Supplies to Buy for Saddle Building Materials

Saddle-making is an art form that is passed down from master craftsmen to apprentices. Saddle schools still operate this way, teaching students eager to accomplish the ultimate goal in leather handicraft̵2;building a saddle. Saddles are made in two basic styles: the English saddle and the stock saddle, also called the Western saddle. Despite design differences, the supplies needed to build a saddle fall into three basic categories: tree, leather and hardware.

  1. Tree

    • The saddle tree is the foundation upon which the saddle is built. It determines the size and shape of the finished product. Trees are generally purchased by saddle makers, not built, and can be made of wood or modern materials. Strength and durability are keys in choosing the right tree.

      Wood is the traditional material used in saddle trees. Wet rawhide covers the wooden saddle tree and is secured with nails. The rawhide shrinks as it dries, adding strength to the tree. Modern trees are made of fiberglass or polyurethane. Fiberglass saddle trees are not as durable. Polyurethane trees are often covered with fiberglass cloth. The polyurethane withstands stress and use fatigue longer than either fiberglass or wood trees, making it the most popular material used today.

    Leather

    • Leather pieces wrap around the tree. Choosing the right leather is critical to the quality of the finished saddle. Leather should be soft, flexible, strong and free of imperfections. The size of the saddle determines the quantity of leather you need. You also need leather-working tools like awls, bevelers, knives, skivers and punches to cut out the pieces, skive the leather and create any aesthetic tooling in the finished product.

    Hardware

    • Saddle-rigging hardware secures the saddle to the horse. These pieces provide the connection for the cinches or girths, latigos (straps that attach the cinch to the saddle) and billets. Billets are shorter straps that connect the cinch to the saddle on the off side or in the flank, or back, of the saddle.

      The type of saddle and rigging determines the quantity and type of hardware you need. You need hardware for both sides of the saddle. For double-rigged saddles, you need hardware for both front and back cinch placement.

      Saddle-rigging hardware comes in three shapes: rings, dees and plates. Rings are circular and usually 2 inches to 4 inches in diameter. Dees are shaped like a "D" and are 3 inches to 4 inches. Plates are flat with slots. Hardware should be made of high-quality materials like brass, stainless steel or bronze since this part of the saddle gets the most wear.

    Additional Supplies

    • Saddle makers also need glue, sewing needles, thread, fasteners (screws, rivets, saddle tacks) and a saddle pattern. Patterns can be made of poster board and serve as guides for cutting out the leather pieces for the saddle.

      Depending on the type of saddle, the saddle maker may also choose to place decorative conchos on it. He might also attach sheepskin to the underside of the saddle for cushioning.