The Authority on Ranch Horse Saddles
Every specialized western saddle — reining, cutting, cow horse — is a descendant of the ranch saddle. This is where western horsemanship began, and where it still lives for riders who work cattle for a living and compete in the arena on the same horse.
The Original Western Saddle
The ranch saddle predates every discipline-specific western saddle by a century. Reining, cutting, and cow horse saddles are all refinements of its core geometry. Today that same heritage saddle has found a new arena — AQHA Ranch Riding and Ranch Versatility competition, where the working horse and working rider are the standard.
A ranch saddle has to last a full day of hard use — sorting, gathering, roping, dragging calves — then get cleaned up and go again tomorrow. Durability, back cinch, stout horn, and honest leather are the spec that matters.
Ranch Riding tests the horse at the walk, trot, lope, extended gaits, and specific maneuvers including stops, spins, and back. The saddle must present a working-ranch appearance while enabling the quiet, correct riding position that judges reward.
NRCHA Ranch Versatility combines ranch riding patterns, trail obstacles, cutting, and cow work in a single event. The ranch saddle that crosses over all four phases is the most versatile western saddle ever built.
How Ranch Differs
| Feature | Ranch Saddle | Reining | Cutting | Cow Horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horn | Stout — built for roping | Thin, minimal | Tall, grab point | Moderate |
| Back Cinch | Standard — required for roping | Rare | Rarely used | Sometimes |
| Seat | Comfortable all-day ride | Flat, precision | Deep pocket | Balanced |
| Skirts | Full — maximum back coverage | Short, round | Round | Semi-square |
| Rigging | Full to 7/8 — roping position | 7/8 in-skirt | Dropped | 7/8 to full |
| Fenders | Wider — all-day comfort | Narrow | Moderate | Moderate |
| Build Weight | Heavier — built to last | Lightest | Medium | Medium-heavy |
| Primary Org | AQHA / NRCHA | NRHA | NCHA | NRCHA |
New Saddles
Andy Mashke builds four ranch and ranch riding saddle models — from the competition-focused BL Ranch Riding Pro to the working BA Ranch Riding build. All on SYMMETREES™ glass-encased wood trees, hand-crafted in the USA.
Certified Used Inventory
Four ranch saddles personally inspected by David Solum — from a $1,495 hand-tooled SRS to a $5,495 Superior Ranch Rider Deluxe. Every tree checked, every billet inspected.
David Solum has spent decades matching riders to the right saddle across every western discipline. Ranch saddles — working and show — are part of that conversation.