Frequenlty Asked Questions
Q. Why do so many of your Deckers favor the Conway buckle?
A. Conway buckles are lower profile and tend to hang up less on ropes, straps, brush, etc. Due to their structure, Conway buckles are 2-3 times stronger in pure strength and jerk tests than roller-tongue buckles.
Q. Will you sell just your Decker trees.
A. No. Years ago we did but we were selling so many that we were becoming a tree business. If you have one of our trees that is damaged and needs replacing or repaired, we require that you send the original tree to us.
Q. Will you sell your Decker pack saddles without the half breed?
A. No.
Q. Which is the most popular arch style on your Decker trees?
A. 80% of the Deckers we sell are with the ‘C’ (combination) arches due to its versatility.
Q. Which is your most popular Decker saddle?
A. We probably sell more #325 ‘Idaho Special’ Deckers than any other with the #275 ‘Eastern Oregon’ and the #250 ‘D.P.S.’ Deckers close behind in that order.
Q. Do you build Deckers for small horses or mules?
A. Generally, our Deckers fit horses and mules 850 to 1,400 pounds. We do not build Deckers for smaller animals. We will build Deckers for larger animals. It may require that you send us a picture of the animal along with measurements.
Q. I have just acquired several wild horses. As soon as I can catch them and halter break them I plan to have a pack string. What Decker saddle do you recommend?
A. Someone else’s.
Q. If I were to order 10 new Decker saddles, will you give me a price break?
A. No. We specialize in quality not quantity. But, with our shipping policy you only pay shipping on the first saddle, the rest ship free (continental U.S. only).
Q. You folks used to manufacture a full line of horse and mule pack equipment. Why now just Decker pack saddles?
A. For over 4 decades we manufactured, at times, over 100 items for packing horses and mules. There were many times we kept our shop going 24 hours a day, day after day, and still we never saw the bottom of the stack of orders. Do I need say more.
Q. I have a saddle shop and build a few pack saddles. How can you build and sell Deckers of your quality at that low a price?
A. Our entire shop is set up for building just Decker pack saddles. We have automated machinery for almost every aspect of building the Decker pack saddle.
Q. How come your Deckers cost so much?
A. Quality leather, quality trees, superior craftsmanship. Let me ask you a question: How many parts and pieces do you think are in our (for example) #325 ‘Idaho Special’ Decker? There are over 410 separate parts or pieces in that saddle.
Q. What is the best book out there on packing horses and mules for the inexperienced?
A. There are several books, tapes, and DVDs available. Give me a call. I will be glad to recommend a specific book.
Q. What types of animals do your trees fit?
A. Our pine bars are designed to fit generally both horses and mules of medium to ample build. They will not fit slab sided (extremely narrow) animals or animals with high blade withers. The wood bars can be tweaked with a horse shoe rasp if needed as our arch attachments are deeply counter sunk. Be sure to refinish any rasped wood with spar varnish.
Q. Can I heat and bend the arches on your trees?
A. I’ve been asked this question for 40 some years and never known anyone to actually do it. We have put a lot of development into the dimensions, angles, and twist of our trees allowing it to fit a variety of animal lines. With that said and you can’t keep your hands off that heating torch---have at it, it’s your saddle.
Q. What makes your Deckers different from all the other Decker pack saddles built elsewhere?
A. We have a section about this on this web site.
Q. Will you do custom Decker work?
A. We will listen to your request but please don’t be offended if we pass.
Q. Do you ever use the adjustable Decker trees?
A. No. But if that is your wish, we will be happy to recommend a capable builder who does.
(The little things that set us apart)
1. Bottom stitching on our breechings, breast straps, and spiders are glass rubbed smooth.
2. Rolled breechings and lined breast straps are sewn curved to prevent inside wrinkling when in use.
3. All harness leather sides are sectioned before running through our strap and skiving machines so as to match the correct part of the hide to the correct strap or part requirements.
4. We use only solid copper and solid brass rivets.
5. All straps are machine edged and all other parts are hand edged to give a smooth rounded finish.
6. Every strap is cut, skived, creased, hole punched, edged, and a finish applied.
7. All thread ends are carefully melted back to their base.
8. All top stitching is in stitching grooves.
9. Since 1966 we have only used Hermann Oak leather in our saddles.
10. Last and most important: You may buy one of our Deckers and you may use one of our Deckers but it will always be OUR DECKER PACK SADDLE and we want you to be as satisfied using it as we are proud to put our stamp on it.