Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's Bucking rolls

Question on bucking rolls. Who use's them? do you feel more secure? Do they work? Are they practical for trail riding even if your horse is well broke? Are they supposed to fit tight against your thigh or do they get in the way. Just wondering what your opinions are on them. Good and bad.

If your saddle has any size pommel and it fits you, I don't see why you would need them. I know they would not have helped me with that mare, I was going off and a little bucking roll wasn't going to stop it. LOL

I have three pair hanging in my tack room if that's any indication. If your saddle is a bit too big you can sometimes position them against your thigh in such a way as to take up space. They may help a little if you go down steep grades often but they will make little or no difference if your horse really decides to pitch. Years ago, buck rolls -- under a different, non-politically correct moniker -- were positioned on top of certain pommels and did make a difference. Ugly, but serviceable. Today they are more of a fashion accessory (choose the color that matches your hat) on Wade-type saddles. Some can be positioned as to be of some benefit but they usually require the drilling of two more holes for screws and that's an adjustment that should be carefully considered before doing. So, you might ask, why do I have several in my tack room? I go through seasons of thinking they might benefit me or my wife so I put them on two or three saddles and always end up taking them off.

yup, last I heard, there were still saddles being made with real swells.....

+1

Yup, and when I went from a Modified Association to a Weatherly I thought I was sitting on a postage stamp. Years later I went back to a Modified Association and felt claustrophobic. Anyway, back to lila, you can take buckrolls and move them up on the fork itself. It makes it look like you have swells. Well, "falsey" swells, I should say. I think it looks pretty silly -- and yes, I know because I did it -- but it does serve the intended purpose.

Seen a pair made of ostrich quill. Would go well with a pair of black luccheses.

I've ridden saddles that had them as well as saddles with alot of swell to the pommell including the old beartrap style. Prefer slick forks on my own saddles. Seems easier to apply cues to shoulder & neck.

I ride with them. I ride a wade though. I wouldn't put them on a saddle that already had swells. That would be a little goofy. Although I wouldn't ride that kind of saddle anyway.

I like the wade with buck rolls better. For me the rolls are more out of the way for roping and taking my dallies and at the same time they also help me keep my seat a little.

I started using Bucking rolls when I worked for Ellison Cattle company Elko Nevada 1977. As far as Im concerned Wade trees saddles and Bucking rolls are the best thing that ever happened to western saddles. Bucking rolls work Even if you ride a Platter

I too have a wade with bucking rolls. IMHO they are more for a little grip for the steep downhills. I try not to ride broncy horses. I dont bounce OR recover as fast as I used to and it's just not worth it!!! They are somewhat like the poleys on the aussie saddles.

Welecome to the forum Sagerider. glad to have you posting here.

Ellison CC, was that an outfit that Sorensens bought out?

That is/was the Span, I think.

Speaking of claustrophobic, I thought I'd like a Formfitter. Felt like wearing another pair of pants.

Weasel...
Is it the angle of the photo, or is that like a 10 inch seat?? Oh, the blue looks a mite rough on your '73 too.

Guessing it's about a 14-15" seat. Blue? That "tool" was probably still shooting Injuns after the last of the blue was worn off.

Bet that's a Hamley Model "B" had one when I was about 13-14 years old. Thing about killed me a couple of time riding colts. Traded it for a slickfork with bucking rolles. Still have the bucking rolls but completely wore out that old saddle.