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Choosing the right saddle is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. If you’ve browsed our site, you’ve likely come across our two main saddle lines: Branded and Unbranded. While they may look similar at first glance, there are key differences in design, craftsmanship, materials, and customization that set them apart.
Let’s break it down – from leather and tooling to conchos and seat feel – so you can make the best choice for your ride.
Customization: More Than Just Looks
One of the biggest standouts in our Branded line is the level of customization available. These saddles are where our craftsmanship really shines.
We design several of our patterns in-house and each floral pattern is hand-carved, giving each saddle a unique, artisan touch. Geo patterns like basket stamps are also created with care, but they involve less hand time than the intricate florals.
With Unbranded Saddles, customization is intentionally limited to help keep costs down. You can choose from no tooling or border tooling, but the extensive floral or exotic options aren’t offered on this line.
Leather Quality & Feel
Our Branded line uses premium Wicket & Craig leather that’s soft, durable, and rich in color and grain. It molds to the rider over time, especially with the more custom-built ground seat underneath.
Unbranded saddles still use good-quality leather, but it’s a bit more basic. They’re still durable and more affordable, but they don’t break in or mold to your seat quite the same way.
Ground Seat & Tree Construction
Both saddle lines use the same wood + fiberglass-covered trees, offering a great foundation for either line. You can also request a rawhide-covered tree as an upgrade.
Where they differ is in the ground seat construction:
Branded Saddles: Built with a metal strainer, hand-carved to create a rise that molds better to the rider over time.
Unbranded Saddles: Use a fiberglass ground seat, which is solid and dependable, but won’t conform or "break in" quite the same.
The result? Branded saddles offer a more custom fit over time, especially important for riders logging long hours in the saddle.
Wool & Padding Options
Unbranded Saddles come standard with artificial wool, whereas Branded saddles come with real wool and can also include a memory foam suede pad on the underside for added comfort.
This affects both the comfort for your horse and the overall longevity of the saddle.
Conchos
Here’s where style and craftsmanship meet: the conchos.
Branded saddles feature artisan conchos that are handmade from copper or other metals, hand-cut and high quality. These come standard on the branded line.
Unbranded saddles use cast conchos, still nice, but not as custom. Upgrades are available if you want to personalize your unbranded saddle with better conchos or even custom initials or your brand!
Price & Value
Here's the honest truth: we created the Unbranded Line to offer a more affordable saddle option. For riders who need something reliable, comfortable, and well-made (without all the bells and whistles) it’s a fantastic choice.
Price Difference: You’ll see about a $1,000 price gap between the two lines, mostly due to the leather, hand tooling, conchos, and build time involved.
At the end of the day, both lines are made with the same level of care and attention to fit and function. It just comes down to your budget, your style, and how much customization you want.
Still not sure which saddle is right for you? Reach out to us! We're happy to walk you through your options.