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URGENT saddle advice!!

2K views 4 replies 2 participants last post by  BritishReiner 
#1 ·
Hey all,

I need urgent advice about an older bob's reining saddle. Has anyone had any experience with a bob's saddle? What were your thoughts about them?
Here is the description of one that I am looking to buy:

Nice condition, older Bob's reining saddle. Has a 16" seat to the stitching and what I would call Regular QH bars(please see pictures to decide for yourself). This is an older Bob's and has the older maker mark. It has beautiful sterling overlay conchos and tips that are all in great condition. Has had some miles on it, the leather on the upper jockeys and fenders has gotten a little thinner with use. The owner hasn't used it in years and its just been sitting around in the dry Arizona weather so it really soaked up the Leather New I cleaned it with. A few inches of stitching has come out of the upper backside of the right fender(please see the picture), not a big deal but I like to mention these things. A few rubbed spots on the fleece along the edges. Marked with serial number B83 080. The skirts measure 28" and it weighs about 35lbs. Would be a perfect starter reining saddle or a great training saddle. The tree is sound and tight. Even with its age, still a striking saddle to look at!

Photos:
































What do you think of it?

Sorry for the long post but I need the best advice I can get.

Please help!
 
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#3 ·
Although I have never seen a "Bob's" in person, it has the traits of a really nice, high quality saddle. Certainly not junk. The leather tooling is REALLY nice. :) I'd say it looks like a really nice used show saddle.

The only think I might be concerned with is the condition. It doesn't look bad at all, but do you see the photo with the Bob's logo? (I believe it's also a part of the fender.) The stitching is worn through there. So the back layer of leather might want to peel up at some point, very much like the photo of the leather lifting on the back of the fender. That isn't a functional issue as much as it is cosmetic (most western saddles don't even have the extra leather backing on the fenders) but it could be something that might need a little stitching at some point.

Also, with older saddles like that, you might want to ask about, or get photos of the the back side of the stirrup leathers. Because that tends to be something that will wear out first on a western saddle. The holes where you adjust your stirrups can crack and tear, so double check about the condition of the stirrup leathers where the holes are, especially since it looks like you are buying from very far away.

Just my thoughts as a western rider. I'm no expert, so maybe someone else can chime in. :)
 
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