Metal Horns.jpg

We are no longer building saddle trees. We have two saddle fit videos available on our westernsaddlefit.com websiteWestern Saddle Fit - The Basics, aimed at riders, is available either on DVD or streaming on Vimeo while the six hour series Well Beyond the Basics, aimed more for professionals but understandable by anyone, is available by streaming on Vimeo. (We left this website up because we have had many requests to keep the information available.)

Metal Horns

We wrote our Basics on Horns page to explain the decisions you can make in choosing the horn you want.  This page is to give you more information on the metal horns we use and to show pictures of what they look like on different forks and with different cap sizes.

How we attach the horns

Metal_Horns_1.jpg

We prefer the horns with four feet.  We put them in properly so all four feet are solid to the fork and we have had no problems with breakage.  Space for the horn is routered out and the feet are positioned so the screws go into the hardwood of the fork.  Then any excess space around the horn is filled with auto body filler and sanded smooth.  We set up the horns so the angle of the neck matches the angle of the fork unless we are asked to lean them ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metal_Horns_2.jpg Metal_Horns_3.jpg
  Normal angle of horn on a stood up fork.   Leaned ahead horn on a stood up fork.

Horn types

Metal_Horns_4.jpg

All our horns are manganese bronze made by Herb Bork of Bork Saddlery Hardware or Boise Foundry.  We always have three main types on hand.  Our most common horn is a Hamley, also called a #6, which comes in four different heights.  For a flatter pitched horn, we like a #4, also known as a Texas Dally.  The Old Timer horn pattern is taken from an old horn off a slick fork tree and works really nicely on them since it is designed to fit on a slick fork.  When finished, it looks very similar to a #4.  Other horns can easily be ordered if your request them.





Other horn styles

We can order and use other horns, including exposed horns, at your request.

Boise_1-3_domed_and_polished_back_1008070.jpg Boise_1-3_domed_and_polished_left_1008070.jpg

 

Horn height variations

As discussed in our Basics on Horns page, the actual horn height measured at the front of the horn varies with cap size and the top cut angle on the fork.  The amount it varies depends on the pitch of the horn cap.  The pictures of the different horns with different caps are organized by the “named height” of the horn.  To help you make the correlation, we have given an approximate measured horn height for the cap size used for each horn type.

Pictures of horns

Following are tables of pictures of our three common horn styles.  There are four heights for the Hamley (#6) horns, two for the #4 (Texas Dally) horns and one for the Old Timer horns.  We have included pictures where possible of the different horns on slick forks, swell forks and forks that are stood up compared to the more common leaned ahead angle.    

Please note:  These pictures were taken on a flat table.  There will be less pitch to the horns when the trees are on a horse.

Hamley or #6 Horns

Table of approximate measured horn heights.  These numbers can vary over 1/8” in either direction.

 

1 ¾” cap

2” cap

2 ¼” cap

2 ½” cap

2 ¾” cap

3” cap

2 ½” horn

2 1/8”

2 ¼”

2 3/8”

2 ½”

2 ½”

2 5/8”

3” horn

2 ½”

2 ¾”

2 3/4”

2 7/8”

3”

3 1/8”

3 ½” horn

2 7/8”

3”

3 1/8”

3 1/4”

3 3/8”

3 3/8”

4” horn

3 ½”

3 ½””

3 5/8”

3 3/4”

3 ¾”

3 7/8”

 

2 1/2" size Hamley or #6 Horns

Slick Forks Swell Forks Stood Up Forks
  Hamley_2_1l2_x_1_3l4_3_3l4_ST_0904070_Gibbs_Roper.jpg  
    2 1/2" high 1 3/4" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness on short fork
 
Hamley_slick_2_1l2_x_2_3_3l4_ST_0801002_Weatherly.jpg Hamley_2_1l2_x_2_3_3l4_ST_0903045_Olin_Young.jpg  
  2 1/2" high 2" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness, slick fork
  2 1/2" high 2" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 
  Hamley_2_1l2_x_2_1l4_3_3l4_ST_0808106_Mod_Assoc.jpg Hamley_stood_up_2_1l2_x_2_1l4_4_ST_0911147_Mod_Assoc_stood_up.jpg
    2 1/2" high 2 1/4" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 2 1/2" high 2 1/4" cap Hamley horn
 4" stock thickness, stood up fork
    Hamley_stood_up_2_1l2_x_2_1l2_3_3l4_ST_0912163_High_County.jpg
     2 1/2" high 2 1/2" cap Hamley horn
 3 3/4" stock, stood up fork
Hamley_slick_2_1l2_x_2_3l4_4_1l4_ST_1002008_3B.jpg Hamley_2_1l2_x_2_3l4_3_3l4_ST_1006054_Riley_McCormick.jpg  
  2 1/2" high 2 3/4" cap Hamley horn
  4 1/4" stock thickness, slick fork
  2 1/2" high 2 3/4" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 
  Hamley_2_1l2_x_3_4_ST_0803038_Mod_Assoc.jpg  
    2 1/2" high 3" cap Hamley horn
  4" stock thickness
 
