Wilbourn/Buena Vista Saddles

       The original “Wilbourn Saddle” (a.k.a. Buena Vista), was invented by Confederate veteran William R. Wilbourn (1831-1905) and became a very common and popular commercial saddle pattern that was manufactured from at least 1883 until the early 1960’s. Its design has several elements of earlier European and English saddle construction. Although curiously similar to some Civil War era Virginia area saddles, it was never a Confederate pattern. In fact, it was not patented until 1883.

The original Wilbourn patent

     William Wilbourn’s history and training for saddle making is a bit vague. A partial reason for the confusion lies with the variable spelling of his surname as “Wilbourn”, “Wilburn” and “Wilbourne”- even within the same family. Born in Granville County, North Carolina William came to Virginia as a youth in 1848. He first located in Lexington Va. then in 1851 to Brownsburg where he learned the saddle trade. At 16 years of age, he ran away from home to enlist as a Virginia volunteer in the Mexican War but never saw service. Although of military age during the Civil War, according to family history William was exempt from service due to bronchitis, and a disabled leg. He did serve in the Confederate army anyway enlisting Oct. 23, 1864 in Company I, 4th Infantry Regiment Virginia, Stonewall Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It is not clear what he did prior to this late war enlistment. Perhaps he was detailed to make saddles at one of the Virginia arsenals or depots however, no record could be found. Regardless, Wilbourn was captured at Fort Stedman on March 25, 1865, confined to Point Lookout Md. then paroled on June 19, 1865. Upon returning home to Brownsburg, he resumed saddle making subsequently moving to Lexington, Virginia in 1878 (or 1880) where he lived out the remainder of his life.¹

        Little more is known about him until 1883 when he patented his “Wilbourn” saddletree with the U.S. Patent Office. Prior to 1885 Wilbourn’s saddle making company was known as “The Blue Hill Tannery”. In the earliest days of the operation William was listed as the Superintendent, Secretary and Treasurer. About this same time, William was struck with a devastating but unclear illness that quickly forced him to give up his trade. He increasingly suffered under its debilitating effects until his death in 1905. The last nine years of his life spent in an invalid’s chair. It appears that at some point one of William’s ten children, son Samuel (1856 – 1940), took over the business. Through this period the company was called the “Wilbourn Saddle and Harness Company”. However, in 1889 William Wilbourn sold the patent and all rights of it to the Buena Vista Saddle and Harness Co. (1889-1934) for $4,500. Renamed the Buena Vista saddle, the new company assumed its name from its location- the recently chartered town of Buena Vista, Va.²

      Under the reorganized company the saddles were called “Buena Vista saddles”. Another Confederate veteran, Charles Jordan was initially one of its five directors but became President shortly after the company was formed. Interestingly, for the next several years it appears both Buena Vista and Wilbourn saddles continued to be manufactured but it is difficult to determine the exact arrangements under which this was done. It is believed that some element of the old company, perhaps under William’s children Samuel and Thomas (also a saddle maker in Brownsburg until about 1891) continued Wilbourn saddle tree manufacturing until 1895 but how and where is uncertain. Some saddles found today are stamped as the “Original Wilbourn…Manufactured by the Buena Vista Saddle Co” and others as “Genuine Buena Vista Saddle”.³ It is speculated that the labels may have been constructed to distinguish the Wilbourn-made saddle trees from the Buena Vista patterns however; the exact reasons for these different labels remains unclear. Other stamps and brass plates identify independent makers of Buena Vista saddles”.

Typical Buena Vista saddle as made from their Buena Vista shops in Buena Vista, Va. c.1900. Note the block wood stirrups unique to this saddle pattern in that era. Most also came with a crupper.

    The Buena Vista Saddlery Saddle Company not only made their own saddles but also sold kits to contractors and, saddle and harness shops all over the country. These kits included patterns and instructions for making the Buena Vista type saddle. A stamp, saying “GENUINE BUENA VISTA” was also sold to mark the saddles. Some Buena Vista saddles are found with numbers above the stamp (example: 317, 318, 319, etc.). This denoted the size of the gullet and seat such as, a three (3) inch gullet and a seventeen (17) inch seat.

      Beyond sales of saddles, the primary purpose for the kits was to market their trees. Some of the largest makers of the Buena Vista style saddles were the (Benjamin T.) Crump & Co. in Richmond, the Bona Allen Co in Buford, GA and the original Whitman Co in Cincinnati, OH. Saddles under the same Buena Vista name continued to be made by sub-contractors or affiliates as late as the early 1960’s. Today, modern saddle makers are still making knock-offs of the Buena Vista.

     Of most importance is the Wilbourn saddle’s original, patented design. According to family history, the inspiration for the pattern was actually Wilbourn’s son Samuel. Samuel thought the original saddles turned out by his father were uncomfortable to ride for long periods. As a result, William with perhaps some additional input from Samuel, designed and then patented the Wilbourn.⁴

     The uniqueness of the Wilbourn/Buena Vista saddle was distinguished by three factors. First, it had cantle points that extended down from the base of the cantle on each side tapering under the rider’s thighs- a throwback to the old Great saddle tradition. This provided for the rider’s torso to be supported by his thighs rather than solely his buttocks. Second, the saddle seat was suspended by webbing stretching crossways under the leather in the Spring Seat method and also lengthening the seat somewhat like the old Hussar’s saddles. This gave comfort, support and an extra spring to the seat. Finally, the tree bars extended in front of the pommel and behind the cantle in the manner of English burrs and fans, which allowed for better weight distribution of the saddle over the horse’s back. Its wide under-base at the rear and gullet of the tree also made it particularly less stressful to the horse’s back. All of these virtues had the effect of a very comfortable seat, smoother ride and generally more comfort for both horse and rider- elements that have stood the test of time.

 Late model Buena Vista tree. Note the cotton web spring built into the tree.

     The Buena Vista has always been among the best-designed and most popular American made saddles. In fact, the original Wilbourn/Buena Vista saddles were so well constructed and durable that some original saddles are still occasionally found in regular use.