I forgot to tell you all – I got something really cool a few weeks ago. I think I mentioned that I had been using my friend Shari’s saddle for trail riding. It is just the nicest, most comfortable saddle you could ask for, but I couldn’t keep using hers because she kind of wanted to use it too. So I thought I’d check on eBay for Eli Miller saddles, and I found a few. One of them just happened to be near where we live, so that’s the one I went for, and I got it!
If you’ve never heard of Eli Miller saddles, you are missing out. Eli Miller is an Amish leather crafter who made saddles and other tack until he retired and his nephew Henry took over the business, using the same techniques and quality craftsmanship and materials as Eli – they’re now sold under the Henry Miller name. These saddles are made on a solid wood tree with a coating of fiberglass and a material called “Rhino” that helps make the tree more durable. They are covered in buttery soft leather and the seat is a “suspended” seat (it doesn’t rest directly on the tree) with a gel cushion. Mine is just heavenly to ride – I have ridden for hours with no pain or discomfort caused by the saddle. It is also really beautiful – rich chestnut leather with a darker seat, and simple, elegant tooling along the edges. There are also other matching tack pieces – bridles, breast collars, etc. (Gee, I sure hope I get something like that for Christmas. 
)
After doing some internet research, I believe my saddle is a “Buena Vista” (model #104). While it wasn’t as inexpensive as my World’s Longest Yard Sale saddle at $60, I still got a really good deal. The saddle retails for about $800 and I got it for $400, and the seller delivered it to me. (She was very, very nice, and we may go trail riding together sometime. She also knows my friend Shari – small world!)
So if you’re in the market for a really good saddle you intend to keep for a while, I highly recommend an Eli Miller/Henry Miller. I’ve seen them in our local tack shops and several online stores. And don’t forget eBay!
Thats one gorgeous saddle! And it looks lightweight, easy to heft up and down, and probably easy to ‘feel’ and translate signals to your horse, too.
Hmm…..Ok, I’m drooling.
The saddle you got looks great! I bet it is the best thing to ride in. I need to look Eli Miller saddles. They look really comfortable. Is it lightweight for Valentine and Moonshine?
is this a saddle that is good to use with gaited horses?
Thanks, you guys! It really is a pretty saddle. The picture doesn’t do it justice.
It weighs about 24 pounds, which is apparently pretty light. It feels pretty light! Lighter than my other one, and lighter than Bill’s.
Katie, it supposedly is good for gaited horses because it has a lot of room to move through the withers. I have yet to learn to ride my horse as a gaited horse, so I’ll have to get back to you on how it works for Valentine.
How are you enjoying your saddle now? I’m in the market for a new saddle now because I just bought my first horse!! Whooeeee!
I get sore easily in my lower back, hips and legs and have trouble lifting heavy leather saddles up onto a horse’s back, so the Eli Miller sounds like it would be a good choice for me.
Let me know how you’re still feeling about it, ok?
Lisa, I love, love, love it. It is SO comfortable. It’s light to lift, and doesn’t bother my back, hips or legs (or my bumpy, as my great-grandma so delicately called it). My knees still bother me after a long ride but I’m pretty sure that’s because my legs are short and my horse is wide!
There’s another maker out there I’ve heard good things about, but I can’t remember the name at the moment. When I think of it, I’ll let you know.
Don’t forget that Eli Miller is now Henry Miller. I know you can still find used Eli Millers out there, but the new saddles will be Henry.
i am mite get a new horse soon and we think its an english saddle
Mikki!
I just bought my very first saddle…for my very first horse….and guess what??
It’s a Henry Miller Saddle!!! Thanks to you and your recommendation, I waited until I was ready and finally bought the most perfect saddle in the entire world! haha
I already love it and haven’t even rode with it yet. It’s so beautiful, buttery soft, lightweight and the seat is so….cushy!!
Wahoo!
Thanks again!!
I have a saddle just like yours,This saddle is great, I use this on my walking horse, it work really good. Once you ride in one youre never have any thing else.
Hey Mikki,
I rode a friend’s horse today and used her regular old western saddle. And boy, did I miss my Henry Miller saddle so much! My Henry Miller makes me feel like I’m riding on air.
Thanks again for the recommendation!
Eli Miller is definitly still making custom saddles here in KY. His nephew, Henry is using the name as if Eli no longer produces them. He still makes around 75 saddles each year and they are made by him at his homestead shop.
Wow! I have been looking for exactly the kind of saddle you are all talking about. This is so cool.
Where in KY is Eli Miller’s shop? I think I may live near there. Small world!
