Common Questions About Certified Used Saddles

Press firmly down on each side of the fork with both hands. Any flex, creak, or movement means the tree is broken. This is a non-negotiable deal-breaker — a broken tree cannot be safely or economically repaired. David performs this test on every saddle before it enters his inventory. If a saddle is listed here, the tree is sound.

It means David has personally handled the saddle, pressed on the tree for integrity, examined leather at every stress point, checked all rigging hardware, and written a condition description he would stand behind in any conversation. No broken trees enter the inventory. No misleading condition descriptions leave it. Certified is not a marketing term here — it is a 40-year professional standard.

Four checks matter most:

• Tree integrity — Press firmly on each side of the fork for any flex or creak. Deal-breaker if it moves.
• Leather condition — Check fender fold creases, seat jockeys, and rigging area for cracking or dry rot. Surface wear is normal; structural cracking is not.
• Rigging hardware — Check dee rings for deformation and billet straps for dry rot or cut threads. Replace anything questionable before riding.
• Gullet clearance — Set the saddle on the horse without a pad and verify clear daylight through the full gullet channel front to back.

David performs all four checks on every saddle before listing.

Yes. Send photos to davidsolumsales@gmail.com or call (417) 793-1403. David can give you a read on condition, maker authenticity, and whether the asking price is realistic — usually in a single conversation. He has no incentive to steer you wrong on a saddle he is not selling.

Most adult male riders fit a 16–17 inch seat. Most adult female riders fit a 15–16 inch seat. Competition saddles tend to run slightly small in their labeled size — a 16 inch competition build often fits more like a 15.5 inch general-purpose saddle. When buying used, ask about the actual seat measurement rather than relying solely on the labeled size. David will measure any saddle in his inventory on request.

Most western performance horses carry a semi-quarter horse (6–6.5 inch gullet) or full quarter horse (6.5 inch+ gullet) tree. Horses developed through serious training often need a wider tree than their breeding suggests. When uncertain between two widths, go wider — a slightly wide tree can be managed with shimming, but a tree that pinches creates soreness that shows up as resistance before it shows up in a vet exam. Set the saddle on the horse without a pad and verify clear daylight through the full gullet channel.

Bob's Custom saddles range widely by model, condition, and silver package. Entry models in good working condition typically run $1,500–$2,500. Signature builds — Bob Avila, KR Lady Reiner — with full silver packages range from $4,995–$6,995 in excellent condition. A worn Bob's Custom is not worth more than its condition warrants regardless of the name. David prices every saddle at current market value based on actual condition, not wishful asking prices from online listings.

Donn Leson built saddles in Grants Pass, Oregon with a devoted following among NRHA open competitors. The Reinmaker is his signature reining build — widely considered among the finest purpose-built reining saddles ever produced. The $7,995 price reflects genuine market value for a Reinmaker in excellent condition. David prices it at what the NRHA community actually pays, not what a general market might estimate.

Current inventory includes Bob's Custom Saddles, Kyle Tack, Donn Leson, Superior Saddlery, Martin Saddlery, Roohide, Teddy Johnson, Calvin Allen Saddlery, Rios Bros., Equine Oasis by Tim Bauer, Andrea Maschke, Pinnacle Saddlery, and SRS. Inventory changes constantly — contact David directly for the most current availability or to get on the want list for a specific maker.

A reining saddle has a flat, minimal seat designed for freedom of movement through patterns — spins, rundowns, lead changes. A cutting saddle has a deep seat and high cantle designed to hold the rider passive and still while the horse works a cow under the free-rein rule. These are opposite design priorities. A cutting saddle will impede a reining pattern at the competitive level. A reining saddle leaves a cutting rider working against their equipment when the horse drops hard into a cow.

At the amateur and non-pro level, yes — many competitors do. A quality reining saddle handles the pattern phases competently. The limitation shows in fence work and cow work, where a purpose-built cow horse saddle gives the rider a meaningful mechanical advantage. At the open level, purpose-built matters. For training and lower-division competition, a high-quality reining saddle is workable.

AQHA Ranch Riding rules require a western stock saddle with a visible horn and a visible back cinch. The saddle must present a working-ranch appearance — heavy show silver is not appropriate. The SRS Ranch Saddle in David's inventory at $1,495 meets these requirements fully. The Superior Ranch Rider builds ($5,495) are show-quality competition saddles that also comply and present well for judging.

Yes. David ships nationwide. Contact him at (417) 793-1403 or davidsolumsales@gmail.com for a freight quote to your zip code. Saddles are packed professionally and insured for their listed value.

Quickly. Quality saddles at honest prices in the NRHA and NCHA community do not sit. Saddles in the $1,000–$3,000 range typically move within days of listing. Premium builds ($5,000+) may take longer to find the right buyer but are not discounted to force a sale. If you see something you want, call David the same day.

Call or email David with your discipline, preferred maker, seat size, tree width, and price range. He keeps an active want list and contacts buyers when matching inventory comes through — often before a saddle is formally listed. There is no fee or commitment required to be on the want list.

Yes. David accepts quality western performance saddles on consignment across all four disciplines. Contact him for a no-obligation evaluation. He will tell you honestly what the saddle is worth in the current market and whether consignment makes sense versus a direct sale.