Three Little-Known Barrel Saddle Brands That Are Worth Checking Into

When you are barrel racing, your most important piece of equestrian equipment is your saddle! Unfortunately, good saddles can cost a small fortune, and some owners are short of funds and need to economize on the saddle in order to afford the truck and trailer that are also necessary to competing in barrel racing.

Fear not! There are many saddleries out there that make good quality saddles for less money than the top brands like Billy Cook. Check out these three little-known brands.

Circle Y is not a little-known brand by any means, but they have an economy line of saddles that are just as well made as their expensive saddles. The details like the conchos, tooling and rawhide wraps around the horn might be cheaper made (and cheaper looking), but the overall quality is just as top-notch as their other saddles. Don't hesitate to buy one of their economy saddles -- they will last for years and get you through a lot of workouts and races.

Alamo brand saddles are another one you don't hear much about, but their saddles are very affordable. The Colonial Tooled Barrel Saddle generally fits most barrel horses and can be found for under $1,000. It looks beautiful too, although some people think it looks cheap. Most people have reported being able to use Alamo saddles for ten or more years, and that's a pretty good lifetime for a barrel saddle!

K & B Saddlery is another little-known place to buy saddles, mainly because they only sell through the Internet. But their saddles are all hand-made and their customer service is excellent and very knowledgeable. They will help you find an affordable saddle that fits your and your horse, and can even customize it before they ship if necessary. Most of their saddles are around $500, but are made with quality materials and have 10-year warranties.

Have fun shopping for a new barrel saddle, and here's hoping you win your next race! May the horse be with you.