle and my Bob's Saddlery cow horse saddle and my Champion Cutting saddle

Guess I will be the sole Dressage person to respond lol. Just used a Smith Worthington "Briana" that was amazing. For trail riding nothing beats a Bob Marshall. Have used both Western & English style. Very comfy.

Doug Kidd, at Borderstates Leatherworks [borderstates.com] designed my 1859-style McClellan. It's made for a modern quarter horse, and mine fits 7 out of 8 horses I've used it on. Number 8 is my own Thoroughbred! For him, I use a Wintec 250.

Giftedcowboy, Your saddle sounds soo cool! Can you tell me what Beavertail buckin rolls look like? I'm totally ignorant on different types of bucking rolls. Can you tell me what styles there are and which are best for trial and for breaking? Thanks in advance. Anne

I have 2 billy cooks...1 a trophy saddle that sores all of the backs, numerous roping saddles, couple pleasure saddles but.......... because I can't lift the heavy saddles when Mark isn't home, I rooted around the barn and found an old, old saddle covered in dust and cobwebs. I have no idea what kind it is...looks like just an all around saddle but it is very light....maybe 20 lbs. I cleaned it up and it looks pretty good and I can throw it up by myself! Woohooo! And it doesnt seem to bother any of my horses so it is becoming my favorite saddle. I have to say tho that when I work cattle, I only use my cutting saddle...billy cook....I am not a b.c. die hard fan, that just happens to be what I have.

Well, I must admit, trophy saddles are just that "trophy's" to sit in your LR and take up space, not on the back of a horse!!! I ordered a new saddle back in March and it should be here any day!! I am sooo excited! I ordered a saddle on the same Martha Josey tree I have now, (from the mid 80's), under a new Carl Ammerman skirt. It is a 13-1/2" bullhide seat & trim, and since my last one was ordered 22 yrs. ago and fit both horses & myself, I wanted another one! It cost almost as much as a used car! $2800, so it will be the last one I buy for a long time!! Carl still makes them one-at-a-time, by hand, not factory assembled like most of the big-name brands.

One that I made...lol.... I am currently riding a version of the 58 Wade. specs are 16.5" seat...9" wide x 4 1/2 deep fork...4" hand hold width...12" wide x 4 1/2 tall cantle...horn is 3" tall x 4 1/2" guadalajara cap 32 degrees... wade bars set at 93 degrees with a good measure of rocker in them so it will not bridge...it has a wade roll...half double stirrup leathers and fenders...is rigged 7/8 deep dropped flat plate with an open O ring...skirts are old Hamley style round...is rigged with beavertail bucking rolls set low enough that they help... 6 button seat with long 7/16 strings...with Robbie Scheazlein silver conchos...half breed tooled with flowers and basket....roughout seat and fenders that have a border stamp..3 1/2 wide rear cinch... 100% mohair cinch....half breed off billet...1 3/4 latigo...skirts are lined with the best golden bark sheep cut 2 from a hide with one cut from each side of the back...100% Herman Oak # 1 skirting sides 13/15 oz....4 1/2 Moran style Monel stirrups...

Mine is an Aussie Saddle........ :o)

Now that I ride Barrels I have a CircleY kelly kaminski Barrel Xtreme performance and Love it.. http://www.shopatron.com/product/part_number=1539/468.0.22293.25310.23002.0.0 roping - billy cook its old but usable.lol reining - big horn trail - tucker had a custom Henig when I rode dressage and wouldnt ride in anything else..