English Saddle Pictures Some Of The Stages

[gmace99]

I was going through some pictures and found my file of a English style saddle I made a year or two ago. I have about 100 or 200 pictures of the stages of making this saddle. This is just a few stages.

[barra]

Excellent tutorial.

[JAZZMAN]

Saddle making , what an amazing skill to posess, i would love to learn how to do this one day but it takes everything i have got to make keyfobs and coasters at the moment, but maybe one day.Thanks for sharing.

Edited May 10, 2015 by JAZZMAN

[gmace99]

Thanks Jazzman.

I still make small leather goods like key fobs.

I am a professional saddler and one of my hobby's is leather work. I sometimes do key fobs if a kid comes into my store I will do a quick demonstration and make them a simple key fob then let them stamp their initial on it. The big smile that comes on their face when they see that stamp on the fob is worth the little demonstration. Then I give the fob to them.

There are a lot of skills used in making fobs and coasters that you need to make a saddle. You cut the leather,edge strip, stain and polish. A saddle in part is just a bigger version of a key fob.

I noticed from one of your posts that you are new to leatherwork, You are going to enjoy it so much. I still get a sense of achievement and pride every time I complete a job.

[JAZZMAN]

Thank you so much for taking the time out to give me some words of encouragement , it really means a lot to me. It is aslo nice to know that a professional like yourself is doing their bit to encourage youngsters to become interested in hand crafts. I know a lot of people would not feel they have the time to show young people their skills but without people like you in the world crafts such as this would eventually dissapear. I am no youngster anymore but i know i have never forgotten those times as a young boy when someone older took the time to show me a little kindness, it never leaves you and contributes towards the person you become as you get older,take care my friend. Peace.

Edited May 11, 2015 by JAZZMAN

[MonicaJacobson]

Wow, it was awesome seeing pictures of this. I've seen several in-process pictures of Western saddles, but none of English. Thanks!

[gmace99]

Monica I have well over a hundred photos of the stages involved in making a saddle. Far to many to post. However my intention is to post some in answer to questions people may have. For example if someone askes how to put a new seat on I may post the pictures of that part of the job. I also have half of the saddle making on DVD again far two big to post as its over two hours long.

If I get to retire this year at the ripe old age of 55 then I hope to do some short you tube videos to help people out.

[JAZZMAN]

If I get to retire this year at the ripe old age of 55 then I hope to do some short you tube videos to help people out.

Well i for one cannot wait for that to happen, i will keep my eyes posted on you tube.

[AdamTill]

Would love to see the rest eventually! I'm just finishing up my first western saddle, but I know my wife would love it if I could do her up a new dressage saddle as well. Much tougher for Joe Average to get the trees required though, plus then there's the black art of stuffing panels

Thanks for posting!

[gmace99]

Adam My favourite part of saddle making is flocking/stuffing. It is a art to get it right. It is worth your time learning how to do it. As you can make some good money in the USA doing it. A full reflock would take less than a hour to do and if I remember correctly you charge 250 to 300 dollars to do the job in the USA less a material cost of around 20 dollars. That sounds like a good hourly wage to me.

If you would like to see some more saddle making pictures look on my other businesses Facebook page I have some on there. www.facebook.com/dosthillsaddlery/photos

Then if you get the bug and want to do more just jump on a plane and come on a course. Not only can you learn you can eat Haggis and black pudding, drink whisky hear bagpipes and you might even buy a kilt.