There are saddle pictures loading below as you read. These paragraphs will give you a brief overview of some of the options you can choose through Cultured Cowboy and First Saddle. Enjoy!

First Saddles are an opening opportunity for many horse people. When price is a consideration, many of us have been stung by saddles that ended up being a piece of junk. Pressed paper skirt liners, or skirts made of so many layers of splits, that fall apart when they get too wet, cheap belly leather, smelly urine tanned leather, stretchy water buffalo leather, plated hardware that corrodes in a couple months, hard polypropylene that feels like it could cut your horse in places it has no business, cheap velcro substituted for a stirrup hobble strap, ...I could go on forever in all the ways a maker can cheap-make a saddle. 

Truth is, just because you're in school, or just starting out, doesn't mean you want to get stuck with buying several saddles before you get a good one. EBAY and other auctions are buyer beware, and are a favorite place for people working out of their bedrooms to stick you with something that you have to turn around and EBAY back. The shipping back and forth a few times will eat you up. With Cultured Cowboy, you are never "stuck" with a saddle. We exchange. and refund, within reason!

So, now we have gotten all that bad stuff out of the way, meet First Saddles. Cultured Cowboy was selected by an experienced saddler who just needed more reach for his saddle business. We have struck a deal to offer you a small selection of horse, youth and pony saddles, made for beginning riders. 

We feel the line will expand and invite you to contact us with ideas, questions, or suggestions. Because ropers & barrel racers are so popular in arena sports and for trail riding, we have begun with them.

First is a great company for semi-custom saddlery. ( You might know them as Blevins Saddles. Raymond Blevins is making these saddles especially for us. Raymond also makes the famous "Dixie Roper". Neat thing is that he will make these just a little better, just for you. If you want a "Dixie Roper", as is, we'll be sure to match his pricing for your convenience.)  They offer quality basic styles, with the availability of several options. Most saddles come with a suede seat for "sticking" to the saddle. Suede texture will give some hold to your seat. But, there are those riders that would prefer a top grain seat. This top grain is more resistant to weather. It also can totally change the appearance of the saddle. It also costs more than the suede leather. Add about $50.00 to change a suede seat to top grain. Brown and Black are the most popular top grain colors. Other top grain colors are available, according to the current fashion trends, and prices of the leather to the saddle maker. 

Jockeys and fenders, or skirts can be ordered in either rough side out (the flesh side showing for grip and a rugged appearance), or smooth side out (smooth grain is easier to tool and clean). There is no extra charge for turning either smooth or rough side out. Roper saddles can be shipped with a one-piece seat and jockey. Again, either smooth or rough side out. This is as opposed to the traditional method of two pieces of leather sewn together to form the seat base, and then covered by a padded seat. Ranchers have long understood the benefits of a one-piece construction. For someone who spends long hours in the saddle, a "hard seat" is not so hard. Weight is distributed over a broader area and therefore is less likely to make the rider "saddle sore". The entire saddle block, (inside knees, thighs and seat distribute and carry your weight. It is easier to bear more pressure on the balls of your feet as well.), is used, which can lead to better balance in the saddle. Because a one-piece design must use an entire shoulder rather than two pieces of smaller side leather, add about $75.00 to the cost. In addition to being a larger piece of leather, the one-piece design is using a more expensive, prime cut of leather to enable it to be molded to shape without being weak or losing body over time. 

Flex trees can be used in barrel and trail saddle designs. The flex tree allows the saddle to conform to the back of the horse as the girth is tightened. This is not a treeless saddle. Where a treeless saddle often allows too much of the riders weight in the center of the back of a horse, (bareback riding keeps the weight up front, near the withers.), the bars of the flex tree still distribute weight and stress through a larger part of the horse body. Still, allowing some movement. Flex trees are great for riders who have more than one body type or size of horse to ride. Trainers can take advantage of this new technology and actually have better feel of the horse, or transference to the horse. The price varies with the type and size of saddle, so the price difference may be between $25.00 and $175.00. 

Fleece bottoms are synthetic and adequate. Use a better pad if extra cushioning is necessary.  

Saddle strings are attached by staples to the inner layers of your saddle. Or, your saddle can be ordered with conchos & dees. Dee ring clips can be added under the front and/or rear conchos to allow use of strings when preferred. For instance, when trail riding, those tie places are mighty handy, yet, in the roping pen, they can get in the way. So, the option of when you want them on is good. Add $20.00 for a pair of dees under conchos. Add $36.00 for 6 strings, or $12.00 per pair for rear and front, on any saddle that does not show them. You can get them!

