Mexican saddles - 100 years in the old west

The Mexican saddle is an offshoot of the Spanish saddles used by the US war department following 1833. Saddlemakers modified spanish saddles to withstand the rigors of ranchwork and life on the range, little did they know they were about to revolutionize the saddle industry.

Mexican saddles were a interesting mix of functionality and elegance, with tooling, embroidery and the more affluent cowboys often adorning their saddles with silver. Eventually mexican saddles styles changed into what today is known as the western saddle. These saddles evolved as the working cowboys modified them to the rigors of their jobs on the ranch.

Mexican saddles are still available through antique dealers and collectors. Saddlemakers are building replica saddles and many models are available.