Wish I lived in the UK!

[Tiffany]

This course looks amazing.

http://www.saddlerycourses.com/courses/basic-bridlework.htm

[barra]

Tiffany, the peace of resistance.

http://www.mastersaddlers.co.uk/

Try a google search of Cordwainers college (now affiliated with the London fashion college I think.

Barra

[gary]

Tiffany,

When I left the Army I did some training with David May.

Excellent tutor, very knowledgeable and an interesting chap all round. I did general leatherwork, tack repair, saddle reflocking (which I'm quite good at but hate), formed leatherwork and a few other things I can't remember.

Since I trained there I occasionally pop in to see him as he lives only 25 miles away and he is a constant source of (free!) help and advice. I think he has some pictures of my work on his site - at least one of a dog harness if I recall correctly.

As he's a working saddler as well as a teacher I got to see quite a bit of interesting work that was brought in such as broken saddles, heavy horse collars and so on.

I would say that attendance on any of his courses is well worth while, particularly as he's close to the Lake District and Scotland for holiday trips.

I have noticed that a couple of other leatherworking schools have appeared in the UK fairly recently and they seem to be attempting to emulate David, so he must have something worth replicating.

Gary

[RockyWolf]

Cumbria is such a lovely part of the UK and well worth a visit..spend two weeks one at the school and enjoy the rest with outstanding views that are on offer around the area Hexham comes to mind an old Roman village crossing a river. I spent 6 months learning Celtic art there Hexham Abbey was once described as `the largest and best examples of Celtic art,

Edited March 7, 2008 by RockyWolf

[$$hobby]

There are domestic US schools too.

I think Spokane Washington has a community college with a degree in leatherwork? then, there are various private saddlery schools too.

of course if you had the $$ to take the classes in the UK, it would be like a working vacation.

Edited June 15, 2008 by $$hobby

[antipaladin]

Tiffany,

I just finished the class you mentioned in your original post. It was a great time and

I learned quite a bit. David is a fantastic teacher and a wonderful guy. I'd recommend

it to anyone. I'm sitting at Heathrow right now waiting for my flight home.

[ibonn]

Well, I thought the same only half a year ago but last April I joined a basic bridle course here in Holland. Philip Howard from Saddlery Training Scotland (saddlerytrainingscotland.com) came over to Holland to teach a few Saddle Fitting students and I had the opportunity to join in. We learned all the necessary techniques for making (foal) halters.

Next week, he comes again and we will learn how to make a made-to-measure bridle which can be used to make bespoke bridles.

I bought my strop from David and his service was great !

I plan to go to Scotland next year for the saddlery repair and reflocking course and I eventually want to learn how to build custom made English saddles for pony's/little children and the disabled as here in Holland knowledge about saddles is very limited.