First Saddle

[CWR]

I built this saddle for my son. It is a 13 in. Will James from Quality Mfg. with Hermann Oak leather. I would really appreciate some good critiques so the next one will be better. Please take a look at my seat profile and my patterns. I am not real satisfied with my skirt pattern but can't put my finger on what is wrong. The fender length may throw off the overall balance but he is only three feet tall and I let them out all the way for the pictures.

Thanks and Merry Christmas,

CW

[rickybobby]

Very nice saddle !!!

I wish my first saddle turned out this well !! I keep it and ride in it once in a while but it looks "rougher" then any others I have done (I have done 7).

The skirt lines looked o.k. to me. Maybe someone with more saddle building/design experience will say why it is right or point out the change needed.

Nice job, start on #2, lets see it posted here in a couple weeks! lol !!

Rick

[jwwright]

CW....Very Nice Saddle! Congrats.

You asked about the skirt pattern.....in my opinion, what's bothering your eye is that the skirts run down hill. It's a common problem, and I see it often. Sure won't affect the function of the saddle, and most folks would never notice it, as many saddles I've seen by even the most experienced have that situation going on.

Congrats on a very nice saddle, and Merry Christmas. JW

[GrampaJoel]

I think that the saddle looks just fine. Every saddle will have something that isn't just perfect about it.

I agree with JW that the skirts do run down hill, and in my eye not such a big deal. Call it a style difference of opinion.

Perhaps the fenders are throwing your eye off.

The length of the saddle against the short fenders do have a contrast that is awkward.

However, I bet your perception will change when your sons legs grow longer.

I also bet that when your son is sitting in the saddle it will look perfect to him, and you too!

Very nice job!!

Merry Christmas

Joel

[CWR]

Ricky and Joel,

Thank you so much for the kind words. I see every fingernail mark and crooked stitch in it.

JW,

I sure appreciate it and the help over the past months. I think you hit square on. After I got them blocked they looked different than when I drew them on paper. Do you think if I took about an inch off the front and then flared the cut up under the fender it would level it out?

thanks again,

CW

[dawn]

well i'm no expert but i do have to say it looks very nice. i think a job well done

[Billy H]

CW, First thing is be proud of that saddle!

Building a saddle for your kids-- I think is really special. Overall you did really nice work.

Just my opinion, but when you put your sons saddle on his horse you will have a different take on the skirt, my guess is that it will sit real nice.

Fenders are tough as far as being in proportion to the rest of the saddle when your little guy is 3 feet tall, it is what it is.

Again just my opinion-- seat profile looks good for a little guy. Great stuff regards Billy

[Aurelie]

really nice one for a 1 st one for sure!

you can be proud of it!

[CWR]

Thank you all for the kind words. Billy it is pretty cool to build one for your kids.

Merry Christmas,

CW

[LCSADDLERY]

This saddle its beautiful sir !!!!!!!!!!!

I built this saddle for my son. It is a 13 in. Will James from Quality Mfg. with Hermann Oak leather. I would really appreciate some good critiques so the next one will be better. Please take a look at my seat profile and my patterns. I am not real satisfied with my skirt pattern but can't put my finger on what is wrong. The fender length may throw off the overall balance but he is only three feet tall and I let them out all the way for the pictures.

Thanks and Merry Christmas,

CW

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

CW, very nice work, especially for your first. I agree with JW as to what he thinks about the skirts. As for the fenders, something that I do when I make a saddle for a youth is make 2 sets of stirrups, one set for now and one set for when they grow up some. Not a lot of extra work, but; well worth it . One thing I think I see is the alignment of the rear jockeys with the centerline of the saddle. Perhaps just the picture. That happens to me sometime when I take pics, they just don't accurately reflect what's there. If they are off a litte, just wet them dome, and really draw spike them in place , that will serve to center them, and at the same time, pull the edge of the jockey down tight to the skirt, for a nice finished look. When I cut the front seat cover to form around the swells, I always leave at lease 1/2" extra inch because no matter how careful you are, once you bevel the under side at the edge of the cut it really drops down more than you think it will. It appears as if you got really close to showing one of the tacks that holds your fork cover on at the back on the left side. Leaving extra will allow you to tune after you bevel and finish the edges. Bottom line, if we have to nit pic that close, you are doing a really fine job.

Bob

[bruce johnson]

CW,

What I do for those short stirrup riders is to just make a strap - no fender or minimal fender (like bronc leather flaps). I am out now, but found some 2" Blevins-like buckles a few years ago. They turn easier and don't twist up and lift the seat jockeys as much as even small fenders do. Once they outgrow them, then go to the fenders. I still smile looking at those pictures of your son sitting in his new saddle. Just too cool.

[CWR]

Bob,

Thanks for the compliments and critiques.

You are right. One of those tacks almost shows. The problem was more of when I covered the swells. That tack is too high up and to make matters worse I missed a lick with my hammer and put a hammer mark even higher. I thought I had it covered and when my seat leather dried it shrunk some and that hammer mark was awful close to the edge.

Bruce,

A guy brought me his little girls saddle to build some taps and it had stirrup leathers that were like that but the just had regular buckles on them. I thought about doing some that way or using some Superior's.

He makes me smile every day. We are sure proud of him.

Thanks CW.