What kind of tooling would you order for a new saddle?

Thanks a lot, Lisa M, you have me really thinking about this.



Here's the saddle...first one, Plantation Trail....

http://www.trailridingsaddles.com/saddle...



It shows the basket weave, here's the floral:



http://www.saddlesrus.com/miller_page_7....



I'm getting it in dark chestnut.

What kind of tooling would you order for a new saddle?
I think the dark chestnut will look great! I like the floral one, but I am thinking basket weave might be easier to re-sell later.



I have tooling on my western saddle and I like it, it doesn't have alot of silver to keep clean on it! Which is very nice.



I had a saddle with no tooling in the past, and I liked it very well, super easy to keep clean!



Congrats on the new saddle!
Reply:My husband bought me a Crates Roping saddle last Christmas %26amp; it is hand tooled/roughout Crates calls it the Flower Half Breed.

I got my husband a Crates Flower/Basket Half Breed for Christmas this year...Just so he would leave mine alone....HA HA!!!



www.cratesleather.com
Reply:1/2 breed martin roping saddle w/ barbed wire border...and with my name on it....prefer no tooling...except the border
Reply:Go for very little tooling...less is more and will show off you and your horse much more if you show.
Reply:I like the floral one.
Reply:I asked the same question 3 months ago - in the end I went for basketweave and half tooling on the fenders. I think it's not too flash for everyday but just a bit special. I decided floral was too flashy. But really, you're the one going to be seen with it, so have whatever you like!
Reply:If I had the money and knew a good craftsman I would get it custom tooled with horses. Just a note here tho, basket weave is mostly stamped, not tooled and should be cheaper than the floral, unless they have stamps for the floral pattern now too.
Reply:I would get NO tooling. Tooling has to be CLEANED. Much easier to clean an untooled saddle. :O) Besides, you're not showing, just trail riding. Go for ease of care.
Reply:My next saddle will have little or no tooling. My current saddle is basketweave, and I am constantly at it with a toothbrush and leather conditioner to clean dust and grit out of the tooling.
Reply:I don't like tooling. My western saddle does not have any on it. But if I had to pick between these two, it would probably be the basket weave, the floral is kind of tacky looking.