Ground Seat

[Ringer2000]

I'm looking for some good advice regarding shaping a leather ground seat, mainly what would be the difference in shape you should try to get for different body shapes of riders, for example a short legged heavy set person opposed to a long legged rider with not much natural padding over the seat bones, I know from personal experience that what one person finds comfortable I may not.

Mick

[DieselTech]

Can I ask what ground seat is?

Thanks.

[TomE]

Bob Klenda wrote a series of articles about shaping a ground seat, published in the Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal.  You can order back issues from the Journal or contact Bob with your specific questions.  https://www.klendasaddlery.com/

[James1]

With out going through all of that, can you tell us what a ground seat is? 

[Herbie]

This is what I found:  The Ground Seat | Cary Schwarz Custom Saddles

[Northmount]

16 hours ago, Ringer2000 said:

I'm looking for some good advice regarding shaping a leather ground seat

Moved your post to saddle construction.  It helps get you answers if you do a little research to find the various forums that are applicable to your question.  People don't know what a ground seat is unless they have worked with saddles or have an interest in someday building a saddle.

[Ringer2000]

On 12/13/2024 at 3:55 AM, Northmount said:

Moved your post to saddle construction.  It helps get you answers if you do a little research to find the various forums that are applicable to your question.  People don't know what a ground seat is unless they have worked with saddles or have an interest in someday building a saddle.

Thank you everyone for your help, I’m not sure how to reply to you individually but I appreciate your input and help.

[bland]

On 12/12/2024 at 6:26 AM, James1 said:

With out going through all of that, can you tell us what a ground seat is? 

It is the foundation of the seat in western saddles.  It is put in several layers and ground/skived down on each one shaping and smoothing.  Then you put the seat in.

[Goldshot Ron]

Hey Mick,

First, what type of tree are you using for your saddle?  An Aussie saddle would be different from a western tree.  If you are using a western style tree, my main approach is to locate the center of gravity for the rider.  This would be your lowest point of the seat.  Now, for a man, your seat would be narrower than for a woman.  And the woman's seat would be a little flatter.  With that side, what you wrote is correct: everyone has an opinion about what is comfortable.  The dish in the rear of the seat is important to remember: a flat butt doesn't need as much dish as a round/plump butt.

Ron

[Ringer2000]

7 hours ago, Goldshot Ron said:

Hey Mick,

First, what type of tree are you using for your saddle?  An Aussie saddle would be different from a western tree.  If you are using a western style tree, my main approach is to locate the center of gravity for the rider.  This would be your lowest point of the seat.  Now, for a man, your seat would be narrower than for a woman.  And the woman's seat would be a little flatter.  With that side, what you wrote is correct: everyone has an opinion about what is comfortable.  The dish in the rear of the seat is important to remember: a flat butt doesn't need as much dish as a round/plump butt.

Ron

On 12/13/2024 at 3:55 AM, Northmount said:

Moved your post to saddle construction.  It helps get you answers if you do a little research to find the various forums that are applicable to your question.  People don't know what a ground seat is unless they have worked with saddles or have an interest in someday building a saddle.

Thank you everyone for your help, I’m not sure how to reply to you individually but I appreciate your input and help.

thanks Ron for your reply, the tree is Aussie tree moulded composite material, I’m going to try and put a leather ground seat in it as I’ve had the saddle for some time and find it very uncomfortable. 
it’s got a recess cut out of the seat and some rubber glued in there which hasn’t worked well at all, so I was going to try and put a leather ground seat in and get a better shape in it. 

 

thanks Ron for your reply, the tree is Aussie tree moulded composite material, I’m going to try and put a leather ground seat in it as I’ve had the saddle for some time and find it very uncomfortable. 
it’s got a recess cut out of the seat and some rubber glued in there which hasn’t worked well at all, so I was going to try and put a leather ground seat in and get a better shape in it. 

•  

[Northmount]

16 minutes ago, Ringer2000 said:

Thank you everyone for your help, I’m not sure how to reply to you individually but I appreciate your input and help.

Just like you did!  If it fits the occasion, you can quote a little part of each members' post by selecting / highlighting the text and clicking the little "quote" popup.  Each one will be added to your post and you can comment following each.