Anybody here use/have a half-seat roping saddle

[Calf_roper_John]

I am looking for recomendations for a half-seat wade a-fork, but am having trouble finding one.

The purchase wont be anytime in the near future, so no e-bay ads please.

Thanks,

John

[Calf_roper_John]

I found this, but it's not a wade A-fork, and it's rather pricy and no tree warrenty. Ofcoarse, I'd have to have a holster built into the saddlebags and 22" tapaderos made. (another $700 on top of the $8700 saddle price)

[Thunderz Gurlz]

WHOA!!!.... $8700 For a saddle Sorry to hjack the post...

[miss leanne]

For a custom-made good quality saddle, that's about what you'd pay. I've seen them as low as $5,000.00, but the sky is the limit to how expensive they can be.

Question: why tapaderos?

[Calf_roper_John]

Originally Posted by Thunderz Gurlz

WHOA!!!.... $8700 For a saddle Sorry to hjack the post...

Look at it this way... Would you spend $8700 on a vehicle? That vehicle will last maybe 10-25 years before it's worn out.

A saddle last a lifetime, and even longer if cared for properly. Quality saddles are woth every penny spent.

[miss leanne]

you didn't answer my question: why tapaderos??

[Calf_roper_John]

Originally Posted by miss leanne

you didn't answer my question: why tapaderos??

Oh sorry we musta posted around the same time, because I didn't see your reply when I hit write reply.

Tapaderos really add a security to me knowing me foot wont slide all the way through if my heel on my boot were to come unglued and nailed (<-True story on a pair of Lucchese 2000's). Also, tapaderos keep my boots looking decient when traveling through thick thorns and heavy brush, because half the time I am just following the dog when we are hunting lost head, and she'll take you through near anything. I have found that my feet stay drier when crossing a creek with tapaderos. Don't know why, heel get's equally as wet wheather or not, but I do knw my socks don't get soaked with Taps. Also, you can't say they don't look cool.

Before anybody ask why the Single action revolver holster in the saddle bags and the rifle scafford? I carry firearms with me at all times in the fields. Usually just a .45 rifle, but you never know what type of preditor is going to pick off my income, and $.45 lead is worth saving $600-800 head.

[miss leanne]

After looking at that saddle you posted, that is NOT something I would want to be riding in all day. It's more a conversation piece / work of art type of saddle...

check these folks out:

http://www.oregonsaddles.com/saddles.htm

[miss leanne]

you can get leather covered stirrups for a lot cheaper... and if you're gonna be going through rough country, you might want to consider them, because then you could replace them if they were to become extremely worn out.

I'm just not a big fan of tapaderos, they get in the way a lot more than they help... but heck, that's just this crazy old horsewoman's opinon.

[Calf_roper_John]

Originally Posted by miss leanne

After looking at that saddle you posted, that is NOT something I would want to be riding in all day. It's more a conversation piece / work of art type of saddle...

check these folks out:

http://www.oregonsaddles.com/saddles.htm

They're all nice, but none of those are half-seats. What about that saddle I posted looks unconforitable to you?

[Calf_roper_John]

Originally Posted by miss leanne

you can get leather covered stirrups for a lot cheaper... and if you're gonna be going through rough country, you might want to consider them, because then you could replace them if they were to become extremely worn out.

I'm just not a big fan of tapaderos, they get in the way a lot more than they help... but heck, that's just this crazy old horsewoman's opinon.

Haha, Crazy....Maybe.....Helpful....Definatly so from past experinces...

I havn't owned a saddle without taps since I was 12. When I started working the cattle taps became maditory in my opinion. Not to mention in heavy brush the keep sticks from getting hung up in your stirr-ups.

Here's some bad pictures of my current saddle (please notice I have taps on this one too:

[miss leanne]

The position of the stirrups looks too far back for my taste, and everything looks so polished and shiny... kinda makes me wonder... (even the inside of the stirrups looks like laquered pine!)

Anyway, I'm sure for that price it's a very good saddle. Different strokes for different folks.

[Calf_roper_John]

Originally Posted by miss leanne

The position of the stirrups looks too far back for my taste, and everything looks so polished and shiny... kinda makes me wonder... (even the inside of the stirrups looks like laquered pine!)

Anyway, I'm sure for that price it's a very good saddle. Different strokes for different folks.

I understand completely.

But every saddle is like every car. Ever saddle rides differnts than another, every car drives different than another. It takes some time getting used to.

I'd be having it built completely natural colored leather, and wooden stirrups with leather wraped bell bottoms reado for taps.

That is if it comes to that saddle.

[beth55051]

www.plattevalleysaddle.com
www.bigbendsaddlery.com
www.flatcreeksaddle.com
www.cowboycompany.com (High Country)

Those are the 4 best I know of for custom wade's for the real working cowboy. My husband has been dreaming of the day when he can afford one of these.

[Calf_roper_John]

Thanks for the links. Were there any half-seats in there? I didn't happen to see one, but I might have just missed it.

Does 191 head of cattle count as a working cowboy??

[beth55051]

Sure does to me. My husband and I just play with the 1000 cow/calf pairs on the McVeigh down the road a couple times a year.

I know that High Country has a half seat, they also do taps. Or really anything you want that can be made out of leather and is cowboy.

I know I sure wished I had taps the day I got a tree stuck through my stirrup in deep brush. Good thing Miss Kitty goes just as fast in reverse as in forward gear. That could have been interesting. Then there was the day I was riding more backwards then forwards and darn near broke all my toes on a tree! That'll teach you to watch where you're going.

[miss leanne]

leather-covered stirrups are a good idea, that's for sure. I'm just not sold on the whole 'dangle-down' type, y'know. But it's all good. Like I said, the saddle ain't for me, it's for you.

Good luck in your saddle finding adventure... ask for references when you do have one made! Dropping that kind of money on a custom saddle, you ought be able to get a 'Car Fax' report on the dealership. (using the saddle/car analogy previously mentioned.)

[Calf_roper_John]

Originally Posted by beth55051

Sure does to me. My husband and I just play with the 1000 cow/calf pairs on the McVeigh down the road a couple times a year.

I know that High Country has a half seat, they also do taps. Or really anything you want that can be made out of leather and is cowboy.

I know I sure wished I had taps the day I got a tree stuck through my stirrup in deep brush. Good thing Miss Kitty goes just as fast in reverse as in forward gear. That could have been interesting. Then there was the day I was riding more backwards then forwards and darn near broke all my toes on a tree! That'll teach you to watch where you're going.

Yea it will, and taps will make you lazy, but I still try to avoid all the brush, just every once in a while we'll lose a head, and the 30lbs blue healer thinks me and the horse can get through whatever she get's through.

I still need to get those pics for you don't I???

[Calf_roper_John]

Originally Posted by miss leanne

leather-covered stirrups are a good idea, that's for sure. I'm just not sold on the whole 'dangle-down' type, y'know. But it's all good. Like I said, the saddle ain't for me, it's for you.

Good luck in your saddle finding adventure... ask for references when you do have one made! Dropping that kind of money on a custom saddle, you ought be able to get a 'Car Fax' report on the dealership. (using the saddle/car analogy previously mentioned.)

Yea, I understand that. I get all the small work done by a friend locally (Taps, saddle bags, scaffords, rear flank, trippin collar, bucking rolls, etc).

I will deffinatly get references. It aint buying anytime soon (no money), but will be in the next year or two.

[Miichelle]

Why a half seat? It looks like it would pinch!