rigging on texas saddle

[malachi]

Gentlemen,
Having recently parted with my Mac, I am now about to begin work on a Texas saddle based on a hope tree. I have been looking at all the photos I can find of originals, and have a question concerning the rigging D-ring (or O-ring as the case will be). I see many with no skirting at all. this often leaves the rigging D-ring without any backing of leather to rest on. I assume it would still rest on the saddle blanket, but I don't know if that blanket will be enough to keep the horse from getting sore. I would like to forgo the skirts if possible. I have never seen any "safes" attached to the ring on the ones I've seen. Have any of you had rigging rings resting on the blanket before? Secondly, Any ideas on rigging position? The wrapped horn rigging I've seen puts the rigging at 7/8 to full. Is that alright??? I don't know much about rigging position, but will be putting the saddle on a walking horse with prominent withers and shoulder. Please advise...
Greg Tucker

[Mark Choate]

Re: rigging on texas saddle

Gentlemen,
Having recently parted with my Mac, I am now about to begin work on a Texas saddle based on a hope tree. I have been looking at all the photos I can find of originals, and have a question concerning the rigging D-ring (or O-ring as the case will be). I see many with no skirting at all. this often leaves the rigging D-ring without any backing of leather to rest on. I assume it would still rest on the saddle blanket, but I don't know if that blanket will be enough to keep the horse from getting sore. I would like to forgo the skirts if possible. I have never seen any "safes" attached to the ring on the ones I've seen. Have any of you had rigging rings resting on the blanket before? Secondly, Any ideas on rigging position? The wrapped horn rigging I've seen puts the rigging at 7/8 to full. Is that alright??? I don't know much about rigging position, but will be putting the saddle on a walking horse with prominent withers and shoulder. Please advise...
Greg Tucker

Greg,

One of my Texas saddles is rigged at about 7/8 and with no backing leather to the O ring. Presents no problems whatsoever to the horse (TWH).

Best combination is with a horse in good condition and not overweight, but that can be applied to most saddle fits.

regards,

Mark

[malachi]

Re: rigging on texas saddle

Mark
Does the ring rest on flesh or blanket? And thanks for the reply!
Greg Tucker

[malachi]

Re: rigging on texas saddle

Mark
Does the ring rest on flesh or blanket? And thanks for the reply!
Greg Tucker

[Mark Choate]

Re: rigging on texas saddle

On the blanket

Mark

[malachi]

Re: rigging on texas saddle

One last question on the Texas saddle. On many skeleton rigged versions, the seat leather rolls underneath the sides of the saddle bars, and is tacked underneath. Am I to assume that the seat leather is skived so thin as to not present a soring problem to the horse's back where the leather wraps around the bar? certainly it cannot be left its original thickness.
Greg Tucker

[Mark Choate]

Re: rigging on texas saddle

Greg,

Actually, most skeleton rigged Texas saddles that I have seen do not have excessive leather on the seat or any at all! Many modern saddle makers have taken it way too far with the application of leather to draw in those partial to modern "western saddles." Add to that that many are also using far too heavy a gauge of leather in their saddles and the problem is magnified.

In summary, if you plan on covering the seat with leather, then lighten the gauge and skive that down gradually.

Just my thoughts.

Mark

[malachi]

Re: rigging on texas saddle

Thank you Mark,
If one Google's confederate Texas saddle there are two in particular that show what I'm getting at. They aren't fully grounded by any stretch, but have what appears to be maybe 8 to 10 oz. leather by todays measurements tacked to the cantle and extending downward only a few inches, stopping shy of the stirrup leather mortises. Both roll the seat leather underneath the tree bar. I was shooting for an earlier war impression, and was going to actually include some period correct tooling on the seat leather and sweat leathers. It will have Sam Stagg rigging and be completely devoid of skirts. I swear I've seen quite a few that fit this description through the years, but They might not have had accurate provenance. I wanted something that looked as though it might have come from home. Thank you so much for helping me with this and I hope all is well with you and yours.
God Bless,
Greg Tucker

[malachi]

Re: rigging on texas saddle

Are the current Muley trees we see being made by reshaping a hope tree??? They really look like they might be.
Greg Tucker