Hope Saddles

[Majpain]

Cav Pards,
I presently sit a Hope military similar to Joe Johnston's. Only difference is mine has a high cantel and his, as well as most I've researched, are low. I've seen Santa Fe's with the high cantel but no Hopes as yet. I understand there is a "new" book out on Southern Saddles. I have the Historic Southern Saddles book by Caba. I've had no luck in locating the other so, would any y'all happen to know of it. I'm hoping to find documentation of a high cantel Hope in use by Southern Cav. Anyone else sittin a Hope? Thanks boys, I appreciate it!
Jeff Rice

[Cary Davisson]

Hello,
See if this helps you out! Go to www.confederatesaddles.com This is Ken Knopp's web page and he will sure help you out. Ken is a great guy and can answer your question with documentation.
Regards,
Cary A. Davisson

[ButtermilkRanger]

Jeff,

Ken is definitely the go-to man for saddle questions. In my own feable attempts at research, I haven't found any high cantle original Texas saddles. Everything I've seen have been low cantles. Who made your saddle? Better yet, who made the tree? There aren't many tree makers out there making a decent Texas or Spanish tree.

Definitely ask Ken first, though, before jumping to any conclusions.

Hope this helps.

Larry Morgan
Buttermilk Rangers LHC
Critter Company (Guilt by Association)
http://www.angelfire.com/la3/buttermilk/home.html

[JDR]

Jeff,

Ken is definitely the go-to man for saddle questions. In my own feable attempts at research, I haven't found any high cantle original Texas saddles. Everything I've seen have been low cantles. Who made your saddle? Better yet, who made the tree? There aren't many tree makers out there making a decent Texas or Spanish tree.

Definitely ask Ken first, though, before jumping to any conclusions.

Hope this helps.

Larry Morgan
Buttermilk Rangers LHC
Critter Company (Guilt by Association)
http://www.angelfire.com/la3/buttermilk/home.html


larry,

if you look in "confederate saddles and horse equipment", by ken knopp, you'll see a mixture of high and low cantels. there's 6 horned saddles pictured and 4 have high cantels. least wise they are higher than the other two with almost flat cantels.

darryl robertson
buttermilk rangers

[Majpain]

Hello,
See if this helps you out! Go to www.confederatesaddles.com This is Ken Knopp's web page and he will sure help you out. Ken is a great guy and can answer your question with documentation.
Regards,
Cary A. Davisson


Cary,
This surely helps a bunch! I will contact Ken regarding this saddle. My tree I had made by Bowdin out of Texas with my measurements taken from an original plus what my hoss needed to fit. Once I had the tree, I had it made by Snellan Saddlery out of MO. with my specs. Being decendents of Missouri guerilla's, I have seen and liked his work. Thanks again my friend!
Jeff Rice

[Majpain]

Jeff,

Ken is definitely the go-to man for saddle questions. In my own feable attempts at research, I haven't found any high cantle original Texas saddles. Everything I've seen have been low cantles. Who made your saddle? Better yet, who made the tree? There aren't many tree makers out there making a decent Texas or Spanish tree.

Definitely ask Ken first, though, before jumping to any conclusions.

Hope this helps.

Larry Morgan
Buttermilk Rangers LHC
Critter Company (Guilt by Association)
http://www.angelfire.com/la3/buttermilk/home.html

Larry,
Thanks for the info! I had my tree made by Bowdin out of Texas to my specifications from an original and the saddle made by Snellan out of Missouri to my spec's as well. I agree that there aren't enough tree makers out there but, I have found that Bowdin will make it to your specifications and, if not, will do it right as long as it takes. Appreciate the help!!
Jeff Rice

[Mike Ventura]

"Hope" was just one maker of the horned saddle prevalent in the ACW. A more generic, and probably more fitting name would be a "Texas" saddle.

[Majpain]

"Hope" was just one maker of the horned saddle prevalent in the ACW. A more generic, and probably more fitting name would be a "Texas" saddle.

Mike,
Am well aware of the "Texas" saddle title. However, my people from ggrandpaw and before, so I've been told, referred to the tree/saddle as a Hope. Hence my usage of same. I grew up sitting a skeletonized Hope and using a jaquima with mecate now know as a Hackamore and hair rope used for reins. Most folks I ride with know what you're talking about when you mention, Hope, Santa Fe, Texas and the terms seem to be used interchangeably.
Jeff Rice

[vbetts]

Here are a couple of pre-CW Texas saddlery ads in a newspaper I'm currently working through:

DEMOCRAT AND PLANTER [Columbia, TX], October 9, 1855, p. 3, c. 4
Saddlery.
We have "decidedly" the largest variety of Ladies' Misses' Gents' and Boys' Saddles ever offered in Columbia, and there is no longer any excuse for riding a mean saddle that is uncomfortable to yourself and horse.
Our stock consists in part as follows:
Ladies' Stitched Seat Saddles, sofa style with housing.
" Quilted " " " "
" Hog Skin " with third horn,
" Plush Seat, and Velvet do.
Misses' Pat. Leather Enameled Saddles.
Gents' Hope California, Enameled do., Bexar,
Hope Comanche, Santa Fe, Planters' Russet and
Black, Boys Santa Fe and Columbia Saddles.
Cart and dray Harness, Martingales, Whips, Bridles, Reins, Surcingles, Girths, Buckles, Hames and Collars, &c.
Brooks & Hanson.


DEMOCRAT AND PLANTER [Columbia, TX], July 8, 1856, p. 3, c. 2
Hope Saddles.
We have just rec'd from Jo Ralston of Brenham, 1 case of real Texas Hope saddles which are A. No. 1 call and look at them.
Nash & Barstow.

Vicki Betts
vbetts@gower.net

[ButtermilkRanger]

larry,

if you look in "confederate saddles and horse equipment", by ken knopp, you'll see a mixture of high and low cantels. there's 6 horned saddles pictured and 4 have high cantels. least wise they are higher than the other two with almost flat cantels.

darryl robertson
buttermilk rangers

Darryl,

I stand corrected. My point was, though, that when I hear "high cantle" I think more of the A-fork style cantles I've seen trying to be passed off as Texas saddles. The Drover saddle that Doug Kidd makes comes to mind as a saddle with more of an A-fork shape to it. Unfortunately, for years this type of saddle was the only type of "Hope" on the market.

[T.Kern]

I would have said the same thing as Mike Ventura, that only one company called them Hopes but Vicki Betts research is enlightening! I would also say for general info, doing a search in the OR's they only call them texas saddles or trees.
Todd Kern

[Bob McLendon]

When I portray Confederate, I often ride a high pommell A-fork saddle that I purchasede a number of years ago from Roger Ragland, who had the original tree re-rigged. The tree is marked, and was made in 1862 by Theodore Meanea in Denver Territory. He, and his brother, Fredrick Meanea, made Visila saddles, and Fredrick had a saddle shop in Cheyenne, WY, and made high quality holsters. The saddle has a deep seat, and a high horn.