Saddler

From ThreadsOfTime

Saddlers furnished the tri-city's citizens with hunt saddles, racing saddles, sidesaddles, and various 'horse furniture', which includes harnesses, bridles, girths, surcingles, brushes, curry combs, and sponges.

Steer hide is the raw material used by a saddler. His primary tools are the crescent-bladed round knife, the pricking iron, and the wooden-handled stitching awl. The saddler uses two steel needles to stitch pieces with waxed flax cord. Saddlers also have to show skill at ornamentation to please customers who wanted decorative saddle.

Saddles are built on a wooden tree and are tailored to the customer's measurements and those of his mount. The tree is strengthened with iron plates and fitted with hardware to secure the stirrup leathers. Harnesses are sewn from strips of leather cut on the premises and mounted with rings, bits, and buckles from the founder and the blacksmith.