AndyKnight

five star pads. The best pad out there IMO If you would like one and can't find one locally email me. www.5starequineproducts.com

You got it. When a stirrup leather is "set" any adjustment made to the length should be done by pulling them over the bar at the top one way or the other. rather than by taking the hobble strap off and adjusting where it goes around the stirrup.

You could rotate your stirrup leathers so that the buckle is lower, hopefully below the rigging. It will eliminate some of the bulk that they would be causing as they are in the pics.

I will be the saddle maker that says something different maybe.. re Dry spot.. If the saddle was too far ahead which it sure looks like to me, the dry spot may more likely be due to no pressure. The whole horse was not sweated and it did not appear caused by pressure to me. Of course pics only convey limited info. . I would look at how tight you cinched the horse. as well as looking at the horses" softness" or ability to give to the pressure / cues of the rider over all. Your horse was speaking and some of it may have been the saddle but definitely not all. respectably. Andy Knight

I use a Nakajima.. 440. I like my reverse etc. ( Japanese) bought it new in 1988. I prefer modern although i will concede that the old hook and awl machines make a nice stitch. Been there done that got a mechanics ticket to show for it. The chinese machines that I have tried can.t be compared to one like mine but maybe thay have improved the last few years.

Not a good plan in my experience

Ryan ,great saddle / great pics. What program do you use to do those pics??

customers. Ryan sorry we didn't get more time to visit. Maybe next year.

some more pics sorry the two saddles mixed up.

Thanks everyone, I will try and get busy with the camera tomorrow.

I build my own so it is what I call an "Andy Knight special "which means I just made it with an idea of what I wanted to look like when finished and what type of horse wanted it to fit.

I don't make many old timers but did this one in Jan. this was fun.. I made the rigging rings as the customer wanted iron rings ..... only thing was welded them with a wire feed rather than in the forge.

here is the first runner up

Thanks, yes The bars are covered with glass and epoxy. Andy

saddle strings by Beatrice Schafroth :

Here is the saddle that won the Art of the west show in Kamloops BC. Ryan Cope recieved 2nd runner up with a great saddle. Will try and get better pics later. Darcy Sorry you didn't make it... The outcome may have been different.!! Chuck Stormes judged this competition and it was great to have him go over the saddles with the individual entrants.

Glad it worked !! now try and wear it out !!

You can cut up to 3 " off and then form your twist with your stirrup closer to your fender. . It this doesn't gain you enough you can shorten the fender at the top where it would be hidden s under the seat jockey. (This is done quite often when shorter people buy taller peoples saddles. ) The other end you can always punch more holes and trim if it is too long.

How long are the stirrup leather below the fender. Measure withe the stirrup leathers laid out or at least un buckled.?

JW ,very well done ! Andy

Figure on cutting off after setting the washer. I leave about a 1/16" to peen. . 3/4 " is the length I generally buy. works for almost all saddlemaking applications. Just try a couple before on some scrap.