Saddle Brands

The used saddle industry is very dynamic with manufacturers who have come and gone.  Trying to determine their quality and reliability can be difficult.  I have put together a list of manufacturers and have rated their over-all quality.  

MANUFACTURES OF SADDLESEAT SADDLES (Also know as: flat, cutback, Lane Fox)

  1. Barnsby (*****) – Made in England
    1. Shively 2000 or MMX- Sold by World Champion
    2. LaCroix- Three billets, Swiss grained embossed leather, stirrup bars are set back or can be adjustable bars.
    3. Battaglia- Four billets on each side, Swiss grained embossed leather.
  2. Blue Ribbon (*****) - Some made in USA and some made in England.  Saddles made in USA were fabricated in Shelbyville, TN.
  3. Borelli or RC (**1/2)- Made in Argentina.  They use nice leather but billets are thin and weak.  Tree is ridgid and not as forgiving as a Spring tree.
  4. Campbell (****) - Made by Whitman if stamped U.S.A; imported by Whitman if stamped made in England.
  5. Coventry (***1/2) - Made in England.  Imported by Whitman.
  6. Crosby (***1/2) - Made in England. Saddleseat saddles are no longer made.
  7. Crump or Crest English Saddlery- (*** or ***1/2) Made in England and are no longer made.
  8. Eldonian (***) -No longer made. Made in England.
  9. Exselle (*****) - Made in England by makers of Crosby. Not made since 2010?
  10. Fieldcrest (***1/2) - Imported from England by Bedford Tack (TN).
  11. Jeffries or Concept (****)- Made in England
  12. Freedman (*****)-  Made in England. Sold by Terry Bennett’ Tack.
  13. Jorge Canaves- (***) Made in Argentina.
  14. Joseph Sterling- (*****) Made in England.   Sold by Schneider’s Tack or SSTACK.com
  15. Lovatt Ricketts (*****) – Made in England.  Sold by National Bridle
    1. Scottsdale- deep seat
    2. Louisville- flat seat
  16. LSS (***1/2) – made in England for Libertyville Saddle Shop.
  17. Norman (*****) – made in USA by the makers of Whitman.  Sold by Bedford Tack, National Bridle
  18. Pinnacle Elegante – (***) Made in Argentina.
  19. PNC or Nottingham Royale. (****)  Saddles are made in England and sold by P&S Entgerprises of Dixon, Iowa.  P&S used to be Paul Newmarch Company (PNC).
  20. Moritz- (***) Made in England. No longer made.
  21. Smith Worthington – (*****) Made in Hartford, Conn.
  22. Whitman– (*****) Made in USA.  No longer made.
  23. Windsor “Aristocrat” (*****) - Made in England. Sold by 4showhorsetack.com or Hartmeyer

(*****) = 5 stars is a VERY HIGH END saddle.  Original cost $1400.00-$2200.00

(****) = 4 stars is a GOOD QUALITY saddle.  Original cost $900.00-$1300.00

(***) = 3 stars is an NICE AFFORDABLE saddle.  Original cost $500.00-$800.00

(**) = 2 stars is (in my opinion) junk.  Original cost less than $500.00.  Some examples are saddles made in:  India by "Amar Deep" or Pakistan by "Granada".