Because of the rigging location and refined style, the saddle has been identified as a Californian Plains Saddle. The center fire rigging placement predates the movement to three-quarter placement in the early 1880’s.This saddle is in excellent condition for its impressive age. The cantle shows a deep hand carved design showing the original owners name, “E. Olcott” surrounded by a floral pattern. The saddle shows a tooled designacross the entire piece with basket weave across the pommel. The saddle is in excellent condition and is a very rare early 1880's saddle with a 15" seat.This is from the Dale E. Moore Collection in Belgrade, Montana. Dale started and runs the Montana Horseman Saddle Building School. This piece is from his over 50 year collection of rare saddles. He started building saddlesin Helena Montana in 1964 under the guidance and direction of Jack Miller. Jack was a master saddle maker who, during his career, worked for the most famous saddle shops in the west. These