Heavy and stiff, but not rawhide?

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

I personally would use sole leather for this.  Heavy skirting, maybe even some that is kind of "boardy" that wouldn't work for saddle parts would be good too.  I think I have a couple sole bends somewhere.  If you don't want to buy a large piece, and are not in a hurry, I could cut and sell you some off of mine.  But the next couple weeks are going to be brutal here, so I don't know if I'd have time to get right to it.

[JimTimber]

I went to Tandy today and looked at their sole bends and saddle skirting - of the two, I think the 10-12oz saddle skirting is the better option.  I don't even know that it'd need any additional help once formed into shape and hemmed.  Of the hides on that table, there sure were a lot of rough ones.

I'm not in any real rush.  Logging season is over here (was a bad winter for loggers), and I'm not sure what they do on the coasts in the Spring (usually things get shut down when the ground softens up from the rains/thaw).  If you find a chunk that's not good for your needs and want to run it past me, I'd consider taking it off your hands.

Thanks for all the input!

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

How big of a piece, or pieces, do you need?  I'm sure I have lots of stuff that would work.  

Edited March 7, 2017 by Big Sioux Saddlery

[JimTimber]

12-18x18" would be a good test size.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

Ok, I'll see what I can do.

[JimTimber]

Like I said, no rush!  Appreciate it.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

Do you use horses in the woods? Surprisingly, quite a few people still do.

 

[JimTimber]

Deere 

There's at least one working team of horse loggers around central MN that I'm aware of.  I'm not a logger, I just own a wood lot and have a lot of projects which involve removing trees.  Been working towards relocating up there, but it's going to be a bit yet before that happens (unless I win the Powerball).

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

Yeah, I'd like to win that too!