Denise

It is hard to tell on that picture a lot about the tree shape to see if there are any differences there. If you compare the lowest point on the seat to the stirrup position, you will have your feet pretty far under you. The seat still has some rise to it. Not as flat as a lot of cutters are. We have both added bar risers and flattened the front of the seat varying amounts on request. We are often asked to flatten the seat a little on calf roping saddles. Not a problem to do. I wonder if there may be something done construction wise with the fenders to prevent the stirrups from moving forwards? I don't know about that at all. It will have to be the saddle makers chiming in with that information for you. Thanks for the compliment on the trees Justin. Post some pictures when you are done the saddles! Love to see them.

I have been doing a lot of computer work lately, plus taking a computer course some evenings. Last night I spent 3 hours at the course and then a couple more at home. This morning I could barely move my right hand - pain around the thumb especially when drawing it toward the palm, and a spot on the outside of the hand close to the wrist where I rest my hand that is numb/tingly/sore and won't quit. Obviously this can't go on. Suggestions on what to get/how to hold the mouse so my hand will work again?

Could it be that the Simons Saddlery commissioned the saddle and it was actually built by Carl Fuqua? I have no knowledge of either of them, but there are makers out there who have others build saddles for them. The main maker's mark goes on the saddle (often somewhat different than when that maker is the one who made the saddle) but sometimes they let the person who actually built the saddle put their mark on it too somewhere. Just an idea.

We can all learn more and we can all learn from anyone, if we are willing to look hard enough. Personal attacks are not what LW.net is about, and neither instigating nor participating in them looks good on anyone. I'm not saying it has to be warm, happy, fuzzy, hug time around here all the time. Disagreements let us see sides to an issue we many never have considered. But lets talk about the subject or other people with respect. Then we can all learn and perhaps see things from a different angle than we would have come up with by ourselves.

The motto of LW.net is Education, Entertainment and Fellowship, and the feeling around this place is pretty much one of a family helping each other out. We can all learn more and we can all learn from anyone, if we are willing to look hard enough. Personal attacks are not what LW.net is about, and neither instigating nor participating in them looks good on anyone. I'm not saying it has to be warm, happy, fuzzy, hug time around here all the time. Disagreements let us see sides to an issue we many never have considered. But lets talk about the subject or other people with respect. Then we can all learn more easily. Slick, it is always a good idea to look around the room a little when you first get somewhere to get the feel of the place before jumping in with both feet and maybe inadvertently placing yourself center stage. There are different ways of saying the same thing, and being kind and polite while making your point is not being a wimp. It generally takes more thought and effort to live that way, and is generally much more effective in getting your point across. It doesn't matter what personality type you are, everyone can act respectfully and with dignity if they choose to. We'd really like to have you join the party here at LW, but not crash it.

olroper, Here is a link to instructions about posting pictures. If I can do it, anyone can! http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=15122 Note: There is a size limit per post. And if you can compress the pictures to be 200 kb or so, that sure helps those of us still out in dial up land. Thanks!

Russ, I don't have the answer to your question. It sure would be interesting to see the side profile of the seat and saddles of your new one versus your old one. Any chance of posting some pictures of them? The Cactus Saddlery site is not dial up friendly so I can't see them there. There are people on here who arena rope so they are much more knowledgable than I am in how they want the seat to place them. The effect of shortening the seat and not moving the stirrups would be to place the low point of the seat much more over the stirrups, putting your feet much further back under you. That would make it much easier to be up and forward in the saddle. I wonder if they have made the seat shape different as well to help you move that way? Is the fork more stood up? Is there more leg cut on the fork? Both of these would help to make enough room for your leg when the cantle is that close to the fork. That is where comparison pictures of the saddles would help a lot.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=3128 Here is a link to a topic with a really good history of Billy Cook. Hope it helps!

Looks very functional Gary. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the plug, Steve. The standard advertising discount will be applied to your next tree. Actually, we are only about 3 months out right now on our orders so the wait isn't too bad.

