Hand Tooled/carved Horse Tack

[LuckyKat]

As a horse owner, I get annoyed every time I go tack shopping because I can never find any tack I like. I'm bored with the usual floral, basketweave, and barbed wire patterns. I like to start creating hand tooled headstalls and breastcollars with new and custom patterns, studs, and conchos. I've done some leatherwork in the past, but it's been a very long time and it was very basic, so I will be taking a few classes and watching lots of DVDS... Eventually I'd like to make the tack from scratch, but I need a lot more experience (and equipment!) before I get into that. To start out with, I thought I would pick up premade natural tack, add the design, and then finish it in whatever color was needed/requested. What do I need to look for or stay away from when looking for "blanks"?

[Valleee]

I'd like to know this too!!

[DoubleC]

I don't even know anyone who sells 'blanks' for tack. Other than bronc nosebands. Maybe if you can't find any veg tanned leather blanks online, you might want to post a help wanted ad here. I know for one I'd be willing to make blank veg tanned blanks to your specs. If you do find any online try and stay away from the asian urine tanned, well for obvious reasons. You'll never get rid of the smell. Cheryl

[Ken Nelson]

May I suggest you concentrate on learning to build tack from scratch. Building from kits or "blanks" is not really handmaking. I cut every peice in my shop by hand, buy sides, build most of my own patterns and do all the stamping, tooling sewing etc. If you just put it together you are trying to sell someone else's idea and competing with production lines, which I don't think you can do. HTH Ken

[Valleee]

It is sooo expensive to make tack! That's why I'd like to find a maker.

Of course I'd like to make my own tack one day, but for now, I think decorating is a good way to get my foot in the door. Making my own would be out of the question financially, as well as inefficient time wise.