  Hamley_2_1l2_x_3_1l4_3_3l4_ST_1010096_Packer_leaned_ahead.jpg  
    2 1/2" high 3 1/4" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 

 

3" size Hamley or #6 Horns

Slick Forks Swell Forks Stood Up Forks
Hamley_slick_3_x_2_3_1l2_ST_1008075_Weatherly_tall.jpg Hamley_3_x_2_3_3l4_ST_0802023_Buster_Welch.jpg Hamley_stood_up_3_x_2_3_3l4_ST_1008071_High_Country.jpg
  3" high 2" cap Hamley horn
  3 1/2" stock thickness, slick fork
  3" high 2" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 3" high 2" cap Hamley horn
 3 3/4" stock, stood up fork
  Hamley_3_x_2_1l4_3_3l4_ST_0808103_Packer.jpg Hamley_stood_up_3_x_2_1l4_3_3l4_ST_0910129_High_Country.jpg
    3" high 2 1/4" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 3" high 2 1/4" cap Hamley horn
 3 3/4" stock, stood up fork
Hamley_slick_3_x_2_1l2_4_1l4_ST_0902040_3B.jpg Hamley_3_x_2_1l2_3_3l4_ST_0707072_Mod_Assoc.jpg  
  3" high 2 1/2" cap Hamley horn
  4 1/4" stock thickness, slick fork
  3" high 2 1/2" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 
  Hamley_3_x_2_3l4_3_3l4_0712136_Packer.jpg
 
    3" high 2 3/4" cap Hamley horn
  4 3/4" stock thickness
 
Hamley_slick_3_x_3_5_ST_0802008_Taylor.jpg Hamley_3_x_3_3_3l4_ST_0807083_Chuck_Sheppard.jpg Hamley_stood_up_3_x_3_3_3l4_ST_0807082_High_Country.jpg
  3" high 3" cap Hamley horn
  5" stock thickness, slick fork
  3" high 3" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 3" high 3" cap Hamley horn
 3 3/4" stock, stood up fork

 

3 1/2" size Hamley or #6 Horns

Slick Forks Swell Forks Stood Up Forks
  Hamley_3_1l2_x_2_3_3l4_ST_0807079__Mod_Assoc.jpg  
    3 1/2" high 2" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 
  Hamley_3_1l2_x_2_1l4_3_3l4_ST_0905080_Mod_Assoc.jpg Hamley_stood_up_3_1l2_x_2_1l4_3_3l4_ST_0704038_High_Country.jpg
    3 1/2" high 2 1/4" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 3 1/2" high 2 1/4" cap Hamley horn
 3 3/4" stock, stood up fork
Hamley_slick_3_1l2_x_2_1l2_4_1l4_ST_0701004_3B.jpg Hamley_3_1l2_x_2_1l2_3_3l4_ST_0703034_Patterson.jpg Hamley_stood_up_3_1l2_x_2_1l2_3_3l4_ST_0903055_High_Country.jpg
  3 1/2" high 2 1/2" cap Hamley horn
  4 1/4" stock thickness, slick fork
  3 1/2" high 2 1/2" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 3 1/2" high 2 1/2" cap Hamly horn
 3 3/4" stock, stood up fork
  Hamley_3_1l2_x_2_3l4_3_3l4_ST_0808105_Mod_Assoc.jpg Hamley_stood_up_3_1l2_x_2_3l4__3_3l4_ST_0709105_High_Country.jpg
    3 1/2" high 2 3/4" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 3 1/2" high 2 3/4" cap Hamley horn
 3 3/4" stock, stood up fork
Hamley_slick_3_1l2_x_3_4_1l2_ST_0809125_Taylor.jpg Hamley_3_1l2_x_3_4_1l4_ST_0907093_Mod_Assoc.jpg  
  3 1/2" high 3" cap Hamley horn
  4 1/2" stock thickness, slick fork
  3 1/2" high 3" cap Hamley horn
  4 1/4" stock thickness
 

 

