I get questions all the time on whether one should just go to a saddle store and buy "ready-made" saddle or if one should go to the added expense of having a custom saddle made just for their specific measurements and tastes.  There is no real answer to that question.  We can however give you a guide on the manufactured saddle and you can choose for yourself.

A manufactured saddle is machine-made in an assembly-line process with each worker down the line responsible for his part or parts of the process.  The use of machines and semi-skilled employees dramitically reduces the cost of the building of the saddle.  Quality can vary from part to part.  Some may say that a single person who is doing the same pieces of the operation over and over would develope some skill in that area and become an expert at his or her step in the process.

Manufactured saddle companies must have an offering for a variety of people and prices.  Therefore, they will have a high end grade saddle using higher quality materials with a few options for personal details possible.  Like-wise a low-end saddle will be made available that is a "stock" saddle with no personal details from the customer.  This low end saddle costs less for those who can't afford to pay the high end prices, but will have lower grade workmanship and materials.  Certain brands are known for their good quality and workmanship.  Saddles like the McCall Saddle, which is a manufacured rig,  approaches the quality of a fine custom saddle. It all depends on the quality of materials and the quality of the construction methods.

Some of the top manufactures that are quality saddles are McCall, Crates, Martin, Circle Y, Billy Cook, Courts and Saddle Barn.  Of course, with todays market, brand alone will not tell the entire story and can't be totally relied upon.  When company ownerships change hands, you can't know if the quality stayed the same.  So, in any case, do your homework and find out what good materials means on a saddle.

Here are a few things that you will find with low end saddles: Plasitc Trees with cheap covering, low-grade leather, cheap hardware, staples in place of nails and screws, shoddy stitching.  You get what you pay for.  Low price will almost always equate to a lower grade of saddle

A good compromise would be a custom saddlemaker that has their own line of "production" type saddles which use some machinery for parts of the contruction, but still incorporate high quality materials and skilled craftsman for assembly.  These are priced much lower than the custom, high end saddles in a lower price range.

Do your homework. Visit saddle shops and talk to knowledgeable people about the different saddles.  Look at the different brands and saddles closely and you will start being able to see the the differences in quality.  All it takes is practice and some coaching to make you able to choose a top notch factory production saddle that will serve you well.

If you have any questions on Saddles or Posh Pampered Pets, please call 979-221-7251 or email us at info@poshpamperedpets.com. Our home office is located in Waller, Texas, with warehouses located throughout the United States such as Detroit Michigan (MI), Indianapolis Indiana (IN), Jacksonville Florida (FL), San Francisco California (CA), , Kansas City MO, Miami, Florida (FL), Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (NC), Washington DC, Los Angeles, California (CA), Fayetteville, Arkansas ( AR), San Francisco California (CA), Columbus Ohio (OH).