Hoof pick holders are convenient, look kinda sharp, and cost a mere $30.00 extra. Stirrups can be rawhide or leather covered. 

Choose your color. Any saddle can be dyed to light oil, chocolate, mahogany or black. Rough out areas will be left natural because the finish coat used on smooth leather, to even out color, would ruin the effect of the rough out finish by making it lay smooth like the back of a belt. Natural colored rough out allows the beauty of that leather to age with the saddle giving a more desired finish when oiled. A good quality saddle oil will deepen and enhance the finish, and with a medium stiff brush, the knap will raise up. 

Would you like to get a new saddle that feels like it is used? We will heavy oil any saddle for you. We prefer to use Lexol. Lexol will darken less than any other conditioner. It is PH-Balanced for the leather used in your saddle. We have been using Lexol on our personal saddles for over 30 years. Add $120.00 for about three liters of Lexol and some several hours of application, on the larger saddles. Lexol is best applied in many thin layers. To darken slightly, we will add extra virgin olive oil. To darken more, we will blend in some pure neatsfoot. The choice is yours! Your saddle will then come out of the box ready to ride in ultimate comfort!

Remember that a breast collar is a great addition to your saddle purchase. For a small $48.00 to $68.00, you can add an emergency measure that could prevent saddle twisting under your horse, should a girth loosen without your knowledge. Any saddle can have breast collar dees added for another $25.00. If the saddle has enough area where the girth rigging ties, you can use the same ring for breast collar tug straps and girth tie strap. Still, sometimes you may want a higher positioning of those tug straps, or may want double straps for security. 

Tooling patterns protect the leather against abrasives. Tooling will "pack" the leather for durability and strength. Tooling can hide small "range" scars that are inherent to the leather before it is formed into a saddle part. Tooling adds depth and beauty to the leather. Tooling will help prevent corners from rolling. Tooling is just a little more effort to clean than a plain saddle. You can choose from 1) no tooling, 2) corner spot tooling of basket, oak or floral 3) half tooled basket, oak or floral 4) full tooled basket, oak or floral. 

Have you ever had the experience of getting a new saddle to find the stirrups won't take up enough to fit, or let out enough to fit? No more...We like to get your real inseam, (and other measurements, like we were making your chaps), then assure the saddle will fit when it arrives. Hey, by the time we get through spoiling you, you'll always want to buy your saddles and tack from us! 

We strive to keep some of the basics in stock. They can be to you in a week or less. But, there is nothing like having a saddle semi-custom made for your horse and your body. Usually your saddle can be delivered within 3 weeks.  Leather is cut, wet, dried, fitted and pulled. It cannot be rolled off a bolt and processed like fabrics. This does take time to do right. 

Saddle makers are as excited about making your saddles as you are about riding! We have chosen our Internet providers because of their consistency in quality of product. Cultured Cowboy knows that most of our customers want value for their hard earned money. A short wait for a really good saddle is worth your "wait" in gold!

With the experience of thousands of saddles made for thousands of horse people, Cultured Cowboy looks forward to helping you with your needs. Tired legs, hurting knees, lower back pains, need grip, need freedom, need speed, need to impress your friends, need to impress your equine, need help, need a hug? Give us a call.

God Bless,
Cultured Cowboy

Basic Styles shown are usually in stock and everyday low priced as shown. We even beat the auction prices. However, there are too many options to Advertise every possible Low, Low Price on every combination!  Our policy is to provide the lowest price possible, while maintaining enough profit to service your needs properly.  Our pricing is very fair, but we must eat a bean, or two, to enjoy helping you to select the “right” saddle for your needs.   We will deliver more saddle value for the buck than anyone because we know more about riding and fitting saddles than most! (No brag, just fact!) THESE ARE FIRST QUALITY SADDLES WITH 5 YEAR TREE WARRANTEES. Because so many First Saddles are customized for your needs with choices of smooth or suede seats, leather color, hoofpick holders, special trees, special length stirrup leather, etc., we do not use buy buttons on this part of the website.  Please e-mail your requests or call us for a friendly quote on your “Dream Saddle”.  Hundreds and hundreds of people have found the call well worth their time!  ;-)    God Bless,  Chuck
First-1111Rt  Roper Saddle	First-1211Rt  Roper Saddle	First-1311Rt  Roper Saddle
First-2152RtLcBhRs Barrel Saddle	First-2111 Barrel Saddle
First-3101Y  Youth Pleasure Saddle	First-2152RtBhRsY  Youth Barrel Saddle