Tack Day

Sunday is rapidly becoming tack day. I went off tack-making for a little bit but the last two Sundays have seen me pull out the supply box, so I hope this fixation is here to stay!

I bought this beautiful you-finish-it classic saddle from Kirsteen Haley back in October last year, but it didn't arrive until the end of January this year. And then it sat on my desk for a month as I tried to figure out a) what the extra strap is for, and b) what I can do to dress up the saddle!

While I still haven't figured out either of those things, today I did spend a few minutes on the saddle, and with help from Shannon (um, I want to say Granger but I'm not sure - the lady who does Model Horse Performance Magazine!)'s blog, I turned the fixed stirrup fenders into moving ones!

There's an extra strap under the fenders that Kirsteen has informed me is for adjustable stirrups. Gulp! There's a photo on Shannon's blog for adjustable stirrups - I'm just not sure if I can pull it off.

I'm also not sure what decoration to put on the saddle. It needs something to set off the silver horn, but I'm not sure if corner plates on the lower skirt will work. I do intend to put some silver stirrups on there though.

Last Sunday I made a pair of velcro-style classic skid boots with the intention of sticking them on MHSP. Haven't got that far yet as I'm not positive they will sell. There's a pen mark on the interior of one (you can see it in the second photo) and while I've had the boots on my horse for a week with no signs of bleeding, I'm not sure if someone would buy them with that mark there.

I spent today working on a classic Western bridle with the etched bridle plates from Rio Rondo. The bridle looks fantastic, as do the rope reins, but since I don't have a hot glue gun (not going to invest in one) or epoxy, the plates aren't staying on too well. I'll have to experiment to find a glue here that works. I wanted to make this bridle for a sale piece, since there rarely seems to be any classic tack on MHSP, but until I can get those plates stuck permanently, this bridle isn't going anywhere.

During the week I've also been playing with the blackening technique for Rio Rondo's halter plates. I've determined that: a) Sharpie is not a good choice for blackening (it's too purple) but Artline textas work well; b) clear nail polish doesn't work as a fixative, and c) not all designs need blackening to look good.

I'm also having trouble finding a fixative. Rio Rondo recommends a polyurethane clear gloss, which of course I am having lots of trouble finding. I picked up a can of 'National Art Materials Crystal Clear' to try since it was only $10, but I have a feeling it's not going to be suitable.  Sigh!

Bridle, boots and breastplate

I might have been neglecting the blog, but I have been busy!

Brown bridle is for WH (she supplied the lovely RDLC bit, one I haven't worked with before); boots are part of Dan's never-ending order, and breastplate is for the customer who purchased the DUN fundraiser racing set. 

In between all of this I've finished Fluffy's pleasure harness, finally, and just need to take proper pictures of it.

I'm not at all feeling inspired or optimistic for my Mini Mania donation, so I'll create a voucher for that instead - good if the winner only halter shows their minis, as they can order something in trad or classic scale. I still need to make donations for Orange Blossom Live (June 12), Knox Live (May 7), Black and Gold Live (May 29), Central Coast Live (July, er, something), Ultimate Gold Live (July 31), and whatever else pops up. Oh my!

Riff Raff!

So this is Dan's gorgeous Rose Reiner named Riff Raff, who I made boots and reins for last week. He's wearing a lovely Pam Perkins Western saddle and bridle (temporary longer reins by me), splint boots by Robyn McCrae, and no-turn bell boots (which turned before the picture was taken, hehe) by me. There are also skid boots that I made which may or may not be worn in the final set up. (Click the picture for a much bigger version)

This is all for a live show in WA this weekend (which Dan is also proxying a few of my horses at), so I have high hopes Riff Raff will do well!

Revisiting projects

It's a gorgeous day outside (first full day of sunshine we've had in ages) and I really should be outside walking the dog, but damnit, I want to make tack!

Finished EJs bridle. I extended the grackle straps and the jowl straps. (The jowl strap is comicly long because I am not taking any chances!) I was also asked to make a new browband with a different gold feature (she didn't like my standard gold ink). I experimented a little and came up with using gold thread. The method's not perfected yet, as some loops are still a little loose; I think I'll need to use thicker leather in the future, so I can tighten the stitches without wrinkling the leather.

Then she asked for white padding. I made a face o.O and told her it would look silly. I even googled and couldn't find one image of a white-padded V browband, just to prove my point. She insisted and I caved. And... well, look at that! It's actually kind of nice. I am pretty thrilled with how it came out! Dan will probably not like it, so the old browband will still go along, just in case :P

Lisa also had some classic English jumping boots she ordered aaages ago. I redid these about three times: the first, because I used my glove/lining leather for the main boot section (this was before I had the offcuts from Amazing Lace); the second, because the strike pads were wonky, and the third time because the straps weren't long enough, and they weren't thick enough to hold the tension to keep the boot on.

The straps are obscenely long because I'm not taking any chances! Lisa can trim them once she's decided what the perfect length for her is. This was my first pair of making buckled boots, and I've learned that I need to find a new product to line them with (currently using trimmed polar fleece, but it's too thick for classics), and that boot straps in slip buckles need to be quite thick. There's also a trick to the placement of the buckle to make it easier to put the boot on. I haven't yet figured out that trick!

I think that is all of Lisa's order, aside from the racing saddle. Lisa leant me her racing saddle by Painted Daisy Studio (blue one, second from top) to copy and learn from. It's a very simple piece - just three sections, a very basic copy of a normal English saddle. Here's my first attempt (excuse the placeholder stirrup leathers):

I'm not too happy with it, especially because of the leather I used. (Again, this is before I had the offcuts). I imagine it would be fine for photo showing, but not for live showing, which is what she want. I don't know if I'll bother to finish it off (stirrups, girth etc) or just leave it as-is for posterity. I'm going to hang onto Lisa's saddle for a little while longer to refine my patterns and then I'll return it.

Dan has a friend who is a jockey, and graciously stole her racing skid to take pictures of for me. It looks very basic - just two layers instead of three, with a cut-out flap in the top layer for the stirrup irons. I don't currently have any leather on hand big enough to attempt this saddle, but I'm anxiously waiting to try it! I even have the racing stirrups waiting in my supplies box.

My project for the rest of today is to make an English bridle for Delta, and maybe finish off her silver show halter too. But, for now, it's lunch time!

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