Goodnight-style western side-saddle
The Goodnight type of side-saddle is considered the first true western side-saddle. It was developed in 1892 in Pueblo, Colorado, USA when Col. Charles Goodnight commissioned a side-saddle for his wife Maryann which could withstand the rough terrain of the American West and would be durable enough to be used on cattle drives. Based on the popular Morgan tree of the time, several modifications were made, such as covering the tree with rawhide for strength, a leaping horn being added for safety, and heavier materials being used in its manufacture. Double western rigging was adopted for security and the saddle bars were lined with fleece for comfort; the stirrup was often a covered tapadero that protected footwear against brush.
As its qualities were recognised, production of Goodnight-style western side-saddles soon followed, a style which is distinctive, with its heavy, double-layered, square skirts, mohair double cincha, and excellent workmanship and materials. It should not be confused with the 'western' catalogue side-saddles that were mass produced as the western craze swept the USA at the end of the nineteenth century.
Photo and information by kind permission of Marti Friddle of Hundred Oaks, Inc., USA (See Links page.)