First Saddle

[pharescustomleatherworks]

I finished my first saddle about a week ago but I'm just getting around to posting it on here.  I taught myself with a pretty basic book and DVD set and a lot of the posts on here.  The biggest bump in the road I ran into was covering the forks.  The book and DVD set I was using built the saddle on a Bowman Tree while mine was built on an Association Tree, so the fork cover had to be welted, which I didn't know how to do so I got a little bit of help from another saddlemaker.  Other than that I was on my own.  Here's the rundown on the stats:

 

Bowden Association Tree, 16" seat, 13" swells, 4" Cantle

Flat Plate rigging in the 7/8 position with a D-ring rear rigging for attaching a holster

Classic Half-breed Basketweave

Latigo wrapped horn (which was also a pretty good pain)

Slick-out seat because I like to be able to adjust in the seat rather than be stuck to it

 

Overall I'm pretty happy with it with the exception of a few things:

 

The horn cap is slightly crooked

If you look from the rear you can see the tree between the jockeys and the skirts

The skirts are a little shorter than I would like

I'm not thrilled with the way the cantle binding is ended on either side

The seat rises higher than I would like, and if a horse threw into bucking it could become a "ball buster"

 

In terms of pricing for future orders, I think I'm going to start pretty low $2,200 for a base price and gradually increase as I get better.  I'm open to any kind of criticism so hit me with it.  Here are the pictures:

 

 

[pharescustomleatherworks]

A few more pictures:

[mustangman2]

thats very nice, how long did it take to complete. 

[Dwane]

Very nice 

[pharescustomleatherworks]

3 hours ago, mustangman2 said:

thats very nice, how long did it take to complete. 

About 3-4 weeks of off and on work. 

[ldgood]

Wow. That is your first? Great 

[bland]

Very nice.

Since you posted in this forum I'm guessing you would like a little criticism. So here goes.   I am no saddle maker but have done some repairs in no means am I an expert.  There are a couple things I noticed I'm sure you have also noticed them.  I won't really comment on the items you already identified.  The horn edge could use some love as well as some other edges, burnishing goes a long way to making your project looked more finished.  You may want to lace the rear jockeys and the skirt in the back, this will probably cover where you are seeing the tree in the back.  The rear concho and saddle strings seem to high to me.  Horn wraps are a little tricky.  I like mine to come up over the back of the horn.  You may want to add is stirrup hobbles.  I don't know if you ever look in the Saddle Construction forum but here are a couple threads about lacing the rear jockeys.  

Congratulations, it is a very nice saddle and one you can be proud of.  

 

 

 

[hannahrain]

Nice job, I'm very envious!

I have yet to make one, just got started on making small stuff and just trying to get a better collection of tools.

Have you rode in it yet?

[damsaddler13]

I wish my first saddle looked that good. Dale Harwood told me, "... make the best saddle you can make. It won't make you the best saddlemaker but you will make a better saddle each time..." Offered only as a suggestion, you might want to look up what is termed a gaucho weave. You can use it in place of welts (only a very personal preference - I cannot stand any welt, doesn't matter who made them). The Harry Adams, Jr. book is of value for reference and the Jeremiah Watt video is well worth having in your library. Any video by Bruce Cheaney is worth the time to watch and learn. Again you did well, stay at it.

[pharescustomleatherworks]

First of all thanks for all of the kind words, compliments, and critiques; they are all very appreciated. I've broken a colt with the saddle and put in a couple weeks of cattle work on it and it rides very good and everything is holding together great.