Does he sell them there?
Can you tell me where there is a good, honest, down-to-Earth, place on line to buy one?
I got riped-off once buying a saddle on ebay. And I was warned about a tack dealer in TN who is a fraud. This scares me.
I just bought a Buena Vista Henry Miller saddle from a friend yesterday. He and his wife each had a saddle custom made last year. He rode in it once and then his wife left him so he sold the horses and I bought the saddle, bridle, breat collar, 2 sets of reins and pad for $700. He even threw in a new set of saddle bags. Now that I’ve done some research I think I got a steal of a deal. I had heard of the saddle and knew they were comfortable, but now I’m really excited for the weather to turn so I can try it out. I have walkers and use a Tucker plantation saddle and love it. I bought this for my husband, but it sounds like I may want to trade him as he doesn’t ride alot. We ride for hours and I need comfort. I’m really interested to see how my walkers move in this saddle. I’ll let you know.
eli is in liberty ky out on hwy 206. i have had 6 or 7 eli saddles,but ive always end up selling one and going and getting another. theres another amish saddle maker in lewisburg ky last name brenighm or somethin like that. i bought one of his old timers today from veron mast a amish dealer in columbia ky. i think it may be a little better made than elis or henrys saddles. there still good. eli only does custom orders now. you can still get one made by eli if you go to his shop. i have a eli and henry and brenighm saddle now.
Thanks for all the info. I’m considering a Miller saddle. But are they close contact or suspended like the Tucker. I don’t like the Tucker it is like riding a 45* angle roof top and I want a centerd seat, don’t want to be pushed back. I want a down around your horse feel. I’ve been riding a custom made western saddle for 17 years and have about 17,000 miles on it but want to try something new. Peggy
I just dusted off my 1999 Eli Miller, custom saddle. I had switched to a Tarpin Hill trooper in 2004, based primarily on rider comfort, and the trooper’s popularity among other Rocky Mountain horse riders.
My young mare was having some comsistency problems, and my riding instructor believed that the trooper saddle was contributing to rider misalignment. I tried my old Eli Miller and I now have a new horse!
The Eli puts me in a much more “centered” position. Not only is my horse better able to move, I am more secure, not a bad thing on a young horse!
The Tarpin Hill saddle is amazingly light-weight, and extremely comfortable (like a recliner); but that really doesn’t help my horse. So I now have a lightly-used Tarpin Hill saddle for sale.
My Eli is older, and DOES NOT have the suspended seat. Thus I really can feel my horse move. My suggestion to Peggy is to see if Henry is still making the old-style Eli saddles, or check with Eli for a custom-made one. Hope this helps.
Hey…I’ve got two Eli Miller custom made saddles for sale. The first one is the Buena Vista #104, like Mikki’s. It is solid black, with a matching breast strap and briddle. The “Miller Rose” is stitched in the saddle, breast strap and briddle as well…this is a beautiful hand stitching that Eli did himself to further customize the saddle for my wife. We are asking $500 for the package (cost $1200 new). The second is the trail model #101 and is solid black with matching breast strap and halter briddle. I also had custom made padded fenders put on this saddle for extra comfort. Asking $400 for package (cost $1000 new) Both saddles also have the Easy Rider padded stirrups for added comfort. We used the saddles on gaited horses and could easily go 20+ miles a day with no soreness. Contact me at pvwinkle76@yahoo.com if interested.
I have two eli millers and love them both. My husband and two kids have one also and we hate to ride anything else.
Can anyone give more specific directions to Eli Miller’s shop in Liberty Ky. Contact me at kybalaam@yahoo.com Thanks
I ride a Polish Arabian with high withers, a narrow body, and a short back. Has anyone used the Eli Miller Endurance saddle? If so, do you think this will fit my horse? I also do medieval equestrian activities so need a saddle without a horn.
I have read the the comments posted here about the Eli Miller saddle/saddles and can tell you they are everyhing you have read. I have been selling his saddles for almost 12 years now, ever since he stated building the trail saddle line. He is in semi retirement but he has started working with his son Jacob to teach him the trade. If anyone needs an origanial ELI MIller Let me know. Just go to my web site Custom Comfort Saddles.
I am looking for a pad for my Buena Vista saddle. It needs to have a round skirt so the back corners don’t hit my horse’s hips. Does ANYONE have a suggestion?? I can’t find a good pad with the correct dimensions.
I am very interested in purchasing a 19″ black Eli Miller Buenavista saddle. If you have one, or can get one for me, please call me at 256/303-9722. Thanks