How to tell what brand a saddle is?

[lovesfortune]

I was just curious if there is anyway to tell what kind of saddles that I have? Is there a certain spot on them to look and see if there is a name?

The one we bought from Norman's old owners and all I know about it is that it's REALLY OLD (I rode in the same saddle 10+ years ago) and heavy and the other from a tack store (it was there on consignment). THe one from the tack store, I didn't even think to ask what brand it was, I liked it, it was comfy and it fit her, so we bought it.

I will get pictures here in a bit if someone tells me what to look for.

[JackieB]

I think you need to look for where it's stamped into the leather. L

[WashingtonBay]

If it's a 'brand name' saddle, there's usually either a stamp a plate that shouldn't be hard to find.

On English it's usually under the left front flap or panel.

[lovesfortune]

Okay, these are the stamps that I could find on the new one and I can't read what the one says:

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj14/lovesfortune/saddle001.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj14/lovesfortune/saddle003.jpg



This is the ONLY stamp I can find anywhere on the other one it says 1003:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj14/lovesfortune/saddle005.jpg
Here is the saddle (excuse the mess in the background - they are in the laundry room for the winter):
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj14/lovesfortune/saddle004.jpg

[lovesfortune]

On a side note: the older saddle needs lots of TLC. We want to get a new one, but for right now we have other horsey things that take priority (the new run-in/pasture going up this spring). What should I use on it to see if I can bring it back to life? When I brought them in I just cleaned them real well and pull on a leather conditioner.

I'm clueless when it comes to tack.

[WashingtonBay]

No other stamp underneath the flaps? Any spot where there may have one time been a plate that has been removed?

The brand may be in that logo on the tag on the front concho, I don't recognize it, but it's not my forte ... any chance you can make that clearer?

[lovesfortune]

Nope, I tried. That's what it looks like on the saddle. Hoping someone can recognize it. Off to go give it another good look and see if I can find anything else.

[lovesfortune]

Ah-ha! I think the newer one is a SIMCO. it looks like this stamp on this Simco saddle on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120367725324&indexURL=2#ebayphotohosting

[WashingtonBay]

You know... I almost thought Simco because it looked like it at least started with an S, but I was waiting for someone who might be more familiar with the logo to say so.

OK then :)

[ownedby7horses]

That's definately a simco saddle. They are really good saddles...really comfortable, well made, good quality saddles!

http://www.boardingandtraining.com/images/simco.jpg
Here's the "brand" for a simco saddle. Looks exactly the same as yours.

[ownedby7horses]

That saddle of yours must have been made in Oct. '03.

I found a website that talks about how to tell when the saddle is made. The number stamped on the back are month/year. Since yours is 1003, it must be a 2003 model from October!

[lovesfortune]

That saddle of yours must have been made in Oct. '03.

I found a website that talks about how to tell when the saddle is made. The number stamped on the back are month/year. Since yours is 1003, it must be a 2003 model from October!

well that makes sense... i thought it was older though...at least the previous owner had said, "this has been Norman's saddle since he got here" which was over 10 years ago. Who knows? Maybe she lied??

[ownedby7horses]

Well no, maybe not. I went back and re-read that Simco page & it said that it's changed a few times (the way they mark their saddles for when they're made). I'll see if I can find that page for you again and link to it.

[ownedby7horses]

Here's the link. There's not a pile of info but it says in there how to date your saddle.

http://www.simcolonghorn.com/FAQ.htm

[vicklynn]

Is this your saddle?
http://www.crazyhorsetack.com/bigguytrail.html

[vicklynn]

Found this while searching simco saddle 5570

BIG GUY 72470 (old number 5570)
so not sure how old the number is, but it says its your saddle. I hope, I think, this is the saddle and it helped some.