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I am replacing the one piece swell cover on an old saddle my farrier wants to keep. I broke the saddle down and found I really do need a drawdown stand. The basic design was taken from the pictures and drawings in Dusty Johnson’s book “Saddlemaking Construction & Repair Techniques”. My husband worked out the measurements needed and the plan is the design pictures that follow. We used 2 kiln dried 2” X 12” X 8’ boards. They were ripped to 8”wide and 6” (actually ripped in half for a measurement of 5 5/8”). The opening for the 2x4 was cut with a jigsaw against a straight edge since we didn’t want to lose strength in the front piece. The steel angle with holes came in 12” lengths. It was available in our local hardware box store. We used a dowel for the “pin” to hold the 2x4 in place. The 2x4 crossbar only has one screw so it can swivel, I find that helpful. I shortened the bar that tightens the strap pressure to 32”. This seems to be the right length for me. I’m covering the stand with carpet and if I find the saddle slips around I’ll use the rubberized carpet grip on top of the carpet. I made a heavy leather hold down with D rings. It attaches to the crossbar eyebolts with straps with roller buckles. I used a snap hook on one side for easy off and on. Hope this is helpful for folks out there who are looking for a drawdown stand. The plans are a pdf file attached to this post. Pat Drawdown Stand[11083].pdf

Hi all, I am having a hard time finding someone on the East Coast to replace the horn covering on a metal saddle horn. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Saddle currently in NJ, while I visit my son. If anyone has any ideas about the saddles origination manufacturer or maker that would be great too. I referred to the white stitching when describing it to an old timer and he said that isn't buckstiching.??? If it isn't buckstiching as he stated, what kind of stich is it? Any ideas, he thought it might be a Chinese made saddle. I remain clueless about this because I bought it at auction and have no idea about the history, but want to restore it. Thanks JJ

Hi everyone, I'm the leather-craft volunteer for the Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation ( http://www.eraf.org ). The foundation is located in south Florida. I have been repairing, cleaning, and oiling the leather tack and saddles donated to eraf. These items are usually in in ruff dry, dirty condition and not suitable for use or sale. The foundation currently has about 25 horses available for adoption and sponsorship. Here are some of the leather reins and bridles that I have cleaned and are drying before their wipe down with neetsfoot oil. Here are also a couple of saddles betting repaired.

Hi everybody! (Complete with Grover arms) I am sooooo pumped! I just finished paying for, and am picking up tomorrow, a Cobra 4 -16” and a Thompson Walking Foot machine! I also am the proud owner of a paper weight with a treadle, that says it’s a Singer 29-something. I get to try and fix that up on my own. Fun! My husband has kindly cleared the garage out for a leather/craft shop and plans are underway to change a church table into a leather table! Can clear shoe boxes with foam for my stamps be far away? I’m going to ask a gentleman in the area to make sure the two new machines are in spec. I have been told he’s really good with industrial machines, soooo, yeah, pumped! I’ve been talking to several people about learning from real professionals about shoe/boot making/repair and saddlemaking/repair. So, do any of you have names of people in the Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas or South Dakota areas that give lessons about shoes/boots/saddles/harness? oh, and now I get the museum of sewing machines tendency! The right tool for the right job! Sorry about before!

It's been awhile since I last posted anything, but I recently finished repairs on an old ranch saddle I picked up a couple years back. Thought I'd post the results. However, I have an extraordinarily difficult time posting photos to this forum, so I'll just post the URL to my blog, where I posted photos and information about the repairs. https://westerntrailrider.com/wordpress/blog/finished-my-repairs-on-another-old-saddle/ Sorry admins, but getting all the photos resized and all that fiddly stuff isn't worth the trouble. Nobody takes 3mp photos anymore. Have you thought about an extension that automatically resizes uploaded photos? 1.46mb is waaaay small nowadays.

I have an Antarés close contact saddle I've been asked to repair. In short, I'm trying to identify the best thread for the job. I need something tha's very resistant to UV and is extremely abrasion resistant. What do you recommend? There was a wonderful reference page that compared characteristics of thread types I thought I found on this site ages ago. Unfortunately, I haven't been successful in relocating it. If you know what I'm talking about, any idea where to find it? More context: The owner doesn't want to have the whole seat replaced but asked for me to repair a tear on the edge where it is sewn to the jockeys and the rider's thigh rests.

What a good thread would be for western saddle repair?

Hello everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. I have been a member for a few weeks but have been too busy to post any introductions on the forum. About a month ago I opened Baker Leather in Pagosa Springs, CO. Although my main interest is towards the western saddlery areas I have been getting alot of repairs unrelated to horses or tack, and I'm happy to get them! I really enjoy designing and building holsters for concealed carry and get alot of interest in my holsters so that works out pretty well. I haven't yet started building saddles but I expect to begin a build sometime later in the year. I'm always looking to learn and improve, right now some of my main areas of interest are stitching machine maintenance and repair, improving my artistry on leather and basically just learning more about the business. I have been doing leather work and repairs for about 15 years but have just recently opened a store. Brandon Baker

Hey everyone!! My name is Casey, and am a new registrant to this site. This is certainly not my first visit to the site, I have been perusing all of your fine work for quite some time now.... just got the oomph to register and start participating/trading ideas from people all around the world!! A little background on my horse/leather history... I apprenticed under a saddle maker, who was from a time when horses were for function, not for fun. I learned all of the basics of structure, strength, ingenuity, and got a daily dose of horse history just about everyday. My teacher is a wonderful man...but he was certainly not about all the "fru-fru"...carving, stamping, etc... So, after I apprenticed with him, and learned all I thought he had to teach me, I started doing a carving seminar here and there, and decided that most of it was pretty basic. After I learned the basic tools for carving, and painting, dying, and stamping; I set out on my own. Headstrong girl, working in an industry that had been male dominant for centuries. It has been trying at times... I have definitely had as many good days as bad, and as many mistakes as successes; and has overall been a very rewarding career thus far. I own 9 horses, 2 ponies, and my resident mule (Bartholomule haha). Most of them are saddle horses, meant for ranching/cutting/riding pens, and even the occasional lazy day when we just go out for a trail ride. I own a halfling and a draft horse (a 2 year old Pertrand filly) that has been stealing my heart the last couple of months. I do own a few carts, and a wagon, and have broke 3 of my horses to pull, and both my ponies as well. We participate in the city parade every year, and boy do we get dolled up to go!! My horses are my life, any time not spent working on my leather i spent learning new things with my horses. They are all such adorable characters, and they never cease to surprise me with the willingness they have to put up with my (sometimes annoying) persistence. My life wouldnt be the same without them, and I like to think that they like me as well ) It is nice to meet you all, and look forward to learning along with you!