Ground Seats

[mulefool]

thanks for your help Andy. You know I've got that book around here someplace. I had forgotten all about it.

[greg gomersall]

I was fortunate enough to have 2 of the world's premiere saddlemakers from the Calgary area show me thier methods of putting in all leather seats and as Andy said the bottom piece is the critical one. One used bar risers the other didn't. Nail the strainer piece under the Cantle gullet and then set 2 to 3 nails at the rear ( one in center and one to each side approx. one inch) of the fork below the horn. The stainer piece should be tight enough that when you push down hard on it just behind the stirrup slots you can barely get it to touch the tree bars. Too tight and the bow of the strainer will go right back to the cantle, too loose and you will have no bow over the stirrup slot area. When you feel the tension is right spike the seat tight from side to side starting at the back and work your way forward to just back of the stirrup slots, then spike the front corners in. After your next 2 or 3 layers are in make sure you let the seat dry COMPLETELY before cutting your handhole and if you did not build a tunnel you will have to cut your stirrup slots as well( I wait till I am ready to glue my seat on before I cut the stirrup slots). Hope this helps. Greg