Mentoring opportunity wanted, pay offered

[equiss]

HI all, I am trying to learn to build my own saddles, and am just not that good at reading and applying - I learn much better by "hands on". I am looking for someone in Oregon, preferrably around salem, Portland, Eugene, or surrounding area that would be willing to work with me one or two Saturday's a month to build my first saddle. I would pay a negotiated rate for the opportunity. I am looking to learn traditional as well as modern construction, but want to learn to do it right!

Please contact me if interested, i would post this in the "wanted" section, but will most likely get more of a response here.

thanks all for consideration.

Charlene

moved to "help wanted" ~Johanna

Edited February 17, 2009 by Johanna
moved to "help wanted"

[jbird]

Sure hope you get a better turn out than me I offered the same thing but no bites, it takes some one a little bit different I mean you now it's not that great of thing for them, sure hope you find some one I am still looking been hard for me

Josh

[equiss]

Sure hope you get a better turn out than me I offered the same thing but no bites, it takes some one a little bit different I mean you now it's not that great of thing for them, sure hope you find some one I am still looking been hard for me

Josh

I understand, it takes a person a lot of time to work with a new person. It is something that I really want to do, but I just do not learn well by reading. I have all the books I can get, sat through a saddle making class that was lecture only, and it was helpful....but I learn from doing - thanks for the thought.

[The Major]

Not sure if he still does it, but Bill Gomer used to offer a week long course at his place in Kansas, where he takes you step by step. I am really not even sure how to get in contact with him anymore.

[celticleather]

Here's Bill Gomer . . . http://www.billgomer.com/index.html

[Steve Brewer]

equiss,Might be Interested in teaching you ,but I am in northern Ca.Pm me if interested

Steve

[readytogiveitup]

The only thing I know you can do is exactly as I had to do to learn which is..... look in your area telephone directories, or just drive around, until you find an old saddle shop with a filthy floor ....ask the owner if they will let you sweep it for about six months until they decide you have learned the right to start washing grungy manure stained saddles. continue workin at washing saddles, sweeping the floor, getting everyones cofee, breakfast, lunch ect. learning whatever you can by keeping your ears and eyes open and your mouth shut for about a year then perhaps you might even get moved up to stamp hand as well.. after you have dissassemble about a hundred saddles washed and oiled them and reassembled them you will start to get an idea of how a saddle is constructed and thus how to build one. All the time you are doing this make sure you have permission to sleep in your car out back so as to be sure you are on time for work each and every morning so you dont get runned off. If after all this the top hand saddle maker decides he likes you and you are worthy he might start to explain some of the procedures he is doing and allow you to watch...If you are not willing to do all that I mentioned then save yourself the time and simply go buy you a damn saddle cuz you dont want it bad enough!

[Jordan]

I get the distinct impression that saddle making is one of the few trades left that adhere to the age old apprenticeship program that uses indentured servitude to produce excellence.

[readytogiveitup]

Oh, I did not even get to go into phase two which is learning all you can about the actual animal a saddle goes on.... the horse. All I can say is during this second and very important phase one should get ready to shovel lots of horse poop and if aspiring to build working cowboy rigs be prepared to muck through a knee deep mixture of cow manure and mud while standing aground pushing cows toward the working pens so the real hands can stay clean enough to flirt with the pretty waitress when they go into the local cafe at lunch time. Dont worry though they will arrange to have your burger brought back to you at the ranch so you dont starve to death or pass out from mal nutrition and exhaustion! Forget about the whole rodear and chuck wagon scenario because greenhorns are not allowed to witness much less participate in such excursions.

[bruce johnson]

Dang buddy, between your saddle shop apprenticeship and cowboying apprenticeship, you've run into some bad luck. Where are these places at so someone else doesn't jump into the same puddle?

[JHayek]

Oh, I did not even get to go into phase two which is learning all you can about the actual animal a saddle goes on.... the horse. All I can say is during this second and very important phase one should get ready to shovel lots of horse poop and if aspiring to build working cowboy rigs be prepared to muck through a knee deep mixture of cow manure and mud while standing aground pushing cows toward the working pens so the real hands can stay clean enough to flirt with the pretty waitress when they go into the local cafe at lunch time. Dont worry though they will arrange to have your burger brought back to you at the ranch so you dont starve to death or pass out from mal nutrition and exhaustion! Forget about the whole rodear and chuck wagon scenario because greenhorns are not allowed to witness much less participate in such excursions.

same way I learned!!!!

