McCall saddles are an American hand made western saddle. McCalls are offered in Wade, ranch, roping, and all around styles made on a wood tree, strong enough for daily ranch work. The lightweight McLite styles are for trail riding or western pleasure such as a McLite Wade or All Around. The right choice depends on your horse's back shape, your seat size, the work you do, and the tree beneath the leather. Fit for the horse should always be the top priority but we understand the rider's needs are equally important. At Saddle Up we fit the horse, fit the rider, and fit the budget. 

You may already know you want a McCall, but that still leaves several decisions to make. A saddle can look right in photos or simply sitting on the horse's back yet it may still bridge, rock, pinch the shoulders or cause pressure for the horse, or cause unbalance for the rider. The goal is to find the McCall that will best suit the horse-and-rider.

What Makes McCall Saddles Different?

McCall builds western saddles starting with the type of saddle, then the tree, using different bars and bar angles knowing  every horse has a different shape. Those options matter because bar angle, rock, and flare affect how pressure is spread across the horse's back. They offer several choices for rigging, seats, cantles, skirts, and stirrups. This also explains why two McCall saddles with the same seat size may feel and fit differently. One may have a deeper ground seat, a taller cantle, different swells, or a tree made for a broader back. Riders browsing McCall saddles should compare the full specification, not just the model name.

In 29 years of fitting saddles, we have found that brand reputation is only the starting point. The best result comes from matching the tree to the horse and the seat to the rider before choosing tooling or finish.

Start With Horse Conformation and McCall Saddle Fit

Begin by looking at the horse from the side, front, and above. Note wither height, shoulder width, back length, topline shape, and whether the back is flat, dipped, or strongly curved. A wide-looking horse does not automatically need the widest tree. Width, bar angle, and front-to-back rock work together.

When testing a bare saddle, place it behind the shoulder blade not on top of it. (See our blog on saddle placement.) Get your hands under the saddle where the bars sit on your horse's back and check for even contact along the bars, room around the withers, and clearance through the spine. Then add the usual pad, cinch the saddle and when riding listen to the horse to see what happens with the rider aboard. 

Short backs, broad flat backs, high withers, large shoulders, and draft or mustang builds can expose mismatches that a single gullet number cannot explain. Currently McLite models, for example, come in a 6.5-inch regular tree and a 6.75-inch wide tree, but those measurements should not be treated as a universal fit for every McCall; all models of McCall saddles will fit differently.

When the fit is unclear, use a saddle fitting appointment rather than trying to correct a tree mismatch with a thicker pad. Pads can fine-tune contact, but they cannot make the wrong bar shape fit the horse.

McCall Saddles Compared by Model and Riding Use

Use the table as a starting point. A ranch rider may prefer a Pendleton or 98 Wade. A trail rider who lifts frequently may favor a McLite, while a roper needs a build intended for strength.

McLite vs. Traditional McCall Tree

The McLite line is the most popular for trail and pleasure riders but does not have the strength for ranch work. Saddle Up Colorado has McCall McLite saddles ranging from 22 to 26 pounds, depending on seat, horn, leather, and hardware. Traditional Wade and Pendleton examples can run roughly 30 to 40 pounds or more. Actual weight changes with every build.

Choose McLite when weight matters, and long trail days are common. Choose a traditional wood tree ranch build if strength and a working ranch saddle is more of what you need. 

Neither choice removes the need to check the bar pattern for fitting the horse.

Choose the Rider Seat Size and Feel

Western seat size is not determined solely by the rider's height. Thigh length, hip shape, preferred stirrup position, cantle height, and ground-seat shape all change the feel. McCall saddle seat sizes include adult seats from about 14 to 17 inches, but the same number can feel different in a Wade, Lady Wade, or All-Around build.

Sit in the saddle with the stirrups set for your normal riding position. You should be able to settle into the pocket without being pushed into the swell or perched against the cantle. Check that your leg hangs without fighting the fender and that you can move for the work you do. Ranch work, roping, and long trail hours may call for different seat security and freedom.

