Getting started....or not

[Veriye]

Hey there , goodmorning! 

I am into leatherworking for the past 6/7 years. Always challenging myself and trying to find new things to make. 

Ever since I started my dream was to make a western style saddle for my horse.  Unfortunately with my old horse this wasnt possible. Now I have a yearling...

The thing is..it is itching so bad to start, but my Azteca will have to grow up first..so it still takes like 2 years and then she is not fully grown yet and will still change. 

I have the Stohlman book and watching tons of video's. 

Now you guys come in: A friend of mine suggested to just make a saddle and if it doesnt fit her later, just sell it. 

What do you guys think? I know most serious saddlers make saddles specifically for one horse/rider. Is this an option. Or should I better wait another couple years? 

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[Klara]

Generally I need to make at least two to get an item I am satisfied with: One to learn on, the next one where I do what I've learned. But that may be only because I am bad at following instructions. 

Therefore, if I wanted to make a saddle for my future riding horse, I'd start making a first saddle now, without any expectation that I would be able to sell it. And then when my horse has a somewhat final shape, I'd make his final saddle. 

Btw, neither of my horses has ever had a bespoke saddle. I simply tried them before purchase, like my shoes...

[Veriye]

Hi Klara,

 

thank you for your answer! I kinda like the idea. In the worst case it can be taken apart again and serve as a learning object 

My horse also never had a bespoke saddle before, but it is something I am dreaming about for a looong time. It was also the reason to get into leatherworking, and from there my interest exploded into making knick knacks, shoes, horse tack etc. I kinda always get obsessed with a project and pour everything into it and then move on to the next. So bad for money making  so it stayed a hobby for me haha.

[Mulesaw]

@Veriye I think that as long as you choose a fairly standard saddle tree, you should be able to sell the saddle afterwards. 

As long as it is a hobby, it is OK that it cost some money. 
So even if you are not able to sell the saddle when it is completed, you have learned from building it, and you have hopefully had a good time doing it. 

it is nice if your hobby can generate a bit oncome to covers some of the costs, but since it is "just a hobby", that shouldn't be the major concern. 
If you look at someone who likes to go hunting as a hobby, they have to pay for the hunting area and for a gun and some equipment. They spend countless hours and perhaps come home with a deer once in a while, so if you calculated the price of meat compared to the number of hours spent or amount of money spent on equipment - it would be really expensive meat. But the meat is just a biproduct of the hobby, and I think you should see your saddlebuild as a "biproduct of your hobby" as well. 

Just make sure you have a good time doing it, and enjoy every moment of the build. It doesn't matter if you spend 600 Euros on materials. If that is a project that can keep you happy and occupied for a year it is well worth it. 
 

Good luck with the saddle build.

Brgds Jonas

[Veriye]

Hi Jonas,

 

thank you for your response!

I agree. I have a 9 to 5 computer job that pays my bills just fine. I am not doing it for the money, but for me it is about the journey, learning new skills and challenging my hands.

I will look for a "standard" saddle tree, to hopefully start my journey in the summer holidays.