[readytogiveitup]

Just trying to put my two cents worth in here along with a little raw humor and recollections of my experiences before I am banned from the site altogether. If you will notice the lady asked for a "hands on" approach and noted that she wanted to learn the "right way" In my opinion this would be it and pretty much applies to any true hand whether they were born into these trades or got involved in them because they were starving to death and needed a way to make a living. The first thread I commented on was deleted alltogether due to comments I made giving my opinion of a saddle customer who whined about a perfectly excellent handmade saddle because he misordered bar degrees on his saddle and wanted the maker to eat it and build him another. I have been attacked on the other posts as well for giving my opinion. Sorry if folks arent given to reality here but I SAY THAT IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO JUMP INTO SOME OF THE PUDDLES I HAVE DESCRIBED THEN PERHAPS ANYTHING "COWBOY" IS NOT FOR YOU! At least that is how I feel about things and my brothers who gave their lives in a foreign land so that I can do so all agreed as well.

[Johanna]

Just trying to put my two cents worth in here along with a little raw humor and recollections of my experiences before I am banned from the site altogether. If you will notice the lady asked for a "hands on" approach and noted that she wanted to learn the "right way" In my opinion this would be it and pretty much applies to any true hand whether they were born into these trades or got involved in them because they were starving to death and needed a way to make a living. The first thread I commented on was deleted alltogether due to comments I made giving my opinion of a saddle customer who whined about a perfectly excellent handmade saddle because he misordered bar degrees on his saddle and wanted the maker to eat it and build him another. I have been attacked on the other posts as well for giving my opinion. Sorry if folks arent given to reality here but I SAY THAT IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO JUMP INTO SOME OF THE PUDDLES I HAVE DESCRIBED THEN PERHAPS ANYTHING "COWBOY" IS NOT FOR YOU! At least that is how I feel about things and my brothers who gave their lives in a foreign land so that I can do so all agreed as well.

Oh, my, I don't know where to start! I usually send these messages in PMs, but I don't want any confusion here. We did remove a thread at another poster's request, and it had nothing to do with you other than you brought it back to the top of the queue. I have no idea what it takes to be a cowboy, and you seem to be a good writer, so why don't you start a thread in Leatherwork Conversation and tell us about your experiences and what you have learned about life, leather and whatever makes you tick. We are glad to have you here on LW, but we must insist that everybody plays nice, and doesn't run with scissors. You probably have a lot you can teach us. I for one know just about nothing about being a cowboy other than what Romey and Russ and a few others have told me. You tell me in your own topic, and I'll be interested to read it.

Johanna

back to regularly scheduled programming, people.

[readytogiveitup]

Thanks johanna, As I said... my humor may be a bit raw for some and even borderline controversial to others but as you probably already know such usually keeps audiences "tuned in" and coming back. My punctuation has much to be desired I know. Yes some of the stories are intersting and others simply should not be told in order to protect the innocent.

[rawhide1]

readytogiveitup

I like your sense of humor!!! Ya sound just like the guys I work with. What ya describe kinda sounds like being a probie at the firehouse. Gotta pay your dues before your accepted. And man I'am glad those days are behind me. I do wish ya would get a shorter handle as it took me about ten min. to type your current one out.

Mike

[rgerbitz]

equiss,

If you haven't gotten an offer yet, I would recommend asking around to see who the better makers are in your area and get in touch with them and ask them directly if you could work something out. I have had the good fortune to find a maker within reach willing to work with me on saddlery and I am about to head out 3/4 of the way across the country to spend a week with a top braider. In each case I was referred to them and either called them or got in touch through email and asked if I could come. Both have been more than reasonable with their rates.

Rob

[basketweave]

If you are still looking and don't mind traveling a bit. Look up Don Carter at Dixons Saddlery in Prineville, OR. Great guy, loves to teach people. He does Saddle School, Chap Making School. He will work with you on your own schedule since you live a ways away. Look him up at Dixonsaddlery.com