Hope

The Hope saddle was the most popular saddle used in pre-Civil War Texas. Adolphus Hope produced the designed from the late 1830s using many traits of the earlier Mexican saddle - oversized "platter" horn - fancy metal covered horn and cantle. This is a version of the earlier Hope design. It was made around the 1870s with the rawhide tree more completely covered in carved leather. The square skirts and larger fenders were added for more protection, for both rider and horse. The early Hope saddle later lead to the Great Plains saddle.