Wade, full flower

[BrianHochstrat]

Here is one I finished last week. It is for a collector down in the Bay area Ca. I have been focusing on my engraving work more than saddles for the past year or so, but this individual has been a big supporter since early in my career. He keeps a saddle on order at all times and every year or two I will build it, typically I wait until he starts getting anxious then put him into the line up. They are all pretty much the same, except small changes, like going with a cheyenne roll, or different gullet measurements ect. but always a full flower Wade. Anyway, here are the pics let me know what you think. Thanks -Brian

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[jwwright]

Super work, as usual Brian. JW

[buffalo]

Beautiful work!!!!!!

Regards Buff

[hidepounder]

Really nice Brian....smooth, clean and nicely tooled!

[Hilly]

I don't know anything about horses or saddles, but I do appreciate beautiful carving and tooling, and yours is beautiful!

Now can I ask a ignorant question about saddles? I'm curious about the part of the saddle that the front string is going through. The piece with the slot in it. What is it, and what is it's function?

[bruce johnson]

Brian,

Very cool one again. Is the stirrup leather stitched down to the fender or stitched for effect? Neat idea to run the string throught the carrier.

[Mike Craw]

Hey Hilly!

That's called a "latigo carrier" and it's purpose is to carry...nah, that would be too stupid even for me!! Seriously, the shiny ring shaped object right in front of (and partially covered by) the fender is the rigging ring, and when the saddle is rigged to ride, there is a long strip of latigo leather laced through it. That latigo then goes down through the cinch that goes under the horse, and comes back up to tie on the rigging plate. This is how you adjust the tension on the cinch. Because the latigo is so long, there is generally a fair amount left over once the horse is saddled and the chinch tightened up, so rather than having it trail along on the ground where the horse can step on it, the end is passed through the slot in the carrier, and it keeps it up out of the way.

Oh, and it's not an ignorant question. If you don't ride or deal with saddles, there's no reason you would know that.

Mike

[Gary Winckler]

Here is one I finished last week. It is for a collector down in the Bay area Ca. I have been focusing on my engraving work more than saddles for the past year or so, but this individual has been a big supporter since early in my career. He keeps a saddle on order at all times and every year or two I will build it, typically I wait until he starts getting anxious then put him into the line up. They are all pretty much the same, except small changes, like going with a cheyenne roll, or different gullet measurements ect. but always a full flower Wade. Anyway, here are the pics let me know what you think. Thanks -Brian

Very nice work Brian.....as usual. I like the balance in this saddle and the clean lines. Did you antique this? It does not look like it to me but I can't tell for sure.

GW

[Hilly]

Hey Hilly!

That's called a "latigo carrier" and it's purpose is to carry...nah, that would be too stupid even for me!! Seriously, the shiny ring shaped object right in front of (and partially covered by) the fender is the rigging ring, and when the saddle is rigged to ride, there is a long strip of latigo leather laced through it. That latigo then goes down through the cinch that goes under the horse, and comes back up to tie on the rigging plate. This is how you adjust the tension on the cinch. Because the latigo is so long, there is generally a fair amount left over once the horse is saddled and the chinch tightened up, so rather than having it trail along on the ground where the horse can step on it, the end is passed through the slot in the carrier, and it keeps it up out of the way.

Oh, and it's not an ignorant question. If you don't ride or deal with saddles, there's no reason you would know that.

Mike

Could you please post a photo or a link so I can see what it looks like "in action"?

I have a friend that owns a couple horses, and I might not be the most observant person, but when I watched her saddle it, I saw her tighten the leather cinch strap, and it looked like she made a loop around the cinch just under that metal ring, and then brought the end through that ring and down again through the loop she just made (reminded me a little of how you tie a tie). Maybe it's a different type of saddle? She rides for pleasure and also used to take her horse to shows.

Also, the saddles around here don't have those bumps either side of the horn. Are those meant to keep you from sliding forward in the saddle? They look like they'd hurt to have them digging into your thighs?

Sorry for all the questions, I find saddles pretty interesting, and would like to attempt to make one some day.

Edited November 6, 2008 by Hilly

[ArtS]

Beautiful - extremely beautiful work.

Art