EdOdgers

I have one I would sell. Message me if interested.

Reply to dfrensdorff: Top coat on stamped portions is Tankote. Finish process begins with 3 coats oil, then lacquer resist, followed by antique past (medium brown in this case), then Tankote.

The "Veach" style buckles are available in SS from Batz, formerly Walsall. They are wholesalers. Some retailers carry them as well. The straps you incorporated in your leathers are a must for these buckles; without them folks get careless and the bottom post of the buckle will come out, leaving only the hook to carry the load and tearing the leathers. https://products.batzusa.com/viewitems/-categories-saddlery-and-tack-halter-square-equine/107ss-adjustable-stirrup-buckle

Many rigging plates are drilled for a #8 copper rivets. #8 rivets are a bit larger post diameter than #9 which won't be ideal but will also work if its all you can find (they are more commonly available). Copper rivets and burrs can be sourced at a good hardware store, leather supply retailers, farrier supply houses, etc. For riggings, it's important to only use solid copper rivets and burs with a post diameter appropriate for the hardware. For safety and durability, don't use "pop rivets," "tubular rivets," or any other type of fasteners. "

Left over ends after cutting saddle strings; about 7 ounce.

Buyer; Prices for a custom saddle are going to vary considerably. Most makers have a "base" price and a listing of extras. Evaluate each maker's "base" price carefully and note what is included. For some the base price is a ready-to-ride saddle with all of the amenities most folks would want, minus tooling and silver. For others, the base price is low-balled to get your attention and by the time you add the essential "extras," the price is comparable to the other maker. Quality of materials may vary a lot too, especially the tree. Current tree prices in custom saddles might range from $350 to $800 and up. The saddle can't be any better than the tree and the difference in quality is considerable. You really need to know who made the tree and how it's going to fit the horse. The style of the fork is usually all that most shoppers will know about the tree but that's the least important in the long run. Workmanship, artistry, attention to detail all will vary with each maker as well. Also, the reputation of the saddle maker has to be considered as it is an indicator of quality and will affect resale. Other things to consider are: the maker's wait-time; to what extent they welcome you in the design process; are they able to help you fit your horse(s); do you like the style or look of their saddles; do you like the seat they build into the saddle; are they able to answer all of your questions and help you choose the features you will value? You've got to feel good about the process as well as the final product. Of course, you need to evaluate what your needs are too. Do you know what you want and appreciate top quality or are you a beginning saddle buyer that is likely to be learning what you need and want? IMO the best reason to commission a custom built saddle is because you have specific desires and needs for your saddle and you want to be part of designing it. If this isn't the case, with some diligent searching you can find a good quality used saddle that is deeply discounted from the "custom" price. In my estimation, you can find a good to great saddle maker with legitimate base prices in the 3,500 to 5,000 plus range. If you want a high quality saddle, I'd be leery about makers priced much lower. Given the cost of quality materials (my material input cost at wholesale prices is now about $2,100 with premium trees), I would have to wonder how and why they are able to do it. You can't make a silk purse with a sows ear.

The pictured D can only accommodate a 3/4" tug or connecting strap. Therefor, the D attachment is as strong or stronger than it needs to be since the 3/4" breast collar strap will surely tear through at the buckle tongue, way before the D attachment fails. 14 oz. skirting leather, 1" wide, wraps the D and is screwed stoutly to the tree (three screws). Most parts on a saddle don't need to be infinitely strong, just stronger than the next weakest component in the line of pull. The design needs to match the saddle and the intended use. A tripping style breast collar should be chosen for extra heavy use. Two 1 1/4" wide harness leather, or 1" double and stitched straps on each side, one in the rigging and one in the cinch ring. No breast collar D's at all. It you felt you needed this type of breast collar it would be wise to match it to a saddle and tree that is equally stout. It's going to be a stout and very heavy rig for sure. I agree there are folks who may need and want that type of outfit but I don't get asked to build them nowadays.

Never seen any but they are a pretty simple thing to make. Making them would be a good exercise in pattern-making and result in a piece that is uniquely yours. Give it a shot. Alternately, you might be able to find a saddle maker that has had a clicker made for this. If they are willing, you could possibly have them punch some out for you.

It's true that you'll never build a saddle better than the tree, so don't settle for poor quality. Also, once you build on it you won't be able to control where it goes and what it does for it's lifespan, yet your name will be forever attached to it. Given the expanding list of problems with this tree, like Ken, I now suggest you not to build on it. The asymmetry you mention is a fatal flaw and is not likely to be the only one. I suggest you return it. Based on the asymmetry alone, they should honor your request for a refund. Where did you get this tree (I have my suspensions) and from whom might you buy your next? We might be able to offer critiques or suggestions. You don't need to buy at the very top of the price range to get a functional, durable, symmetrical tree.

