What Materials and Components Does Estes Saddlery Use in Its Custom Western Saddles?

Estes Saddlery builds custom Western saddles around three core material decisions: the saddle tree, the skirting leather, and the rigging hardware. According to the shop's own description, each of these is sourced from a small set of named makers rather than chosen from an open catalog — trees from Warren Wright and Rick Reed, skirting leather from Hermann Oak or Wickett and Craig, and rigging exclusively from Dale Harwood and HorseShoe Brand (Jeremiah Watt). If you are trying to understand what actually goes into one of these saddles before commissioning one, those three categories are the whole picture.

The saddle tree: the foundation

Estes Saddlery treats the tree as the starting point of every build. The site states plainly that "a true, custom saddle should have a top quality tree. It's the foundation of everything else."

Two tree makers are named:

• Warren Wright
• Rick Reed

Both are described as among the most respected tree makers in the trade. The shop also emphasizes that proper communication between the saddle maker and the tree maker is essential, and that Ted Estes has built long-standing relationships with these makers over the years.

Why the tree choice is about fit, not just brand

The site explains the fitting philosophy behind the tree selection. A horse's conformation is described as dynamic rather than static — it changes over time and changes as the horse moves. Because of that, the stated goal is not to fit a single frozen measurement but to properly fit a "type" of build. That is the reasoning behind working with specific, experienced tree makers rather than a generic supplier: the tree has to match the horse's build type, and the maker has to be able to interpret that requirement accurately.

Skirting leather: two choices

For the leather that forms the saddle's skirting, Estes Saddlery offers two options:

The site notes that each has its own distinct qualities, but frames both as "the absolute best leathers being produced today — no exceptions." In practice, this means the leather decision is a matter of which of two premium tannages suits your preference, not a choice between good and lesser leather.

Rigging: exclusive suppliers

Rigging is the third component category, and here the shop is more restrictive. Estes Saddlery states that it uses Dale Harwood and HorseShoe Brand (Jeremiah Watt) exclusively for rigging.

• Dale Harwood
• HorseShoe Brand (Jeremiah Watt)

"Exclusively" is the operative word: unlike the leather, where two options are presented, the rigging comes from this named pair and no others.

What "no compromises" means in practice

The site closes its materials discussion with a direct statement: when you choose Ted Estes to build a custom saddle, "there will be no compromises when it comes to top quality, neither in materials nor in construction."

Read against the three categories above, that claim is specific rather than vague:

• The tree comes from a short list of respected makers, matched to the horse's build type.
• The leather comes from two top-tier tanneries.
• The rigging comes from two named makers, used exclusively.

How to use this if you are considering a saddle

If you are evaluating Estes Saddlery for a custom build, the practical questions to bring to the maker are:

1. Which tree maker and tree type fits my horse's build? The site frames this as a fit-to-type decision, so expect the conversation to center on your horse's conformation rather than a stock size.
2. Hermann Oak or Wickett and Craig? Ask what distinguishes the two for your intended use, since the shop presents both as top-tier.
3. Rigging configuration — since Dale Harwood and HorseShoe Brand are used exclusively, confirm the specific rigging setup for your saddle within that constraint.

For direct questions, the shop lists its location as Ball Ground, GA, with contact by phone at 678-677-7332 or email at [email protected].