What's That You Heard About Wade Saddles?

Perhaps when you were searching around for a horse saddle, you heard of a certain Western saddle. "It rides like a dream," some whisper. "Best saddle ever," says another. It's called the Wade saddle, and like a lot of other things out West, the legend grows. In this case however, its reputation is well earned and well kept.

It is unknown who made the first wade-style saddle, but a cowboy named Clifford Wade was given the saddle from his father, and used it to great effectiveness in handling livestock. In 1939, Clifford's friend and horse psychologist, Tom Dorrance, took the saddle to Hamley & Company Saddle Shop in Pendleton, Oregon and had it copied. In time, Tom Dorrance would redesign the saddle tree, and this improved saddle is what we know as the Wade saddle today.

At first, the saddle was mostly looked over and was limited in popularity. In the early 60's however, Dale Harwood, a notable Idaho saddle maker, started creating the saddles for working buckaroos. Among Harwood's customers was a man named Ray Hunt, who popularized the Wade saddle by using it in his many horse clinics in the United States, and around the world. The rest, as they say, is history.

Now, if you've had some experience around horses, you may have had the misfortune of getting a fancy new saddle, only to get thrown off of the horse because the saddle either pinched or rubbed the animal the wrong way. Some horses are just plain difficult to fit, but in most cases, buying a saddle that fits both the horse and the rider is just a good idea. Wade saddles are made for long days and hard rides, and to be honest, they are just about the best saddle money can buy.

After all, legends don't just grow for no reason.

-->