Replacments for a western saddle?

Question

Ok excuse me for a minute here, I have always ridden mostly english so I dont know the names of parts of a western saddle

Ok but anyway I recently got an old western saddle, its in pretty good condition. Tree is intact. The only problems are as follows:
The edges are a bit bent, are these unbendable?
The riggings are all rusted, what can I do about this, replace? how much will it cost?
Also like those little flower like things with the leather strings have mostly fallen off, how much will it cost to replace all of these?

oh and what you use to attach the girth(or is it called a cinch for western), how much would it cost to replace those, and maybe also get some longer fenders

Answer 1

You won't be able to unbend those areas of the saddle- that happens when a saddle is left in hot weather for a long time or is not properly cared for such as being oiled, cleaned, and put on a saddle rack.

The best thing you can do for the saddle is start putting it on a saddle rack with a cover over it to prevent further weathering. Also I would go ahead and wash the saddle with saddle soap and then oil it down to condition the leather. You can use vinegar or any rust remover to make the riggings look like new, other than that you can replace them by going to your tack store or saddle repair shop and request them.
If you want the fringing you may be able to buy them but you may have to make them. If you don't want to replace the fringe you can always decorate the saddle with conchos which are cheap and easy to put on the saddle.

Answer 2

Skirts are really hard to uncurl. You could try, but I don't think you will have much success. The riggings, rosettes, and strings can be easily replaced at a local saddle shop. For everything it shouldn't cost you more than $45.00. You can find a good leather latigo strap for your girth for around $15.00.
Now you say you need new fenders and a skirt.... I think you need a new saddle, sorry. I think it would be easier and cheaper in the long run.

Answer 3

As for the rolling leather edges, you may be able to work these back with alot of saddle oil and massaging it in. The rosettes for the ties are really cheap and most tack stores have them. You can buy new latigo leather for the cinch, about 25 dollars...the d rings can be replaced as well for a nominal price.

Answer 4

Under the fender of the saddle there is a strap like a stirrup strap on your English saddle. They have a buckle in them that you can adjust the length of the stirrup. The size of the stirrup is not. The come in several shapes for different events but most are pretty standard sized. Bigger than your foot for sure. I ride in a 4" English stirrup and all the western saddles I have ever been in have a stirrup that my foot gets lost in. I could get my whole foot through most of them.