Experience Leather Blog

Cliff Wade

Cliff Wade

July 12
Our Will James saddles are designed to have a deep seat and the security needed for the most uneven terrain or for when you are breaking colts. We also designed it with comfort in mind for those who work in their saddle. This particular Will James is dressed up quite nicely. 1/2 geometric stamp with a barbwire border. Roughout seat and fenders with an inlaid seat(wind chocolate). Bork rigging hardware, upgraded Hansen brass conchos, with rawhide on horn and cheyenne roll. These saddles are designed to work and to work hard. They are design for those long rides, whether on the range, in the mountains or on the trail. All of our saddles have their particular purpose. They are also built for comfort. No matter what your reason for being in a saddle, pleasure or work, you can be assured of the most comfortable ride available.
Will James

Will James

July 12
The Bowden Brand Buster Welsh cutting tree makes an exceptional cutting saddle. We did this one in brass trim, using Bork rigging hardware and Hansen conchos. The black inlaid seat was the perfect choice against the roughout seat and fenders. The amount of stamping on this cutter would be 1/4 basket weave. Very clean, very narrow, and a very close contact feel to your horse.

Experience Leather Cutting saddle done in chestnut.

Cutter

Cutter

Experience Leather Cutter with roughout seat and fenders.

June 22
Well, it's been quite a while sence I've sat down and let everyone in on what's happening at Experience Leather. Those 6 saddles turned into 6 saddles and a whole pile of tack. My shop is full of breast collars and flank billet sets. But today I started oiling everything. The saddles are in chestnut and man what a rich colour when oiled. Wicket & Craig chestnut is by far the nicest chestnut skirting leather I've worked with over the past 30 years. I will put the finished saddles on my blog in the next couple of days. Well I'm just breaking for supper and back at it for the evening shift. Later.

May 24
I hope everyone has had a great long weekend. I worked Sat., finishing the ground work and putting the cantles, gullets and strainer covers on. The single most time consuming step in all the steps in building one of our saddles is the ground work. Whether it's for one hour for all day, the rider has to be comfortable. My horns are all ready to apply so they should be on by the end of business day tommorow.

May 8,
If anyone wants me to visit them to do a saddle fitting, you have to let me know by May 21. I will be visiting places in Sk, Ab, and BC. So you got to let me know.

May 6, 2010
I guess I should have mentioned that the 6 saddles I am building are all spoken for. I have 2 saddles from the 20 I took to the Mane Event left. A 16" cutter and a 16" TM roper.

May 5,
I would like to congratulate the two winners of our draw that we had at our booth at the Mane Event show. Linda Larsen of Calgary and Les Mckensie of Sundre Ab. Each recieved a saddle bag, headstall and a set of reins. Thanks to everyone for dropping by and putting your names in our draw barrel. Well, it was more like a bucket but it worked just the same. Finally we are ready to start another 6 saddles. My maximun will be no more than 6. Any more than that is too much. Building 6 at one time allows me to work comfortably and still cut my leather effiecently. The 6 saddles are, 17" slick fork, 15" cliff wade, 16" cliff wade, 16" TM roper, 16.5" cutter, and a 15" Will James. A very nice vatiety of saddles. They will be built with chestnut leather.

May 4, 2010
Well it's been a while sence I've been at my computer. Last week I was on line and the damn thing picked up a bug. So in the shop it goes. I love computers. We got through the show. I lost count on how many people we talked to. I want to thank everyone who came by to say hello and to view our saddles. To those who bought my saddles at the show, thanks again. You bought a saddle that Anne and I are proud to put our name on. Even though we had a super show, we were a little overwhelmed at times at the amount of work that was involved in preparing for the Mane Event. We will be more organized for the next show. We intend to be at the Mane Event show in Chilliwack this October. So to let everyone know you are now able to buy directly from our shop in North Battleford, Sk.
Now, I talked to several people at the show that in about 3 weeks I will be going on a road trip to visit a # of acreages to saddle fit some horses. If any of you want me to visit you and your horse, let me know and I will fit you in. I will have couple of saddles and all the styles of trees that I have in my inventory. So let me know right away.

