THE SADDLE FILES / MODEL REVIEW
Denero II 833 review: short skirt, mixed finish reports
The Denero II combines a shorter round skirt with useful comfort reports. Inspect the supplied stirrups and workmanship: owner impressions of construction are not unanimous.
In the saddle: at a glance
RIDER PRIORITIES / EQUIPMENT / OWNER EVIDENCE
KEY FEATURES
- 23.5-inch round skirt
- 4-inch cantle
- AmTech Round Front Competitor tree
- 2-inch leathers with Blevins buckles
YOUR RIDING PRIORITIES
- Consider it for
- Riders considering a shorter round-skirt barrel saddle
- The tradeoff
- Resolve the stirrup and finish questions on the actual saddle.
- Before committing
- Assess the shorter skirt and tree together.
PROS
- The seat and roughout have specific support.
- One rider found it manageable to lift onto a tall horse.
CONS
- The supplied stirrups disappointed one likely repeat reviewer.
- Construction impressions conflict.
Barrel-saddle assessment
Research judgments · 5-point scale · Horse fit is not scored
Comfort recurs across separate accounts; likely follow-up is not counted twice.
One likely owner supplies the lift and stirrup replacement accounts.
Construction impressions conflict despite shared comfort praise.
Stirrup evidence is likely one continuing complaint, not a broad hardware assessment.
How to read these bars
Research judgments from original owner accounts. Fit, medical outcomes and run times are not scored. Historical variants and limited evidence remain qualified.
1: serious shortcomings; 2: drawbacks outweigh benefits; 3: mixed experience or setup tradeoffs; 4: repeated positives with caveats; 5: strong consistent evidence without a material unresolved limitation. Not rated means evidence is insufficient. These scores are not averaged into an overall star rating.
Read the original owner accountsA smaller footprint with a lower cantle
The II’s documented changes are a 23.5-inch round skirt and 4-inch cantle, compared with 25 inches and 5 inches on the original Denero. Both list about 25 lb. Choose between them by the horse’s usable saddle area and the seat you prefer, not an assumed weight saving.
Separate the two fitting questions
Horse
A shorter skirt is worth assessing when a longer skirt is unsuitable, but does not establish that the tree fits.
Rider
The lower listed cantle changes the configuration. Try the seat and your movement rather than assuming deeper is always preferable.
One stirrup story appears twice
Two 2015 records share a name and location and discuss the same stirrup dissatisfaction. The later account reports replacing the stirrups. Treating them as two independent failures would exaggerate the evidence. The earlier report also says the stirrups arrived unturned despite the photograph.
A separate owner describes attractive appearance and comfort but questions construction quality. That conflicts with the enthusiastic quality impression in the likely repeat account. Examine the actual leather edges, stitching and supplied stirrups before committing; do not convert a predicted lifespan into an observed failure.
Pros & Cons Analysis
Pros
- Owners describe comfort and staying in position around barrels. Two records with the same reviewer name and location may be follow-ups, so they are treated as one possible owner rather than independent endorsements.
- A smaller rider using a 16-hand horse specifically valued its weight. That practical account is useful, although the listed approximately 25 lb should still be checked against your own lifting needs.
Cons
- The matching-name accounts first criticize the stirrups and their unturned arrival, then report replacing them. Keep that as one continuing equipment issue; confirm the current supplied type and orientation.
- One owner felt the saddle was cheaply made despite being comfortable; another praised the quality and soft roughout. Neither account provides a measured lifetime, making close inspection more useful than predicting longevity.
Make the II earn its place in a short-skirt trial
Take it to the trial
Consider the II when the original Denero’s skirt is more than you want.
Resolve the stirrup and finish questions on the actual saddle.
A closer look at the 833
Use these as reminders during your trial or seller conversation.
- Assess the shorter skirt and tree together.
- Try the supplied stirrups in riding position.
- Inspect stitching and leather edges.
Why this changes the decision
The shorter round skirt is a useful reason to inspect the II, and owners support its comfort. The uneven construction impressions mean the acceptance inspection matters. A suitable seat does not excuse equipment you already know you will dislike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Denero II save weight over the original?
The current descriptions list the same approximate 25 lb. The clear documented difference is the shorter skirt and lower cantle.
Are there two independent complaints about the stirrups?
The two records share reviewer name and location and may describe the same purchase. This review treats them as a possible follow-up, not two separate failures.
Technical Specifications
| Model / scope | American Saddlery Denero II 833 Merchant |
|---|---|
| Intended use | Barrel racing Merchant |
| Seat sizes | 13, 14, 15 and 16 inches Merchant |
| Seat construction | Roughout jockeys and fenders; seat covering not specified Merchant |
| Cantle height | 4 inches Merchant |
| Tree construction | AmTech Round Front Competitor Merchant |
| Tree / bar options | Full Quarter Horse bars Merchant |
| Published gullet width | 7 inches (merchant label) Merchant |
| Main materials | Leather with basket weave tooling and roughout surfaces Merchant |
| Rigging | Stainless steel C, 7/8 position Merchant |
| Skirt length | 23.5 inches; round skirt Merchant |
| Skirt drop | 11 inches, described as skirt width Merchant |
| Swell width | 12 inches Merchant |
| Horn dimensions / type | 3.5-inch height; 2.25-inch diameter; rawhide braided Merchant |
| Published saddle weight | Approximately 25 lb Merchant |
| Hardware | Not verified in captured exact-model documentation |
| Included equipment | Not verified in captured exact-model documentation |
| Fender adjustment range | Not verified in captured exact-model documentation |
| Seat profile | Not verified in captured exact-model documentation |
| Stirrup system / footbed | 2-inch leathers with Blevins buckles; hand-laced rawhide-covered contest stirrups Merchant |
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