Another Question About Saddle Schools

[rgerbitz]

Hello all,

I am about to become unemployed. And have decided to take advantage of the unpaid vacation time to attend a saddle making school. I've looked at quite a few and think that the The Montana Horsemans Saddle Making School looks good. Dale Moore is the instructor. Does anyone here have any thoughts or opinions on this school or any other for that matter. All I really have to go on is what's up on the web sites.

Thank you for your time,

Rob

[Mike Craw]

Hey Rob!

My buddy, Carlos Lopez, attended that school years ago when he lost his job at the mill in St. Marys, GA. He really liked it, and he and Mr. & Mrs. Moore still keep in touch. We saw them in Sheridan when we went to Saddle Week in '06. I'm sure he wouldn't mind a phone call, but I'll check with him and send you a PM with his number.

Mike

[Frank]

I went to Outlaw Saddlery in Custer, South Dakota. Dallas Stermon is the instructor there. I have nothing but the greatest things to say about him. Most people will tell you that about their instructors. Two things made me decide on him: #1-He was close and I could make the drive, #2-He only books one student at a time so all of the attention is on you. It's a one-on-one training. If you want his info let me know and I'll gladly give it to you. Good Luck.

Frank

[rgerbitz]

Dang it . Dales class is full. Does anybody else have some recommendations. I will be looking into Outlaw thank you for that info.

Rob

[Steve Brewer]

Rodger,If I were you I would look into working some deal with a local saddlemaker.It would let you work on lot of different items,not just one saddle.Nice tro get a chance work on tack and saddles with a saddlemaker there to help you.I have nothing against Saddle schools,but its hard to get a hold of making one saddle.

Steve

[Denise]

Rob,

There are a number of saddle makers who may teach someone how to make a saddle and yet not run a school as such. You may want to look around the forum, see whose work you admire, contact them and ask if they would be willing to teach you. I would also recommend you ask if they have taught someone before and check with that person to see how it went. Some people can do but not teach. If they don't want to teach you, ask who they learned from and see if that guy would be willing to teach you. Some will. Some won't. Some will depending on who you are and who recommended you. The individual instruction from a solid maker is worth a lot. Since there are no regulations on who sets up a saddle making school or even offers one on one instruction, you want to be pretty careful about who you go see, I would say. Look at their work and look at their student's work (are there any making saddles as a profession?) to help make your choice.

All that said, maybe you want to check out Jesse Smith in Colorado. http://www.cowboyshowcase.com/JesseSmith.htm He is a well respected saddle maker (Al Stohlman award winner) who has been teaching saddle making for decades. He also builds his own trees so has a better grasp than a lot of saddle makers on that aspect of saddle function. The price of his course looks more than worth it for the knowledge you will gain and you get a saleable saddle at the end of it too to recoup some of your investment. Worth a call, I'd say!

[Randy Cornelius]

I would reccomend Jesse Smith, Colorado as he used to be the instructor at the trade school in Spokan Washington. He does one on one and starts from the tree up. Yes he teached how to make the tree. Then I would suggest Bill Gomer Highland Ks, great one on one instructor. Can provide phone contact later, not at my home computer.