Flat Plate Rigging

[Nevadan]

I have a double rigged that has the front rigging far enough forward that when I cinch up the cantle kicks up in the air. I would like to put together a flat plate rigging for it placing the ring at about 3/4. My question is: How involved would this be? How far would I have to tear it down. I'd like to do it myself since I always wanted to build my own saddle (I always considered saddle making to be the top rung of leatherworking so to speak)

[jwwright]

You will need to take the rear housing jockeys and skirts off, and the fork cover as well. Of course the fenders/stirrup leathers also. Peeling the seat back , but not cutting off the cantle binding and completely removing the seat would work. Depending on how well the glue is stuck on the seat, sometimes peeling the seat back without pulling up ground seat leather can be a trick. After tear down you could then remove existing rigs front and back, and design your pattern for the plate rig and install. It's a fairly big over haul for someone to start out on, but everyone's got to jump in somewhere. JW

[Nevadan]

Thanks, that might make a good project this winter