The Lady Wade is often considered by riders who want a narrower, closer seat feel, while a traditional Wade may provide a broader working-saddle feel. That description is not a shortcut for sizing. Sit in both when possible, because ground-seat shape matters as much as the stamped seat measurement.

Should You Buy a New, Used, or Custom McCall Saddle?

A new saddle is the clearest route when you want certain specifications, dealer support, or a build that has not been adapted to another rider or horse. New McCall saddles at Saddle Up Colorado range from roughly $3,000 to more than $5,000, with prices varying by model, leather, tooling, and custom options. For in stock options browse new western saddles. 

A used McCall can reduce the purchase price and may already feel broken in. Condition matters more than age alone. Check the tree, horn, rigging, stirrup leathers, fleece, skirts, and signs of uneven wear. On wood tree builds, McCall serial numbers are found behind the cantle on the rear housing, open or split skirts will have the serial number on the latigo keeper. McLites will be on the latigo keeper. The first set of numbers is specific to the saddle build IE: Tree used, seat size, oil color and tooling - The second set of numbers is month and year built. Compare inspected used western saddles when value and immediate availability matter.

A custom order suits a specific tree or build especially when there are clear requirements for rigging, seat, cantle, skirt, and stirrups. It is not the right path when horse measurements are uncertain. Settle the fit questions first, then choose the cosmetic details.

How to Buy McCall Saddles With Less Guesswork

Bring your horse for a saddle fitting or send us as much information as you can - clear photos of the horse standing square, full back tracings of the horse, rider needs, and what type of riding or work you’ll be doing. Mention whether you rope, ride steep country, spend long days on the trail, or need a lighter saddle for lifting.

Saddle Up Colorado allows local riders to try up to three saddles for two to three days. That trial gives you time to check saddle fit and horse comfort, rider position and comfort when actually riding the saddle.In our experience, a short trial on the actual horse answers questions that product photos cannot.

Start with fit, narrow the model list by riding use, then choose seat feel and build details. That order keeps the decision grounded in the horse and the job rather than appearance alone.

Frequently Asked Questions About McCall Saddles

1. Are McCall saddles good?

McCall saddles are well regarded for their quality and hand built tradition. The tree choices, hand-shaped seats, working western designs, and available custom details are all an added bonus. Their suitability still depends on fit. A well-built McCall with the wrong bars or seat will not serve the horse or rider as well as a correctly fitted model.

2. How do McCall saddles fit horses?

McCall saddles have been a popular choice for fitting horses for decades. The fit of the horse  through the varied combinations of tree width, bar angle, bar rock, and flare is the starting point. McCall offers several different bars and bar shapes. The correct choice depends on the whole back, including withers, shoulders, topline, and length, not on breed or gullet width alone.

3. What McCall tree width does my horse need?

Tree width should be chosen after assessing the horse's shoulders, withers, back shape, and bar contact. Regular, wide labels are only part of the answer. Compare the intended bar pattern and check saddle fit on the horse whenever possible. 

4. What size McCall saddle do I need?

Choose the rider seat size by sitting in the model with correctly adjusted stirrups. Check thigh position, cantle clearance, balance, and freedom of movement. McCall seats commonly appear from about 14 to 17 inches, but ground-seat shape can make two saddles with the same measurement feel different.

5. What is the difference between a McCall McLite and a traditional McCall saddle?

McLite saddles use a lighter tree concept and often weigh roughly 22 to 29 pounds in current listings. Traditional McCall working models may weigh 30 to 40 pounds or more. The better choice depends on lifting needs, riding work, preferred feel, and the tree that fits the horse.

6. Which McCall saddle is best for trail riding or ranch work?

For trail riding, consider a McLite Wade, McLite All-Around, or Wade Trail based on fit and preferred weight. Ranch riders may consider a 98 Wade, a Lady Wade, a Pendleton, a Lady Pendleton, or a working model. Roping demands should be discussed before choosing a lightweight build.

7. Can McCall saddles be customized?

Yes. McCall offers choices for the tree, rigging, seat, cantle, skirt, stirrups, and finish. Available choices vary by model and intended use. A custom order should begin with horse-fit and rider-seat requirements, followed by rigging, tooling, oil color, and other appearance choices.