First Saddle Build

[mbnaegle]

I hope this is the right subforum.

I grew up in our families leather machinery company, but want to learn more about saddlemaking and keep my Dad's old leather tools in use (he was a Saddle and Harness maker before getting into the equipment side of things). In particular, I'm interested in classic pre-1960's methods and construction, and eventually want to restore some family saddles.

Before I jump into those projects, I'm going to try my hand at this one. This started as an 80% finished Saddle that was thrown in with some used equipment we bought. The leather wasn't cut very symmetrical and the stitching is all over the place (I'm guessing it was all hand sewn, or something was up with their machine). The seat wasn't shaped to well, and they used foam to smooth it out. I get the impression that it was someone else's first Saddle build as well, but was never finished. It's quite small so I think was either intended for a small pony, or as a display piece. I don't have a horse to put it on, but would prefer to build it as a usable saddle.

I've started pulling it apart, and it hasn't gotten any better, but the tree seems fairly solid. The tree seems much older than the rest of it and seems to have more tack holes than I'd expect, so It might have been a rebuild. The woven covering is a bit loose, so once it's stripped down I want to start by refinishing the tree.

I know lots of modern trees are finished in fiberglass and resin. How far back was that process used? Is there a more traditional method of finishing a tree?

I'd appreciate any pointers and advise in this process.

[mbnaegle]

Reading up on saddle tree construction, I think this one was made with cheese cloth and varnish (apparently done on cheaper saddles back in the day, instead of the better rawhide coverings). I'm thinking I'll stick with what it had and give it several coats of varnish. 

[Mulesaw]

@mbnaegle I can easily understand the lure of doing a project like this, but given that western saddles require a lot of leather and a lot of work, it might be better to purchase a worn saddle or a new tree that will actually fit a horse that either you have or someone else does. 

Making a "learning saddle" is a great idea, but making learning saddle that will be used is even better. If the purpose is to give you some experience to work on those heirloom saddles, then it would be great to know that the solutions you want to use actually work. And you can't really tell that if the saddle you are training on is just "going to look pretty"

The price of the leather is going to be the same more or less, and also the work involved. But once the saddle is completed, it should fit a horse or a pony. It is quite possible that your small saddle will, but I would check with some local horse owners (if you don't have horses yourself), that the tree fits a horse that is regularly ridden. If it doesn't fit anything - then I would probably try to get a hold of another tree. 

I am not trying to discourage you in any way, (I have the same plan with some old English pony jumping saddles), but spending a lot of time and never being able to see the saddle being used would just be devastating in my opinion.

Brgds Jonas

[mbnaegle]

58 minutes ago, Mulesaw said:

@mbnaegle I can easily understand the lure of doing a project like this, but given that western saddles require a lot of leather and a lot of work, it might be better to purchase a worn saddle or a new tree that will actually fit a horse that either you have or someone else does. 

Making a "learning saddle" is a great idea, but making learning saddle that will be used is even better. If the purpose is to give you some experience to work on those heirloom saddles, then it would be great to know that the solutions you want to use actually work. And you can't really tell that if the saddle you are training on is just "going to look pretty"

The price of the leather is going to be the same more or less, and also the work involved. But once the saddle is completed, it should fit a horse or a pony. It is quite possible that your small saddle will, but I would check with some local horse owners (if you don't have horses yourself), that the tree fits a horse that is regularly ridden. If it doesn't fit anything - then I would probably try to get a hold of another tree. 

I am not trying to discourage you in any way, (I have the same plan with some old English pony jumping saddles), but spending a lot of time and never being able to see the saddle being used would just be devastating in my opinion.

Brgds Jonas

Thanks! That makes sense. I'll see if I can find someone with a pony to see how this tree fits.

[rktaylor]

While I believe you will learn by working on that saddle, a lot of what you do won't transfer to full size saddles. For example the riggings and stirrup leathers aren't going to scale up readily. If you don't have a use for it, I wouldn't invest a lot of time or money. I undertook a similar rebuild quite a few years ago, but a friend wanted it for his grandkids. Good luck on the journey. It will be rewarding. 

Randy