Old Show Saddle Finished: Thanks For The Help

[Dwight]

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who posted and helped on this project. He came and picked it up today, and I don't think many kids in a candy store were a lot happier than he was.

I replaced the little "D" ring up by the horn, . . . both of the "D" rings for attaching the breast strap, . . . re-stitched the whole top of the saddle horn (after I took out the nylon monofilament fishing line someone previously used), . . . I re-sewed the outside edge just about all the way around it (all hand sewing, . . . ughhhh), . . . gave it a real good bath, . . . and oiled it lightly.

The silver conchos were a pain to polish, got them done, . . . replaced the rosettes underneath them, . . .

Most importantly, I learned a lot, . . . and a tip of the Stetson goes to "justken" who invited me to his saddle shop, . . . we looked the job over, . . . got a lot of good advice from him, . . . and during the process, made a new friend.

I read each post and did most of what was suggested, . . . and again, . . . thanks to all.

You've seen the "before" pics, . . . these are "during" and "after".

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited October 6, 2010 by Dwight

[GrampaJoel]

Dwight

The saddle looks great. Nice job!

I was wondering, was a new latago put on? I ask because it looks pretty old and could be unsafe if used for riding.

Also, did the left rear corner ever flatten out for you?

Joel

[Dwight]

Thanks for the good words, Joel.

He didn't want to do the expense of new latigo, and I got all the corners down a lot flatter than they were in the beginning, . . . but not "flat" flat.

It certainly was a learning process, . . . looking forward to someday building one. It may wind up a living room decoration, . . . but I've done other things that didn't make even that much sense, . . . and it was good.

May God bless,

Dwight