No, you weren't over thinking the stirrup leather issue. That's a critical place in a tree. Based on your description of the bubble in the rawhide and the puckered rawhide around the nails, looks to me like the tree maker didn't pay enough attention to the dry-down of the rawhide. Better quality trees are tended to during the drying process and each day the seams are pounded or rubbed down, along with wrapping the horn neck and any areas that aren't flat and smooth. To effectively reinforce the tree, rawhide needs to be smooth and tight to the wood. Rawhide trees should have a protective coat of varnish or other coating to prevent absorption of moisture and the damp-dry cycling that will lead to cracking. So, once the area you moistened and flattened has dried, coat it with a couple of layers of spar varnish or urethane. It might be a good idea to paint the entire tree with spar varnish as it doesn't appear to have a thick protective layer. On second thought, to ensure that another coat will adhere well, consider asking the tree maker what they used and coat it with the same product.

No need to fill the depressions. They will be buried as work progresses and will have not impact on the final product. What's the bandage wrapped on the bar?

Here's photo of spacer and nail to align skirts for blocking.

OldRedMule, Responding to your question about bar risers under the strainer: Yes I put in risers under my strainer but not to increase the clearance over the spine. I do so to create clearance for the stirrup leathers and initiate the shape of the groundseat. Clearance over the spine, even on a mule, should be adequate with the combined thicknesses of the bars, the skirts and the sheepskin. If more is desired, a saddle pad with the entire spine cut out would be a better choice as a standard pad will want to bridge across the bars regardless of how deep you made the "tunnel." The downside of your approach is that you are elevating the seat for the rider. I want to keep the rider as close to the horse, or mule, as is practical. You can see in the photo below that I have carved the risers down to the tree in the "pocket" region of the seat (low point). The strainer will be in contact with the tree at the pocket and there will be very little leather left on the final groundseat layer in that location. The reference mark on the risers is 3" behind the back of the stirrup leathers. There are two places I want the seat to be as close as the tree will allow: the pocket and over the stirrup leathers at the bottom of the bars.

Photo shows screw placement to secure skirts to tree and ensure the "gullet" under the cantle provides ample clearance for spine. Before blocking in skirts, I place a piece of leather in the cantle gullet to simulate the combined thickness of the cantle-back and jockeys. Thus, during final assembly the skirts will be bedded to the correct, finished depth in the cantle gullet. I also put a small brad nail dead center through the spacer leather in the gullet and leave about 1/2" protruding. I use a nippers to cut off the head of the protruding nail and then force the seam between the skirts over the nail to assure my skirts are centered on the back of the tree. Dusty or Ben and Caleb will build you a good tree and understand how to interpret your Lane card results.

OldRedMule, Here's a response I made to an older post that may address your question on lacing skirts. There were some photos in the post as well. You could look up the whole discussion under "Building my first mule saddle." Here is the exerted response: Posted April 9, 2020 Its imperative to maintain clearance over the spine for both horses and mules, no exceptions. Design and construction principles won't vary between a mule and horse saddle. The spinal process (ridge of bone extending vertically) of each vertebrae is not covered by muscle and is very near the surface along the top-line, making it vulnerable to injury. That's why our saddle trees have a gullet under the fork and the bars are spaced about 3" apart. That clearance should continue under the cantle where there is another "gullet" or arched area to create clearance. Skirts should be "blocked" or "bedded" to the tree bars such that the skirts are molded away and don't apply pressure to the horses back. When blocking skirts, you'll need to mold the skirts up into the gullet under the cantle and continue that arch to rearward to the bar tips. In addition to proper blocking, the angle of the cut on the skirts where they come together behind the cantle needs to cause the joined skirts to flare upward, continuing the angle of the bar. When cinched down, you should be able to slip your hand under the skirts behind the cantle fairly easily until the bars are encountered. Beyond the bars, the skirts shouldn't apply pressure to the back, period. Thus the saying "ride the tree, not the skirts" is important for saddle makers to adhere to. If the saddle maker hasn't molded the skirts to maintain that arched tunnel under the cantle and behind it, or if the skirts aren't cut properly to angle up up away from the horse behind the cantle, there will be pressure and friction that may sore a horse or mule in the loin area. This is a fairly common but easily avoided problem. Lacing the skirts together can add to the problem by not allowing the skirts to flex away from the horse. Also, the added thickness of the lace can cause a pressure point. All this is avoidable with proper blocking and the proper angle on the skirts where they join. The problem is caused by improper construction, not just the lacing. A properly built saddle can have the skirts laced together and maintain good clearance. That said, lacing the skirts together is not essential and could be eliminated if you made other provisions to secure the skirts to the tree. My practice is to install two screws through the skirt edges and up into the gullet of the cantle. This helps secure the skirts and ensures that the arch I molded into the skirts is maintained. I normally lace the skirts together behind the cantle but haven't always. I usually don't lace past the bar tips and not so far back as to be visible from under the jockeys. Leaving the last few inches of the skirts unlaced allows the skirts to flex away from the horse if the saddle happened to be used on a horse with unusually prominent muscles on their croup. Occasionally I have laced all the way to the back of the skirts as a design feature. This shouldn't cause any pressure or problem if you have designed ample upward flare to the back of the skirts. If you don't lace the skirts together, I suggest the previously mentioned screws into the gullet of the cantle and stitching pockets onto the topside of the skirts to slip the bar tips into.