Western Saddles

Western Saddles Custom Saddles, Saddle Repairs, Custom Cowboy Boots, Cowboy Boot Repair, Other Custom Projects

Sooooo, I measured a horse for a custom saddle today and the owner offered me a taste of Vegemite…. She stated she has y...
01/18/2025

Sooooo, I measured a horse for a custom saddle today and the owner offered me a taste of Vegemite…. She stated she has yet to meet an American who likes the taste. I told her that she still hasn’t found one…. 😝🤪😜😂

Completed these today! The customer loves them!
01/16/2025

Completed these today! The customer loves them!

Cowboy Boot Repairs:I wanted to provide you all with an updated price list for repairs effective today. Please be aware ...
01/02/2025

Cowboy Boot Repairs:

I wanted to provide you all with an updated price list for repairs effective today. Please be aware of the note below the price list.
If you are not local, please send your boots to me in a boot box that can be returned when the boots have been repaired. These are adjusted (lower prices) from the post published last November.

These prices are a bit more realistic and affordable.

While I am making custom boots, I will also repair boots. The boots in these pictures were purchased by the customer in ...
11/23/2024

While I am making custom boots, I will also repair boots. The boots in these pictures were purchased by the customer in 1990 and wanted to see if they could be repaired.

The tops were not reinforced by the boot factory and over time they lose all "desire" to stand straight. Not much one can do about that without essentially making a new pair of boots. Additionally, The soles and heel blocks were made out of rubber and painted to look like leather. The idea of installing half soles was out because it would be difficult to guarantee the new leather half-sole would properly adhere and stay adhered to the remaining rubber sole.

Therefore, I removed the heel blocks and the old sole and replaced both with leather. Additionally, I dyed the boots black (original color was black but the toes (vamps) and heels (counters) were scuffed up. The tops were also pretty scuffed up and needed to be dyed as well.

I completed them by polishing them with a black shoe cream and buffed them on the finisher.

I made a boot top "turner" last weekend and used it for the first time yesterday....to much success!!! This makes turnin...
11/21/2024

I made a boot top "turner" last weekend and used it for the first time yesterday....to much success!!! This makes turning the tops much easier and faster. See the pics for more discussion.

10/07/2024

Soooo....I had a little mishap this weekend.... I was pounding T-posts into the ground with a T-post driver....Somehow I missed the post and my thumb was caught between the post and the handle of the driver...thus smashing my thumb! :-| I needed 4 stitches to close up the wound and I now need about a week before I will be able to do any effective work in the shop..... Unfortunately. I'll be back up and running in about 7-10 days.....

I attended the 2024 Boot & Saddle Maker Trade Show in Wichita Falls, Texas this weekend! There were a lot of excellent e...
10/05/2024

I attended the 2024 Boot & Saddle Maker Trade Show in Wichita Falls, Texas this weekend! There were a lot of excellent exhibits, from suppliers to makers all showing off their products and wears! I attended the Master Boot Maker Q&A sessions and learned a lot just from asking some questions. The great thing about this is that the boot makers like to talk about their skills to ensure experience is passed on to new makers....like me.... :)

I have been making boots now for two years, but learning how to make them (and saddles for that matter) is a continuous process of constant learning! I am bringing back many tips and tricks this weekend which I will be incorporating into my own methods of boot making!

Here are the boots previously discussed! The customer tried them on and was very happy that she now has a pair of boots ...
10/04/2024

Here are the boots previously discussed! The customer tried them on and was very happy that she now has a pair of boots that actually fit her feet....so happy that she ordered a second pair!! :)

I've completed another pair! I have one other that I should be able to complete next week, and then within about two-thr...
09/22/2024

I've completed another pair! I have one other that I should be able to complete next week, and then within about two-three weeks, a third pair. This has been hectic. I think I have learned something. I believe I can effectively make AT MOST two pairs at the same time. I attempted three pairs, but I was prone to making expensive mistakes that had to be fixed. Therefore, in the future, I will stick to one or two pairs at a time.

Anyone need their boots repaired??

I had this saddle come in needing to be repaired. The rigging D's were torn through both the top rigging leather as well...
08/02/2024

I had this saddle come in needing to be repaired. The rigging D's were torn through both the top rigging leather as well as the skirt (this is an in-skirt rigging). Look at the given pics for further explanation.

I just completed these boots for a horse (and people) trainer. He has had a problem fitting in any size of factory-made ...
07/27/2024

I just completed these boots for a horse (and people) trainer. He has had a problem fitting in any size of factory-made boots; therefore, I was able to make these to especially fit his feet. It is a little difficult to see in this picture, but I included a section of leather on the vamp that is used to protect the vamp when wearing spurs. Additionally, I hardened the toe box using rawhide, for the inadvertent stop of a horses' hoof, which happens more often then not.