4" size Hamley or #6 Horns

Swell Fork Stood Up Fork
  Hamley_stood_up_4_x_1_1l2_3_1l4_ST_0807091_Buster_Welch.jpg
    4" high 1 1/2" cap Hamley horn
  3 1/4" stock thickness, stood up fork
Hamley_4_x_2_3_3l4_ST_1004033_Louellen.jpg  
  4" high 2" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 
Hamley_4_x_2_1l2_3_3l4_ST_0902015_Mod_Assoc.jpg   
  4" high 2 1/2" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 
  Hamley_stood_up_4_x_2_3l4_3_3l4_ST_0902026_Buster_Welch.jpg 
    4" high 2 3/4" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness, stood up fork
Hamley_4_x_3_3_3l4_ST_0906085_Bowman.jpg  
  4" high 3" cap Hamley horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 

 

#4 or Texas Dally Horns

With the flatter pitch, there not as much variation in height with the different cap sizes.  The 3 ½ horn actually measures between 3 and 3 1/4'” tall and the 4” horn measures around the 3 ¾” mark.

3 1/2" size #4 or Texas Dally Horns

Slick Fork Swell Fork Stood Up Fork
  4_3_1l2_x_1_1l2_3_3l4_ST_1010100_Buster_Welch.jpg 4_stood_up_3_1l2_x_1_5l8_3_3l4_ST_0812163_OY_Calf_Roper.jpg
    3 1/2" high 1 1/2" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
  3 1/2" high 1 5/8" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock on short, stood up fork
  4_3_1l2_x_1_3l4_3_3l4_ST_1007061_Will_James.jpg  
    3 1/2" high 1 3/4" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 
4_slick_fork_3_1l2_x_2_4_1l4_ST_1002010_3B.jpg 4_3_1l2_x_2_3_3l4_ST_0705047_Mod_Assoc.jpg  
  3 1/2" high 2" cap #4 horn
  4 1/4" stock thickness, slick fork
  3 1/2" high 2" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 
  4_3_1l2_x_2_1l4_3_3l4_ST_leaned_ahead_0811152_Will_James.jpg 4_stood_up_3_1l2_x_2_1l4_3_3l4_ST_0809126_High_Country.jpg
    3 1/2" high 2 1/4" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock, horn leaned ahead
  3 1/2" high 2 1/4" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness, stood up fork
  4_3_1l2_x_2_1l2_3_3l4_ST_0802014_Mod_Assoc.jpg 4_stood_up_3_1l2_x_2_1l2_3_1l2_ST_0802017_High_Country.jpg
    3 1/2" high 2 1/2" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
  3 1/2" high 2 1/2" cap #4 horn
  3 1/2" stock thickness, stood up fork
  4_3_1l2_x_2_3l4_3_3l4_ST_0806074_Packer.jpg  
    3 1/2" high 2 3/4" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
 
  4_3_1l2_x_3_4_ST_0703030_Mod_Assoc.jpg 4_stood_up_3_1l2_x_3_3_3l4_ST_0905082_High_Country.jpg
    3 1/2" high 3" cap #4 horn
  4" stock thickness
  3 1/2" high 3" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness, stood up fork

 

4" size #4 or Texas Dally Horns

4_4_x_1_3l4_3_3l4_ST_1002009_Banyai.jpg 4_4_x_2_3l4_1006055_Mod_Assoc.jpg
  4" high 1 3/4" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness
  4" high 2 3/4" cap #4 horn
  3 3/4" stock thickness


Old Timer Horns

Table of approximate measured horn heights.

2” cap

2 ¼” cap

2 ½”

2 ¾” cap

3” cap

3 1/8”

3 ¼”

3 ¼” – 3 3/8”

3 3/8”

3 ½”

 

Old_Timer_3_1l2_x_2_4_1l4_ST_0701011_3B.jpg Old_Timer_3_1l2_x_2_1l4_4_1l4_ST_0902016_3B.jpg Old_Timer_3_1l2_x_2_1l2_4_1l4_ST_0810135_3B.jpg
  2" cap Old Timer horn
  4 1/4" stock thickness, slick fork
  2 1/4" cap Old Timer horn
  4 1/4" stock thickness, slick fork
  2 1/2" cap Old Timer horn
  4 1/4" stock thickness, slick fork
Old_Timer_3_1l2_x_2_3l4_4_1l4_ST_0909096_3B.jpg Old_Timer_3_1l2_x_3_4_1l2_ST_0902027_Taylor.jpg Old_Timer_stood_up_3_1l2_x_2_1l2_4_1l4_ST_0804041_stood_up_3B.jpg
  2 3/4" cap Old Timer horn
  4 1/4" stock thickness, slick fork
  3" cap Old Timer horn
  4 1/2" stock thickness, slick fork
  2 1/2" cap Old Timer horn
  4 1/4" stock, stood up slick fork