replacing a suede seat

[Ken Nelson]

I build a large portion of my saddles with a full "patch seat".  It is a heavy full grain chap type leather-5/6 oz. buckstitched in with latigo buckstitch lace that I cut myself.  These saddles are custom saddles and that is what the orders call for. Suede side ( roughout) out.   I don't use any padding under them as they are ordered that way.  I discourage putting padding in seats as I have seen so many of them break down if they are rode hard in extreme weather conditions.  I used to get some seat padding years ago but don't remember who had it.  It was about 1/8" thick and had a cloth back on it.  I was sewing patterns in it and it seemed to hold up  just OK.   A suede seat, especially with padding under it,  will absorb water and will gall you and gall you bad if you ride it wet and on a hot day.  They are miserable to ride wet on a cold day and I have done both hot and cold. 

In my opinion,  how good a saddle rides is dependent on how good a ground seat it has and how well it fits you.

[Squilchuck]

Here's a photo. She wants top grain  leather but no stitching (good).  The padding feels OK. I'll decide on replacing padding when I disassemble, but probably should replace since it will be apart. I've read about padding others use, but not sure of the best option. 

A question - could I get away with not pulling the seat off the cantle dish and still lift it enough to hand sew? -John