I have on my bench 3 other pairs of boots which are in the beginning stages of construction as well as a saddle for repair, and a saddle due in next week.

Here is a recent saddle that was in for repair. This saddle is 10 years old and was in dire need of a bit of TLC. The ow...
07/27/2024

Here is a recent saddle that was in for repair. This saddle is 10 years old and was in dire need of a bit of TLC. The owner is both a horse trainer and team roper and uses this saddle primarily for the young colts he trains. He needed the rigging to be completely replaced; the old rigging was very close to being ripped off. Additionally, the shearling was replaced, and the saddle was sanded and brushed to bring out the pile of the rough-out leather.

I have been quite busy recently...been through quite a few saddle repairs and have been making boots as well.....I have ...
07/27/2024

I have been quite busy recently...been through quite a few saddle repairs and have been making boots as well.....I have also repaired a pair of boots which I will be taking you through today.

All, disregard any friend requests from me. It states “Rick Simmons II”. Someone took my pic and applied it to a differe...
07/14/2024

All, disregard any friend requests from me. It states “Rick Simmons II”. Someone took my pic and applied it to a different FB page.
Do not respond to that request, just delete it.
See the attached pic.

06/23/2024

Hey all, is there any interest in anyone learning how to either make a custom saddle or a custom pair of boots? This would be a one-on-one course (class size would be 1) for both. I am NOT taking on any apprenticeships. I don't have details on the conduct of the courses, nor do I have a plan or schedule at this time.

Saddles: This could be a saddle that is fitted to your current horse, but will be plain (no detailed tooling). Additionally, it can be on the type of tree you desire, but there would be a lead time of about 3-4 months for the delivery of the tree. The first course could be run, potentially, as soon as this coming fall, and would last approximately a month, depending on the student, saddle, and additional work desired on the saddle. The instruction given would provide the student the needed understanding to not only make saddles but to also repair most saddles.

Boots: Right now, the first course could be a year out as I work down my initial custom orders. But this would be run over a 2-week period (~9-10 hours a day) and would include a lead time for the receipt of a pair of lasts for each student (each student will make one pair of boots to fit him or her).

If there is interest, please discuss in this post. If you desire to be placed on the student roster for either, please send me a private message, with your contact information (phone and email), and let me know on which list you would like to be placed.

I have not yet worked out the tuition for either course....that will be forthcoming, after I determine the interest (a "ballpark" estimate for the courses will be between $4,000 and $6,000).

Both courses would be taught in my shop in Killeen, Texas, however, the courses would not overlap. And...it will NOT include food or lodging, if you are coming from out of the Central Texas Region.

I just completed two more pairs of boots. The customer for the brown pair requested a matching belt and a matching holst...
03/24/2024

I just completed two more pairs of boots. The customer for the brown pair requested a matching belt and a matching holster and magazine pouch. Please see the pictures.

I will begin another two pairs within the next week, after I have completed the repairs of two saddles and a pair of chaps.

03/14/2024

Saddle Cleaning...Hey all due to the workload and waitlists I have, my rates for cleaning a saddle has significantly increased to $75 per saddle. Additionally, I am requiring all saddles that require repairs, to be cleaned prior to them being dropped off at my shop.

Below is my method for cleaning a saddle:

Cleaning the saddle is relatively easy. Place your saddle on a saddle stand that you don't mind getting wet. Take your hose with regular nozzle and literally spray the saddle down, getting all the large "chunks" off. You need to also be sure you lift up the jockeys and fenders in the rear and front to get "underneath" all of the leather. Then with a soft brush, and warm soapy water, scrub the saddle and all parts until you have removed all the dirt (yes, even if it is rough out or if it is fully tooled).

Thoroughly rinse the saddle and allow it to completely dry for a day or two, outside would be nice, out of the direct sunlight. Once it is completely dry, apply a generous amount of Neatsfoot oil over all parts of the saddle, including the seat (NOT the shearling). Do not soak the saddle in oil. Allow this to stand for a day or two to allow all the oil to soak in.

If you would like to form your fenders so that the stirrup opening is facing front to back, then before oiling but after cleaning, take a broom handle and twist each stirrup toward the saddle until the opening is front to back. Pass the broom handle through the stirrups to lock them in place. Push the saddle back toward the rear of the stand until the broom handle (between the stirrups) make contact with the stand. Allow to dry in this position.

Rick Simmons

Address

254 Aspen Circle
Killeen, TX
76549

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

(254) 466-1583

Website

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