The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-24

built as wide as eighteen inches. Quite
a change Nowadays, the saddle tree
is made to fit the rider. The bigger
the man, the longer the tree. And the
front of the pommel or seat. is raised
so that the rider can sit back comfort
ably against the cantle.
Our old stock sa adde's had flat wood
en- box stirrups. Decidedly, the wood
en- "ox-bows'' are a great improve
ment. because the bottom of the stir
rup is bent in the shape of a bow,
which makes it fit the foot much bet
ter. In a fall the foot will come out
of an 'ox-bow'' much easier. An ''ox-
bow is much narrower than the box
stirrup. Ring stirrups which are
made of steel are perfect for all pur-
poses because when they turn they
me. boys. they are sure hard on the
feet for riding.
Question Box-No. 10.
''Kaclks" or .'hulls" are what most
punchers term their saddles.
So many of you boys have asked
how a saddle horn originated that
will answer you he.e. The saddle
horn is strictly American. This is why
you notice the great difference be-
tween our saddle and all other makes,
such as the English, Mexican or Aus
tralian.
Our saddle horn is built strictly for
roping. OF course, the Mexican sad
die also has a horn, but it is very large
in diameter. 1t is about four inches
in diameter, while ours is half that
size. The reason for this variance
also concern TOping- The Mexicans
make their maguay lariats, or ropes.
with the strands from the leaves of
the century plant. Their ropes are
handmade and are twisted much
but, strange to say, our machine
made ropes are more durable for our
saddle horns. which would soon spoil
the maguay lariat.
The Mexican saddle is much flatter.
There is absolutely no swell in the
fork. The cantle is lower. The stir
rups are much heavier. They use the
flat box stirTups covered with tapi-
daros, which are protective stirrup
hoods. I don't believe the Mexican
saddle can compare with the American
for COW work, but I will say a good
word for the vaquero. He is a great
horseman and a marvellous roper.
Ordinary saddles cost anywhere
from SIS up; prize saddles range in
value from $500 to $1,000, and there
were and are pet saddles belonging to
famous western characters that are
worth fabulous sums of money. In
fact, my friend Joe Miller, the famous
Oklahoma Snowman. has a diamond
studded saddle which is valued at
$4,000.
! The highest priced saddles are made
OF hand-carved leather with sterling
/ silver mountings. OF course the
! decorative silver is confined to the or
naments, altho some prize saddles
| boast sterling silver horns These
| however, are impractical for roping
purposes, because sooner or later the
! coWpuncher would cut his hands. The
best roping horn is covered with green
| raWhide.
The real cow-hands sticks to the
plain, serviceable saddle for work on
the range, altho perhaps they have
won or own a fancy prize saddle
But every part of the modern COW
saddle is a masterpiece of workman
ship. The highest grade Of leather is
I used IN each part, the horn, fork, can
tie, housing, rigging and Jockeys of
the tree. So, too, the tenders and the
stlrrup feathers, or tapidaros.
A cowboy always owns his own sad
die. And his outfit, too, which con-
sists OF the clothes and equipment
have described, as well as a blanket
or bed roll, which is carried behind
the saddle. In this roll is usually two
blankets-rubber and woolen-and
the indispensable saddle slicker. Unlike
the ordinary slicker for city wear, the
cowboys slicker is made with a big
bulge in the back which allows it to
fit over the cantIe of the saddle This
prevents the rain from soaking thru
70 the seat OF the saddle. But later
Will describe all about a pack outfit
and how the cowboy travels
I have been asked about an Indian
saddle. Indians never used saddles
They rode bareback; but the squaws
/ had crude saddles. In my Indian col
! lection have an ancient squaW saddle
/ which belonged to Minnie, the Indian
woman who works in pictures In
1 turn it belonged to her grandmother
( a Cheyenne princess. 1t is made of
! cedar wood covered with green raw
! hide. Strips of green rawhide form
| the rest of this primitive contraptfon
! The wood is put up in front for the
/ fork and in back for the cantle. The
/ squaws attached their travoix, which
! served to transport the tepee and all
/ sundry belongings, including the pa
! poose. to this crude saddle.
| RI1f Indian h11cks r,n,.or rcdn IL