Saddle Making

[Tex]

I have a few questions about saddle making. I have been working leather for quite a few years now but have never stepped up to building saddles. I have had no formal training & am self taught.I have learned form my mistakes cause leather & time ain't cheap & it cost you money on whatever you are making. I have done some saddle repairs & that was what got me thinking on building some saddles. I have seen some really bad things on some of the factory saddles I have repaired. Not saying that all of the factories do these things. One as a matter of fact was a new saddle I bought for me from what was suppose to be a reputable factory in Tx. where I am from. Needless to say that saddle was shipped back the same day I received it due to some problems that should have never been. I am no expert by any means but horse sense tells you a few things. I have also seen alot of low end saddles built where I live now & wonder why even put something out like this. This is AMERICA not some foreign country trying to pawn off junk on the public.

My questions are: Is it crazy to think of building some saddles without any kind of formal training on saddle building?

Why are there not any 18" Wade tree saddles or 18" saddles on the market except on special orders?

I was told by a reputable Idaho maker that anything over a 16 1/2" would sore the horse unless you are riding a draft horse. If this is true what is a Texas Midget like me to do. I am 6'4" & 300 lbs. I have been riding an 18" factory made saddle & it felt like I was tilted forward. I move the stirrup leathers all I could & that didn't help matters any.

I was told by a reputable Montana maker that an 18" was a better than trying to squeeze a big person down into a smaller seat due to rider comfort & comfort to the horse by spreading the riders weight over a larger area of the horses back.

I know you have to have a good tree to start with. The seat & swells are very important & need very close attention when building. And that you need to use #1 leather. So how crazy am I to think on building saddles? I mainly want to do this for me, my family & friends. And if these work out good then make some for sale to the public. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Edited September 6, 2012 by Tex

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Hi Tex,

I was scrolling through the web tonight, and saw this post from you. Simply put, all the answers to your questions can be found in book #1 of Stohlmans Saddle Making Encyclopedia. You can get it at Tandy or on Ebay. I have used these books for many years and while I have at times ventured on to my own designs, they still give good and accurate information. Read the first and you can decide from there whether or not to go on with yo quest for a good fitting saddle.

Bob

[6B Ranch]

Hi Tex.

Please don't take this wrong but at 6'4" and 300 lbs I would think you would lean towards a "draft" sized horse anyways......Please don't tell use your riding around on a 14 hand pony. The mental image is to much to bare! Just kidding. I would go with Bob's advise.

Bart

[Tex]

Well to be quite honest I ride a mini paint & I can't keep my feet from dragging the ground. LOL. I can't help it that I am a Texas midget. Heck I am the runt of my bunch. No I have a 15 HH, 1150 lb. 1/4 horse that can carry me pretty durn good. Maybe I ought to get me a Percheron or something bigger. But I have seen bigger men & women than me on smaller horses believe it or not. I have seen this quite a bit, not just 1 or 2. I figure if I can pick up the back end of my pick up off the ground then a stout 1/4 horse ought to be able to carry me.

All joking aside I know that a bigger horse would be better but that is easier said than found.But I would like to find out the answer to my question though on the saddles. Is an 18" saddle a problem for the average size horse? Will it sore him? Why do they not build any 18" Wade tree saddles?

Thanks for yall's replies.

Adios, Tex.