Great timing Mark! Why not set up a listing in the new directory for these? There is an section for Instructional Publications under the Leather Crafting Tools, Supplies etc. This would fit right in and let our members find your DVD more easily over time. How long have you been working on these? The actual DVD I mean, not the years of making chinks so you have the knowledge to be able to make it!

olroper, Caledon sales in Calgary is where most guys get their stuff. http://www.caledonleather.ca/ Ken is the guy to talk with and if he doesn't have it, he will know where to get it. They have been in business for a long time. Trees you generally have to order from whoever makes them - individual or company - but he often has a couple kicking around there too that someone is try to sell. The place in Winnipeg might have been Warkov-Saffeer? 1-800-665-8619 Don't know if they have a website. Hope this helps. Denise

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=21639&pid=139027&st=0entry139027 Here's an ongoing topic about nails and where different ones are used.

Chris, Let us know when your price list is ready and how to access it. I'm sure are a few people on here who want to get ahold of that hardware. Maybe put up your information in the new directory too under the suppliers section. Good advertising!

Most places have a couple, actually. The old one for driving pastures and doing the work, and a newer vehicle for going to town, taking the kids around, etc. Usually the second vehicle is a crew cab truck, though it can be a minivan if you have a family. Not a lot of cars. They don't take the gravel roads as well and don't do so well if you meet up with a deer or a moose or some one else's farm truck or a semi on the highways. Doesn't matter if the paint is new or old, you can't see it because the truck is brown from the dust of gravel roads. 4 x 4 pretty standard up here. If it isn't snow to get stuck in, it is mud. Now this isn't cowboy country as such, but lots of real farms and ranches. We have a car for going to town (only 2 1/2 miles of gravel, it is better on gas, we don't have kids, and I didn't hit the three moose I saw today on the way to town), our 1996 Ford F150 4 x 4 (some rust) for doing some of the farm work and when we need a truck to go to town, and our trusty little old Dodge Ram 50 - 1989, makes terrible noises and "it is going to die" has been said about it for about 8 years now, but its still holding together. Not insured or registered but used for a most of the pasture/fence work. It gets parked over winter. We don't worry too much about scratching it any more!

Congratulations, Ray! I didn't know you had made the leap. All the best in your full time business now! (And I hope I don't hijack the thread too much.)

There's some NICE saddles there, Chris! Can you tell us more about them and the competition?

I think Troy West knows about sharpening ruby blades.

Neat pictures, easy! Thanks for sharing them with us!

We are very blessed to live here for sure.

Thanks Roo. I will remember where the instructions are!

The temperature dropped last night, and after a few days of above freezing weather with all the humidity that put in the air, a cold night and no wind let the moisture condense into beautiful hoarfrost all over the trees. No wind today either so it has been a winter wonderland outside our window for us to enjoy all day. The pictures don't capture it properly, of course, I thought I should share and let others appreciate the beauty too.

Thanks for the definitions, Curbstrap. I appreciate it! I really have wondered. So anything earlier than 1990 is now "vintage". Wow... You know, even with that postive a definition, I still don't want to call myself "vintage"...

Insurance, I am sure, is also a major challenge. Here in Canada we don't have to worry about losing our place due to medical bills but things like dental, eye exams, etc. still aren't covered. Individual coverage for this is high enough that we save a little each month towards those bills rather than pay the premiums, and so far we are ahead. However, a major illness or disability that stopped us from working would have severe consequences, even if the medical bills were paid for. The benefits you get from working for someone else are more important than a lot of people think, at least early in their careers.

Curbstrap, Sorry I can't hep answer your question, but maybe you can answer one of mine. What is the internet definition of "vintage"? I see the term used but haven't been able to peg a time period to go with it. Dictionary definition of vintage as an adjective just says "of a past period". So is there a specific time period where things start getting called vintage or is it just internet talk for old and used?