LittleBelgian

I'm sorry to say I can't tell you much, I'm in the same boat you are. I'm currently tearing apart my saddle and finding all sorts of things, I'm just doing a cleaning and replacing rusted nails/screws just the way I found them keeping a mental note of what goes where. Antique Saddle Restoration I haven't read it all the way through, but there are few things in here. The funny thing is, people tell you how to take it apart, but not how to put it back together... The Stohlman Encyclopedia of Saddle Making (All Three) and Saddlemaking: Lessons in Construction, Repair, and Evaluation by Dusty Johnson , are some books I'd like to get along with a number of dvds.

I really want to try saddle making, the expense of starting is holding me back so I'm attempting to restore what I think is a JC Higgins, I don't have any tools so I've gotten as far as taking the skirt the rest of the way off. Sounds like a dumb question but what do I need to reattach the skirting on the saddle? it was held on with lace and screws. The fleece and stirrup leathers are still in good shape, the leather is still good all around but a little sticky/waxy. Here it is before I took it apart, sloppy photo but my camera was dying. Here's the saddle stamp, I can't find much but from what I've found I think it may be a JC Higgins? I got a pretty good deal ( for around here anyway) $50 at a tack auction. There are some scrapes and scuffs though, I'll just use it for training/trails. Thanks, looking forward to using this forum!

I think of Dover the English saddle company right off the bat.

It's beautiful! Where did you learn?