Our dedicated saddle making artisans make every single one of our MMCO brand saddles completely custom, completely by hand, completely to YOUR specifications. Every stitch, every punch, every cut, every carve. No shortcuts, cookie-cutter machine tooling, no excuses. You’re getting more than a fine mule saddle. You’re getting a legacy of comfort, quality and craftsmanship you’ll be proud to ride. You’re getting your LAST mule saddle.
MMCO has designed a way to give everyone what they needed - GREAT FIT for the mules (including the occasional horse or donkey) and COMFORT, SAFETY, and CUSTOM OPTIONS for the people.
In 2015, we realized that being able to source artisan-made, perfectly fitting tack to fit both our mules AND their riders was the next logical step to our mission. Too often, we were hearing our customers say that everything was perfect between them and their mule… except their saddle. And that’s actually what goes between them and their mule!
Saddles start $2450.00
Go ahead, design your custom saddle today
Saddle SEAT
As important as it is that the underside of the saddle fits the mount, it’s just as important for the upper side -the seat - to fit the human! We’ve put the same care and attention to detail we used into achieving saddle tree perfection that we have in crafting the best fitting, most comfortable seat we could make. We call it “The Perfect Pocket,” and it’s not just about carving a divot out of the wooden tree, slapping some memory foam on it and calling it good. There’s a real art and science to riding a gaited animal, where the angle of the rider’s pelvis changes depending on the speed of the gait. The saddle “pocket” must work at a couple different levels. On top of it all, the cantle needs to be high enough to feel as though it offers the desired level of security, but not so high it’s hard to swing a leg over! It takes real know-how to understand an engineering problem like this, and build a real-world solution that makes ALL of your cheeks happy when you ride - and we feel we’ve hit the mark perfectly.
Take a intellectual tour of the human skeletal structure vs the saddle seat design by following this link to the video if you haven't already watched it.
You will be amazed
how you were created
TO BE SEATED
SADDLE HORN and SWELLS
There are lots of people out there riding Western Saddles with saddle horns that were made for roping - NOT for trail riding. Our saddle horns are “trail friendly” - and made for grabbing in that split second “oh no!” moment when you feel like you need that extra bit of security.
“I find I’m riding where my hands are down close to the horn all the time,” says Bob Bingham, owner and proprietor of Missouri Mule Co. “It’s just the perfect shape and comes right to hand if I ever need it. Plus I can hang my camera strap off it.”
Padding in seat
A conversation about safety features isn’t complete without a word about the saddle swells. Swells are the part of the pommel, or front of the saddle, that attach to the horn. Old-timers used to make saddles with huge swells and tall seats called “bear-traps” because they were so hard to fall out of. Our swells aren’t quite that extreme - but they sure can help keep you from making an unscheduled dismount! A nice-sized, comfortable swell is one of those sensible little precautions that make a world of difference in creating the perfect blend of comfort and safety.
Select from 2 classic styles.
Roper, Trail or light weight
Roper Style
Midwest Trail Style
Light Weight Version
Only 25 pounds Same quality leather and padded seat!
Our light weight saddles are available in the same mule tree and same high quality leather and design (custom Order as well) . Please do settle forn a Cordoba material saddle, you no longer have to do that!
an heirloom so valuable we micro chip each saddle
You don't have sit on a seat like this to ride a REAL Mule Saddle
I challenge anyone to ride a saddle like this 3 - 4 hour days in a row OCH!
TREE SHAPE
We have a proprietary tree that fits every mule we’ve tried it on, as well as most horses as well! This special tree is seated so well on a mount’s back, it reduces saddle roll when riders mount all on its own - some people have accidentally mounted without tightening their girth all the way, and not noticed! It also spreads the weight of the rider comfortably across the load-bearing portions of the mount’s back, without interfering with the spine. It even works for short-backed mules and horses, too!
