Horse saddle into leather goods What do you think??

[maddave]

Well I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I was mentioning to someone that I needed some leather to make a couple of pouches and an axe mask, and they have given me a leather horse saddle and said I could recycle the leather off it. Now the saddle looks good but I'm not a horsey person. Would you strip the components down and make the stuff I need, or do I offer it up here in exchange for plain veg tanned leather??

 

[Outdoordude]

Try putting it on ebay and then if it doesnt go for more than £20 then pull it apart!

 

[Mesquite]

First of all check it very carefully for any WW1 cavalry stamps...

Edit
Have a looksee here Dave

 

[maddave]

First of all check it very carefully for any WW1 cavalry stamps...

Edit
Have a looksee here Dave

Rock on mate !!!

 

[Twodogs]

How was I to know ,,,

Twodogs

 

[Llwyd]

Somewhere some kid wants a saddle. Chop up a brief case.

 

[John Fenna]

Try and flog it - the saddle not the horse...
If you cannot get a good price - recycle!

 

[santaman2000]

Most of the better advice has already been offered. In order:
1. Check for cavalry stamps or other indications of historic value.
2. If the saddle isn't of particular historic signifcance but is useable, then try to sell or give it to someone needing a saddle.
3. failing these, then go ahead and recycle it; BUT! keep the tree for anyone who might want to rebuild a saddle from it later.

 

[maddave]

Thanks for the input guys... There are no markings on it... Santaman, wondered what the tree was, but a quick google image search enlightened me

 

[mentalnurse]

I was given one a while pack. Pulled it apart. Made a few sheaths out of some of it. Not bad leather.

 

[TurboGirl]

Somewhere some kid wants a saddle. Chop up a brief case.

Trouble is, if it doesn't suit the horse or it's damaged, it can do the animal a lot of harm being slammed into their backs with weight on top... it's unlikely to have been chucked out if the tree is sound and its a good saddle :S

 

[santaman2000]

Trouble is, if it doesn't suit the horse or it's damaged, it can do the animal a lot of harm being slammed into their backs with weight on top... it's unlikely to have been chucked out if the tree is sound and its a good saddle :S

You'd be surprised. They often turn up at estate sales or after someone's moved on from riding.

Three of my saddle disappeared when I enlisted. One of them (my very first from when I was only six years old) reappeared a few years ago when one of my cousins revealed he'd been keeping it for me while I was gone. Now forty years on, the leather's far to dry to restore although I could have it completely recovered (although I obviously don't fit the same saddle I rode as a six year old)Back then that saddle sat atop a 1200 pound Pinto mare (my first horse) as well as a small Pinto Shetland pony before I outgrew it.

My next saddle (a 15" hard seat) sat on four different horses of between 1000 and 1200 pounds each before being damaged in an accident.

 

[maddave]

I have noticed a few repairs here and there.... I think I'll recycle it

 

[Llwyd]

Trouble is, if it doesn't suit the horse or it's damaged, it can do the animal a lot of harm being slammed into their backs with weight on top... it's unlikely to have been chucked out if the tree is sound and its a good saddle :S

I have built and fixed a lot of saddles and I have never seen a total write off except one found in a manure pile.

 

[Macaroon]

Recycle it quick! In a lifetime working with horses I have seen some horrific things happen to the poor sods by well - meaning people who look at an old saddle like that, and think it's the business 'cause it polishes up well. Save the horses and make some cool stuff, when you're finished get rid of the tree in such a way as it can't be re - used. ...............atb mac

 

[launditch1]

First of all check it very carefully for any WW1 cavalry stamps...

Edit
Have a looksee here Dave

I'm still in shock.