The westward expansion during the first half of the 19th century introduced the American settlers to a new saddle that would create a revolution in saddle design. The Spanish saddle used by the Mexican Caballeros became popular with the Americans moving west due to its practical design. Its high pommel and cantle gave the rider a sturdy seat, and the horn, projecting from the pommel, was used for roping cattle and simply retaining one's seat on a green horse. Many Southerners in Louisiana and Mississippi as well as men in the Trans-Mississippi adopted it.

In 1822 a young saddler in St. Louis named Thornton Grimsley began producing a horned saddle based on the Spanish model. He sold his saddles to trappers and fur traders traveling west from the Gateway City. His saddle's reputation for durability became widespread, which was achieved by sewing wet rawhide onto the tree. When the rawhide dried, it formed a hard shell that protected and strengthened it. This process would be used on many successful saddle designs thereafter. In 1833, Grimsley was contracted to make his Spanish saddle for the new 1st Regiment of the U.S. Dragoons under the recommendation of Lt. Col. Stephen Kearney. Other saddlers along the Missouri River began to make their versions of this saddle, including a hybrid of the Spanish and English saddles.

After the war with Mexico the term "Spanish" was dropped from usage and the saddle acquired regional names such as the Texas, California or Missouri saddles. By the 1840's several firms in Texas became notable for making this style of saddle, which the Texans called the Hope. Prominent among these saddlers was Rice and Childress of San Antonio, Texas. In 1855, when the War Department began trials on equestrian equipment for the purpose of establishing a regulation saddle for mounted troops, Rice and Chidress submitted their design among four types of saddles to be tested. Several hundred sets of Hope saddles were issued to the 2nd U.S. Cavalry with positive results. Although the McClellan saddle was finally accepted in 1859, the excellent reputation of the Hope endured.

At the outbreak of hostilities between the North and South in 1861, many former officers brought their Hope saddles into Confederate service. The Hope was popular with new recruits along the Mississippi valley as well as Texas. John Johnston, who joined the 7th Tennessee Cavalry in the winter of 1863, attested to the Hope's popularity among his fellow troopers in his memoirs. By 1863, Confederate saddlers were manufacturing versions of the Hope as well as the McClellan to replace the unpopular Jenifer as the regulation saddle for mounted troops.