Before you can saddle up, you need to buy a saddle!
When I displayed my Western historical novels at Red Steagall’s Annual Cowboy Gathering in 2018, I had the honor of watching this craftsman across the way for a day or two. Jesse W Smith is one of the premier saddlemakers and leatherwork instructors in his field, and like a true teacher he opened my eyes me quite a few things I didn’t know about saddles and saddle-making.
See that saddle in the picture–the one in front? That represents over 400 hours of leatherworking! Ten solid weeks or hand-stitching, artistically engraving, and polishing the leather! When you consider all that goes into a quality saddle and how many hours a cowboy might spend sitting in one, it’s easy to understand why some are priced around $10,000!
A good saddle isn’t just designed to be comfortable for the cowboy to sit in. It has to be comfortable for the horse, as well. See how the underside is lined with soft fleece to prevent sores from rubbing? Beneath the layers of leather and fleece is a hand-carved form called the saddle tree. Ideally, the tree is custom fitted to the horse that will wear it.
Take a while today to learn the parts of a saddle, peruse the works of a true master, and maybe watch a video about how they’re made!
Teaching Tip:
It is possible to build a gratifying career working with your hands. Brainstorm a bit about all the many fascinating ways people make their livings. Where, besides enrolling in a traditional university, could you learn the skills you need for such a career?
