I Want To Learn The Industry From The Beginning Saddles

[Ruark]

The first question I would ask is what kind of saddles you're planning to be making. Are you looking at fancy show saddles? English? Western? Working ranch saddles? Trail? Arabian? There's a LOT of difference between all the types of saddles - each has its own special characteristics.

One thing that can really break you in is getting a job in a saddle factory for a year or two. Sure, they're factory made, but you get a feel for getting the work done, and doing it right and not wasting time standing around admiring your work or whining over mistakes. Then start in a good saddle shop somewhere - you might spend some time sweeping floors, but that's where you learn the good stuff. Again, though, it all depends on what kind of saddlemaking you're thinking about.