Crates
Mike Beers Roper
Roping Saddles
Manufacturer: Crates
Model: Mike Beers Roper
Category: Roping Saddles
Purchase: I found this saddle used from an ad in the newspaper. Got it for a real deal considering it cost $1700 new!!(Paid 1/5 of that amount!!) I think this saddle is about 5 years old. Maybe a little more.
Likes: I bought this saddle to use as a colt breaking saddle. It has seen many a horses back but is quality made and still very solid. I like my colt saddles to be a bit heavy and this one definitely is at 45 lbs. Has a very wide rear cinch that is original to the saddle. This teaches a young colt to tolerate a back cinch without bucking. Seat size is 15.5 but rides like a much bigger saddle. Actually is roomier than my 16 inch Circle Y Team Penner flat seat saddle. The seat, jockey, fenders and lower skirt are all roughout. The roughout is still very good and has lots of grip even though the saddle is well used. the pommel, cantle and upper skirt have nice floral and basket tooling. Has a nice rawhide cantle trim with silver lacing that is attractive. Original heavy, deep roper stirrups are rawhide. Hoof pick holder on the rear cinch. Good wide saddle that has fit all my horses.
Dislikes: Saddle is almost TOO heavy. Have to use a lighter saddle for initial saddling when I start my colts, then move up to this saddle when they are almost ready to be ridden. Stirrups are oversize and as a woman, I find them a bit bulky.
Quality: Very good quality and excellent craftsmanship. Someone along the way gouged the seat of this saddle with a spur and took out a quarter-sized chunk. But since the seat was crafted with quality, it does not snag or rip further. Cannot even tell it's there unless you look. All of the roughout leather is reinforced with stitching along the edges. Fleece underside has held up well and still looks good. Tree and horn are super sound and tight even though this saddle has roped many a steer. Roughout has held up well and is not worn smooth. No cracking or tears in the leather.
Summary: I wish I had found this saddle when it was new. Then I could say with confidence that it would last me forever. But since I bought it well used, I can still say it will last me for half a lifetime with good care. Crates builds a heavy-duty roper and this is a good example. Hard-working with good looks to boot. As long as you don't mind carrying around a heavy saddle, this saddle is an excellent choice.
Rating: 5
Author: N. Tackett
Date: 2006-05-19
Usefulness Rating: 4.44444 out of 5.
9 reader(s) voted.
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