FineasRanch

Hey guys, I was scoping out your topics here and have found them very interesting. I was wondering how you guys got started restoring old saddles. How do you know how old something is and if it's even worth restoring? I joined this forum because I'd like to get into leather work, but at this point I don't know what to do. On one had I'd like to make some stuff, but on the other hand I love old saddles and halters and miscellaneous horse tack. I enjoy sitting on the floor in front of the TV, taking a soft toothbrush, a bucket of water and some soap and going to town. I like watching something go from dry and dirty, to something usable again. Which leads me back to my original question, how did you get started doing this?

While in h.s. I worked at a vet. clinic. Prior to working at the vet clinic I had dreams of becoming a vet, after I started working there I changed my mind. I went off to college and worked various part-time jobs; I cleaned lots of horse stalls, worked as a cashier, worked in a factory that built freezers and as a receptionist/secretary in one of the departments at my college. now I've graduated and am looking for a job in my field. I had horses for 10 years and learned to love leather then. Now I'm setting out to learn about leather craftsmanship. I would LOVE to eventually learn to make horse equipment, but I know that is probably years down the road. For now, I'm reading your posts and learning what I can. Maybe someday, if I do enjoy this, it may become a career...maybe.

Hello everyone. I am here to learn from all of you wonderful members. At this point I don't have the finances, or space, to really get involved with this. What I do have is a lot of time to read and learn. I also found out that there is a Tandy Leather Factory not too far from where I live (Central Ohio) so I hope to go out there sometime next week and look around and maybe pick up one of their basic kits to give it a whirl. I've spent the last 10 years working with horses, so I'm familiar with leather, but I've never tried to make anything with it.