RIGGING
Our saddles are rigged front and back, almost in an old-fashioned “Center-Fire” style… but not quite. We’re not sure what modern riders would call it, but it sure does the trick! This type of rigging combined with our unique tree shape means you have a saddle that stays put on your mount, giving it less chance to slide forward or back, AND reducing side-to-side saddle roll to give you more “hang time” when you mount. This is far more comfortable for your mule or horse, and a lot safer for the rider!
Idaho Roll standard for comfort N/c
So go ahead and pick your preferences!
We'll make just your style.
Your selections for color and boarder stamp.
Stamp and color are interchangeable. Click selection to enlarge.
No Charge
Black is available as well.
#5 (Blond Saddle just below)
Due to batch tanning reasons, there may be a slight chromatic aberration. We hope you will understand.
3/4 Tooling in Basket weave $139
Color #5
Round vs Square Skirt Western Saddles
Square Skirting
Round Skirting
Round vs Square Skirt Western Saddles
Once in awhile the topic of Round vs Square Skirt Western Saddles comes up. Everyone has an opinion but generally, for the average rider there is very little difference in a Round Skirt western saddle and a Square Skirt Western Saddles
Round Skirt Western Saddles have less skirting around the horse's flank, and are usually somewhat contoured around the seat. Advantages to this type of saddle are that they are lighter weight so may be easier to tack up with and will help ease the burden on a horse carrying close to his weight limit. Round skirt western saddles work well on short-backed horses as well. Many times the corner of a square skirt saddle will rest directly on a a short-backed horse's flank. For particularly tolerant horses this discomfort may only show itself in some headtossing or rushing corners, but sensitive horses may feel the saddle skirt pressing into their senitive flanks and be inclined to bolt or buck.
Square skirt western saddles are more traditional and should be used, if at all possible, for western showing (not including western games and barrel racing). The square skirt of a western saddle was historically designed to be large in order to protect the horse's back and flanks. When riders tied a weeks worth of gear to the cantle of their saddle, they prefered it bounce around on top of thick leather instead of their horses' sensitive backs. Modern trail riders may still appreciate this purpose, and if you intend to carry large saddlebags a square skirted saddle may be more appropriate for your riding needs. contribuled by (luckypony.com)
SADDLE FLEECE/FELT
For the traditionalists, areal wool fleece option is available for those who want it. We like our customers to be able to make their decisions based on based on style, ease of care, expense, durability and personal preference.
Bob recommends the Traditional Yellow Crooped Wool for Comfort Fit to the mule.
Cropped wool (light woolen color) $105.00
Cropped Wool Wool Flannel
Cropped Wool
Herman oak options
Since 1881 the Hermann Oak Leather company has earned the reputation of being the premier leather manufacturer in the United States. Their specialty is vegetable tanning, a type of tanning used to make leather for many uses, including saddle making. Hermann Oak Leather can be found in certain saddles made by such prestigious saddle makers as Missouri Mule Company, Circle Y, Billy Cook, and more.
$110.00
saddle seat size 16-17-18-19
I recommend selecting 1 size larger than you comfortly ride now. The pocket seat make a differance in this reguard. We have seen over and over folks ordering our custon saddle pick a size up from their usual because of this great padding.
Leather or Aluminum (No Charge)
oversized stirrups for hunting and hiking boots $49.00
Night Latch - the ultamate safety belt $35.00
Go ahead, design your custom saddle today
For a man to shop for and design a custom saddle it can be a little intimidating. Whereas women have practiced shopping for years and are more proficient shoppers than us. For this reason I am available to to answer any questions or concerns for a man (or a woman:)
Call me at 417.766.5150
auxiliary equipment
Matching choke free breast collar(Click photo to enlarge)
$159.00
Back cinch and Back Billets
$59.00
Crupper
$69.00
Britching
$225.00
Headstall
$92.00
$289.00
Missouri Mule Company Bob Bingham, owner
3599 N. Farm Rd. 189 • Springfield, MO 65803
Contact phone number: 417-766-5150 • E-mail: bob@missourimuleco.com
