Part 3 of Old Dogs and Your New Saddle

Well, I guess I have you to the point in this project that you have narrowed your search down to, let's say four Saddle Makers. Remember the things that I have mentioned; 

1.) You have picked a maker that will build you your dream saddle on the style of tree that you want

2.) A saddle that compliments itself with flowing lines, enhanced with contoured texture and oil conduced color. Every person has different tastes in everything we buy, some folks like Fords, some like GMC, but regardless of what model you prefer it needs to be put together properly or it just ain’t going to last or work very well for you. READ THE TEXT!! I You probably wouldn't buy from someone that didn't tell you something about himself and the saddles that he builds. You can tell alot about a person from what comes out of his mouth, either in writing or spoken words. You want to learn as much as you can about this person if you’re going to spend $4,000. to $8,000. on one of his saddles.

Let's think about several other things to ponder before we call. Does the maker have horses or mules? How long has he been building saddles? How old does this person appear to be from pictures on his website. Remember what I said about Common Sense, we all have it, we just have to remember to use it as much as we can to keep us from making mistakes.

Let me barge in and tell you some things that customers have said to me over the years and they make since if you think about it. #1 Many customers have told me that they had no doubt that I made a good saddle because my home and property are well built and neat, #2 they have told me that they have never been in a shop as neat and clean as mine, #3 I can instill confidence in a potential customer because I can talk the talk as long as I don't stray outside of my field of knowledge that I have gathered over the last 50 years of being in the horse and mule business. All I have done other than flying Helicopters in Nam Is pulling a string of Mules in different Wilderness out West or being underneath mules and horses; trimming and shoeing or building saddles and equipment for the past 35 years. So, you can be as dumb as a post and you will have learned something I would think.

Here are a few more of MY THOUGHTS…
Does a maker have to have 8-10-12 years of experience to build you a  great saddle, absolutely not, I've met makers that have been building 3-4 years and I would buy one of their rigs. Some people are just good with their hands, have talent at whatever they build, so you don't need to have been building for 35 years to be a great maker. On the other hand, can you just be too old and have been at it too long to still be producing good work, absolutely. I'm 72 and I'm tired, not tired of building saddles for nice people but just tired, so every chance I get to ask someone I really trust if my work is starting to show my age I do. The second I see my work starting to go down hill I'm going to call it quits.

I have several other pointers that I would like to give you before you pick up the phone and start calling saddle makers, but this OLD DOG is tired so I'm going to hang it up for the day. I think I can finish this story in one more post, so if you haven't given up, watch for it in 5 days or so. As always this is Bob from Bitterroot Saddle Co.