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Does this saddle look cheap, is it good quality?

21K views 25 replies 13 participants last post by  itsjinx5 
#1 ·
I'm new to this forum :)
Anyway, I'm finding it hard to find reviews on this saddle and I was wondering if anyone could help?

I just want to know if it's a nice saddle for barrel racing, as my horse and I are getting more competetive but I don't want to spend a fortune! This one is a good price range and I like it.

Saddle King of Texas "Rodeo Star" Saddle



It comes in a light tan, dark cherry, and black colouring. Which one looks better, and overall if you know, is this saddle comfortable for the horse? It has the correct measurements for my horse but her safety and comfort comes before all!!

I just really want to know if this saddle could be good for competing and it'd be perfect it was!
 
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#12 ·
For $480, you can find a MUCH MUCH nicer saddle...even used.

make offer/ paypal accepted - 14" billy cook barrel racing saddle Billy cook for $450
14 in Circle Y Barrel Saddle - Barrel Saddle Cirlce Y $500 (and overpriced)
Nbha trophy saddle - Barrel saddle Corriente $450
{ All leather Dakota Barrel Saddle 15" } - { Dakota 15" } Dakota $350
custom build, light, very comfortable saddle - Barrelsaddle price reduced 420obo Must GO! Lamb saddle
15" barrel racer - Kristie Peterson Textan

All mid to better quality saddles that will actually have a resale value if you decide to sell.
 
#14 ·
For $480, you can find a MUCH MUCH nicer saddle...even used.

make offer/ paypal accepted - 14" billy cook barrel racing saddle Billy cook for $450
14 in Circle Y Barrel Saddle - Barrel Saddle Cirlce Y $500 (and overpriced)
Nbha trophy saddle - Barrel saddle Corriente $450
{ All leather Dakota Barrel Saddle 15" } - { Dakota 15" } Dakota $350
custom build, light, very comfortable saddle - Barrelsaddle price reduced 420obo Must GO! Lamb saddle
15" barrel racer - Kristie Peterson Textan

All mid to better quality saddles that will actually have a resale value if you decide to sell.
Thank you :) I just need to find one that ships to Canada, this definitely helps I'll take a look!! :)
 
#17 ·
I agree with bubba and others. Poorly made saddle on a poor tree. I would much rather save for a new Dakota (which isn't a lot more money) or find a quality used one. I would never purchase that saddle even as a back up.
 
#18 ·
I would look for a used saddle of better quality. This brand of saddle is forever for sale on Craigslist in my area and they cant hardly give them away. I say a used circle y or tex tan or even a simco would be much better.
 
#20 ·
If you're looking for something that will start coming apart after a few months of use and made with a fiberglass tree, it's perfect.

If you want something that will last you for quite some time and still look nice, I'd find a good used saddle. Some others have offered some great suggestions.
 
#21 · (Edited)
I'll recommend the Fabtron. It's of decent quality. The synthetic skirts and fenders hold up very well and reduce the weight of the saddle by 8 or 9 lbs. I see the Fabtron is meas. at 15.5 but people often incorrectly measure to the stitch line. I'll bet its a 15" seat. If it had qh bars I'd be making an offer. I don't have an aversion to a 19lb saddle.
 
#24 ·
Never would I have thought I would buy a Saddle King, let alone two, but during the last two months I've acquired two of them. I honestly thought they were below me, but you know what? I really kind of like them.

One is a roper so it is built better than their barrel saddles. And one is a trail saddle but it is still "decent" quality wise.

The roper I got through a trade and I LOVE it. Really nothing to complain about. Well, the fleece could be better, but I feel that way about most artificial fleece. But it has a Steele wood fiberglass saddle tree and the leather is nice and it fits my horse awesome.

Now the trail saddle I wouldn't have bought but I got an awesome deal on it ($300 new) and I am impressed at how well it fits both of my horses. It has a Ralide tree. The fleece is actually better than on the roper and well, I've just been very pleased with it so far. It's definitely surpassed my expectations. My only real complaint is that the fenders could be thicker.

That being said, the ones you posted a picture of do look very cheap and I'm sure they are the bottom of the rung even for a Saddle King. Besides the less than crisp tooling (that is just stamped on there, not hand tooled) a dead give away is the way the stirrup leathers intersect the fenders. You only see that on really cheap saddles. (Although it always amazes me how Tucker, which is an expensive saddle brand just rivets their fenders on many of their saddles, but that is another topic).

Anyway, yes, it would be best to find something better if you can. But not all the Saddle Kings are horrible, horrible junk. And honestly, once you start taking apart any mass produced saddle you will be amazed at all the staples, nails and junk.

I put longer saddle strings on the saddles I get and I see what kind of stuff is under the hood. Nobody runs strings through the tree anymore. Maybe there are custom makers that do, but I have never seen anything mass produced with proper saddle string attachments. You are lucky if they are held on with a screw (vs. a nail or staples, bleh!).

Oh, I just saw that the original topic is really old. Oh well!
 
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