I realized today that I take my Steele Saddle comfort & safety for granted and I shouldn’t. I shared my story with other riders on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/HorseTrailsAcrossAmerica) and even though I called to thank you today. I felt that I should share it on the website.
I started with an Aussie saddle from China that was great 20+ years ago then went to buy a new one from Australia as I liked it so well but it made my horse walk on her tip toes, a different fit and not well worn like the one I had. That is when I got my first Steele Trail Saddle 17+ years ago. I found a leather worker in Hopkinsville Kentucky who used their trees for his saddles back when there were a few of the trees out there via their other division. I knew what I needed based on how I liked the Australian saddle safety features and had him build one for me. The actual Platinum model is made after my original saddle design and is new to the trail series line. I told them they needed to add the girlie tooling, sewn leather seat, large Plantation Saddle based fenders, and a short horn – just enough to hang my horn bags off of but not enough to catch the front of my shirt when I am riding up an aggressive hill. Saved my butt literally when we had our trail emergency. One of our riders was thrown in a creek bed in Little Lusk – Shawnee National Forrest 5/24/14 knocked unconscious and had to be life flighted out. We did not realize that in the Wilderness Areas they do not evacuate you via motorized vehicles and were waiting at the campground for us to make it out. I came out of the woods ponying her horse at a dead run on my walking horse to get our truck as the helicopter was still a mile away and did not know we had come out of the woods into the fields behind Little Lusk. We waited more than 5 hours for rescue then had to get her up and take the chance of further injury to walk her out. 
A rabbit jumped out and my mare is solid but jumped 3 feet to the left, I thought it was a hiccup in my stride and didn’t really notice the difference. Stayed in the pocket the whole time. My husband made me aware of how aggressive the jump was. Called Eric & Fred today to thank them. I do their website and marketing and take their saddles for granted as I am used to riding them. It is when you really think about what comfort and safety you have that you realize they make phenomenal saddles and are grateful for it. Really grateful. You’ll love the Platinum.
