Saddle Up

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

Selling a used saddle isn't always as simple as determining whether it's a "good" or "bad" saddle. Sometimes an incredibly well-made saddle can sit for months waiting for the right buyer, while another saddle may sell almost immediately.

In this episode, I'm making things a little more personal by using one of my own used saddles that's currently for sale and has been sitting for a while as a real-life example. Rather than picking apart someone else's saddle, I wanted to use my own to show how certain characteristics can make a saddle more difficult to sell, even when there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

We'll look at my saddle and talk through some of the factors that may be narrowing down its potential buyer pool, then compare those to what we see every day working with used saddles at Saddle Up.

Some saddles simply need a more specific horse, rider, or purpose. An uncommon seat size, unique tree shape, longer skirt, heavier weight, particular discipline, older styling, less recognizable brand, unusual dimensions, or higher price point can all affect how quickly a saddle moves. None of those things automatically make it a bad saddle. Sometimes they just mean we're looking for a much more specific buyer.

After working with new and used saddles every day, one thing we've learned is that quality and sellability aren't always the same thing. A saddle can be beautifully made, functional, and have plenty of life left in it, but it still has to find the right combination of horse, rider, budget, and preferences.

If you've ever wondered, "Why isn't my saddle selling?" this episode may help explain why. Sometimes it isn't about having a bad saddle. It's simply about finding the right person and the right horse for it.

09/04/2026

A little heads up before the holiday weekend! 🐴

Saddle Up will be CLOSED Monday, September 7th for Labor Day so our crew can enjoy the holiday. ❤️🤍💙

We’ll be back and ready to see you Wednesday, September 9th for normal business hours!

We hope everyone has a safe and relaxing Labor Day! 🤠

09/03/2026

Talk about a rare consignment find 🤠🌈

These gorgeous Bailey felt cowboy hats just came into the shop on consignment, and these colors are EVERYTHING. 💙❤️🩷 We definitely don’t get pieces like these every day!

They are IN-STORE ONLY, so if one is calling your name, you’ll have to come see it in person. 👀

Which color are you grabbing first? 🤠

09/02/2026

Horse people, we want to hear from you! 🐴🤠

What’s your discipline? Barrel racing, reining, ranch riding, trail riding, roping, mounted shooting… or maybe a little bit of everything? 👀

Drop yours in the comments! ⬇️ We love seeing all the different ways our Saddle Up community enjoys their horses. ❤️

08/30/2026

🤠 🌟 Saddle Feature Sunday 🌟

Future cowboys and cowgirls deserve quality gear too! ⭐ This New Cashel Western Youth Cowboy Kid Wade Saddle brings the timeless look and feel of a traditional Wade saddle into a youth-sized package, giving young riders a saddle that's built for comfort, confidence, and learning the ropes.

Designed with the classic cowboy in mind, the Wade-style tree offers a closer connection to the horse, while the larger horn cap provides extra security when practicing rope work. The high cantle helps keep young riders comfortably in position, making this a fantastic choice for ranch riding, trail adventures, and everyday riding.

✨ Features:
🤎 Traditional Wade saddle design
🤎 Closer contact with the horse
🤎 Larger horn cap for securing a rope
🤎 High cantle for added rider security
🤎 Built with growing riders in mind

📏 Specifications:
• Finished Seat Sizes: 12" or 13"
• Gullet: 6.5" (measured mid-concho to mid-concho)
• Approximate Weight: 26 lbs
• Skirt Length: 22"

💲 Price: $1,299.99

Whether your young rider is helping on the ranch, hitting the trails, or just falling in love with the Western lifestyle, this Cashel Youth Wade is a saddle they'll be proud to ride in.

Stop by the store to see it in person or contact us for more information!

08/28/2026

What does a bare saddle tree actually tell us about saddle fit, and how does that translate once the tree becomes a completed saddle?

In this episode, we’re taking saddle fit back to the foundation: the tree. We’ll compare a bare tree to a finished saddle so you can see what’s underneath the leather, skirts, fleece, and rigging, and understand how the shape of the tree affects the way a saddle sits on a horse.

We’ll also demonstrate how to properly measure the gullet and explain an important distinction that often causes confusion: gullet width and bar angle are NOT the same thing. Two saddles can have similar gullet measurements while fitting a horse very differently because of the angle and shape of the bars.

Then we’ll break down the major components of saddle-tree fit, including:

Gullet width and where it should actually be measured
Bar angle and why width alone doesn’t determine fit
Rock and how it relates to the curve of the horse’s back
Twist and how the bars change orientation along the tree
Flare at the front and back of the bars
How these elements work together, rather than as individual measurements
What changes when you go from a bare tree to a fully finished saddle

The goal of this episode is to help horse owners look beyond labels like “Full Quarter Horse Bars” or a single gullet measurement and start understanding the three-dimensional shape of the saddle tree.

Because when it comes to saddle fit, one measurement never tells the whole story.

🐴 Have a saddle-fit question or a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Drop it in the comments below.

👍 Like this video if it helped you better understand saddle trees
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📲 Share this episode with a horse owner who has ever wondered, “What size gullet does my horse need?”