jcuk

Just been to Wows site never knew they made race exercise saddles and they have around been around since around 2013 never seen one in a racing yard this side of the pond. Would like to see one in the flesh look pretty straight forward to work on, wonder how it would be with two pads under it as many here do that and the pads are not place one over the other they put the first one with about 1/3 on one side and 2/3 the other and then place the other one the opposite way if that makes sense. Racing yards don't like change to much here they tend to go to saddlers that kind of thought of racing saddlers. I started in racing having never been around horses i remember one Saturday morning i did not clean my tack had a train to catch weekend off precious in racing the head lad called me back and said clean your tack i said oh come on its just one day i have not done it he said its not the fact your cleaning it only as you clean it you are checking it, it may save your life one day that has always stayed with me.

As i said its the way i like it but have seen it both ways as you say and if customer requested thats how they want it then that how i would do it.

Nice clean work. Just one thing i would do different i think cant see if i am wrong or right from pic but i would put the clip on the throat the other way round but thats just the way it all clips opening facing away from the horse that way no chance of pinching the horse believe seen it happen. Hope this helps JCUK

Grass racing which we call racing on turf this side of the pond so much better than racing on the dirt and all weather racing. There are a lot of reasons for wither sores within racing first one could be a weak backward young horse with no real top line definition, have seen it caused by badly fitting stable rugs believe it or not and they never seem to learn. Don't think race riding saddles can cause to much damage because they are not on the horse for to long and the jockeys are up in their irons most of the time, now race exercise saddles that another matter yes the older style exercise were close to being stripped down GP saddles all the same they were heavy. These days there are full tree saddles which are lot more refined, will say though not all of them also there half tree saddles ( soft saddles ) as they are called, depending on which stable you are working for your exercise lot could be anything between 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours so thats why most riders prefer the soft saddles which maybe best for their rear ends but not always the best choice for horse. But here we go poorly maintained saddles and tack are so common in racing through neglect or just not knowing it needs a good going over from time to time, some saddles may not be seen by a saddler for years unless its to have there girth billets changed and then they sometimes don't want anything else done to the saddle be cause of cost i have seen some nightmares refused to touch some and others i have told them to bin them. Another reason is sorry to say poor tacking up of horses they don't pull the pad up into pommel to help stop it pinching and easing the pressure on the wither, also some pads are well past their sell by date (cost )again not knowing also in racing they use wet choimse leather to stop the saddle slipping during exercise after exercise these days horses don't seemed to done up so well after their work meaning water just thrown over them rugs put straight on wet horses the rider never goes back to give them a brush a little later to tidy the water marks up, horrible this sometimes can cause dry skin on their back and withers would can lead to sores so put it down to bad stable husbandry in the past i worked for a French trainer if you did anything like that he would look at the head lad and say get rid of him you could not even leave your tack on the ground which happens in most yards in Britain. Not sure if i have explained it well or just had a rant about standards slipping. Hope this helps JCUK P.S. Reflocking rarely if ever in some places ! what's that, down to cost again

Yes wither sores can be a common problem in horse racing this side of the pond anyway, sometimes here we use two pieces of the felt pads stitched together but with a piece cut out at the wither end of the pad where a insert of some strong elastic between the two pads to hold it together hopefully lifting the elastic enough without putting pressure on the said sores. Just a idea for you if they call upon you again. Hope this helps JCUK

Funny enough came upon this the other day and thought maybe of use to wallet makers and small leather goods, this maybe a good option to have no idea how good it is but seems okay especially if your cutting skill are not the Mae West. Although not cheap not silly money either. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfvIwl-bmDU Hope this helps JCUK

Any pics JCUK

No worries lets hope

Still hope insight, new message at the top of home page. http://www.leprevo.co.uk JCUK

Good work for a good reason, Horse looks a bit sorry its self. JCUK

These maybe of use to you also 18mm are available in some places. Things like that i usually lightly tack but each to their own. https://www.artisanleathersupply.com/products/locking-pins Hope this helps JCUK

Maybe a better option for you. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284535536029?hash=item423fa3b99d:g:u6gAAOSwmlhhmANc JCUK

Agree that is a steal to bad you are not this side of the pond. JCUK

Got my first Stockton one when i first started out could not afford a Plough gauge then and which were only made for orthodox, me being a south paw this was a godsend to me 25 + years ago and guess what still going strong now and have cut some real heavy leather with it no problem, and no i don't have a replacement but do have the metal one which is ok but it does slip out of measurement quite easily also do have a plough gauge (orthodox,) but still like to use the strap cutter just easy to use left or right handed.

Spyros you may want to check local hardware stores or Amazon Australia for wad punch sets may work out cheaper for you. https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=wad+punch+set&rh=n%3A5159226051&ref=nb_sb_noss These are what Abbey England sell and no i did not get mine from them, got half decent set from a local hardware store for a third of the price. https://www.amazon.com.au/Maun-Metric-Punch-1000-MAUWPKM/dp/B0001P0E14/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=wad%2Bpunch%2Bset&qid=1637344942&s=home-improvement&sr=1-8&th=1 Hope this helps JCUK

Sorry cant resist. Theres me thinking you are saying to them, yes one day if you two are good girls you can become one of these one day. JCUK

I have used Metropolitan for a long time never had any issues with their leather but having said that i am just close enough to drive and select the leather myself most of the time and on the times i could not have never been dissatisfied with what they have sent.

Have to say i have not done any work where guns are concerned but looking at the links from Chuck can not see any reason why the 9oz/3.6mm bridle leather would not work a lot of my work is heavy strap work and if i had that weight of leather to hand i would use it. Hope this helps JCUK

I am taking it that you have already cut a strap at a set figure of the Plough Gauge already and it was wrong when you measured it again, thats why i never trust the gauge on any of the strap cutters i have, i use a set square for all my measurements in fact my Plough Gauge does not have any measurement marking on it. Got it from someone who thought they could make one which they did works well. Also i think i know the maker of yours looking at the handle of the one you have P.M. me and i will have a guess. Hope this helps JCUK

But lets hope it does not mean abby normal as Igor says in Young Frankenstein, sorry could not resist

No worries still hoping Le Prevo will still be around in one way or another.

I messaged the chat bot at Abbey who said they do ship to N.I. there are certain liquids they cant ship at the moment because of the extra training they need for this but also said they should have that in a few weeks hopefully so maybe contact them again, think because a lot of trade is done online they have to compete with a lot of others or maybe the peace agreement changed their policy who knows. So maybe give them a try again also i messaged Metropolitan Leather they have said they will ship to N.I. they stock Osborne, George Barnsley tools they have threads and edge stains, dyes, these days, they may also be an option for you good to work with also. Please note that Abbey also said the minimum order to NI is the same as here in the GB and is £25. Heres are links for Abbey and Metropolitan https://www.abbeyengland.com https://www.metropolitanleather.com Hope this helps JCUK

Sad if that is it, will Abbey not send to N.I. they use to deal with me when i was in middle east 25 years ago, and if you mind me asking who else have you tried in G.B.

Went to Le Prevos site today not sure if means they are stopping trading all together or scaling down. While i don't do a lot of trade with them when i have, i've found them very good people to work with, i know there are many here that use them a lot which means they will sadly missed by leather workers in the UK. If they are to cease trading completely, hope not, because they are always another option for things i may need that other suppliers may not have in stock or stock to start with and their prices are very good. http://www.leprevo.co.uk JCUK

Can only echo what has already been said nice work. JCUK