April 22, 2010
Well this is it. Tomorrow is the big day. Today my crew set up our booth at the Mane Event in Red Deer. I will have some tack for sale. I ran out of time to bring a large volume with me. Most of it will be left in my shop 80% complete. So what we are going to do is this. I will offer each customer the best quality merchandise at the show at discounted prices and free shipping with a $100.00 minimum purchase. I will give you no excuse to not to take advantage of this. Best quality, best price and free shipping. Satisfaction garrenteed. So I look forward to seeing a lot of you. Yes I will still have the 20 saddles listed below at the show. On sale and ready to go. You guys have a great evening and I'll see all of you this weekend.

April 4, 2010
Here is a list of saddles that we will have on display at the Mane Event. 20 saddles in total. These saddle are our finest work. Anne and I want to invite everyone to drop by and take a look. Looking forward to seeing everyone.
TM roper, russet color
1---15 1/2"
1---16"
TM roper, chestnut color
1---15"
TM roper, black
1---15 1/2"
Cliff Wade, russet color
2---15 1/2"
2---16"
Cliff Wade, chestnut color
1---15"
1---15 1/2"
1---16"
Cliff Wade, black
1---16"
Will James, russet color
1---15 1/2"
1---16"
Will James, chestnut color
1---15 1/2"
1---16 1/2"
Reiner, russet color
1---16 1/2"
Reiner, chestnut color
1---15 1/2"
Slick Fork, russet color
1---16"
Cutter, chestnut color
1---16"

Mar 24, 2010
It's 11:45 pm. Just left the shop. I will work 7am to around this time every day until the show. Worked on a variety of projects today ranging from stamping plate rigs, cut up a couple of hides ( short a couple of dozen parts ), lined my drop ring and double dee riggings, to cutting out cheeks for our headstalls. All in all it was a pretty productive day.
Here is something for all of you who are considering on buying a saddle on ebay, " the bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the joy of a good deal is forgotten ". Always do your home work when buying a saddle. Good night.

Mar 7, 2010
Here are a couple of examples of the saddles that we just finished and will be available at the Mane Event. All of our saddles and matching tack are made from #1 grade Wickett & Craig leather. I invite all of you to drop by our booth and take a close look at these saddles and view them for yourself.

TM roper with inlaid seat, rawhide on horn and rawhide/silver lace on the roll.

Cliff Wade in all leather trim with roughout seat and fenders.

Will James with inlaid seat and rawhide on horn and cheyenne roll.

Matching 5/8" scallop brow and cheek headstall available in russet, chestnut and harness leather. They are very nice and the workmanship is of the same quality as our saddles. All doubled and stitched.

Mar. 6, 2010
It's 8:15pm and my day is done. What a great day. Those saddles really do look great. In total there are 4 Cliff Wades, 2 Will James, 2 TMs, 1 Reiner, 1 Slick Fork, and 1 Association. With the exception of the Association, all will be at the Mane Event. Tomorrow I start cutting out the following. 4 Cliff Wades, 2 Will James, 2 TMs, 1 Reiner and 1 Cutter. Good night.

Mar. 5, 2010
Well a lot has happen in the last couple of weeks. all those saddle got finished and they look awsome. Tomorrow I start on the chestnut saddles.

My Union Lockstitch sewing machine. She maybe old but she sews fantastic. Thanks Vic.

We just finished glueing sheepskin to the skirts.

We always use two coats of laquer glue. One is not enough.

A pile of skins are ready for skirts. Anne working away in the background.

This is how the sheepskin arrives. 20 skins in this box. Wow.

Feb. 25, 2010
The sheepskin did go on yesterday. Actually, it was 10:30 pm when Anne and I finished. This morning I trimmed the skin from the edge of the skirt and sewed them. I use a 60 plus year old sewing machine. Not one hickup. For such a dated machine, it really sews fantastic. I use a Union Lockstitch. I've used other makes but I like the Union the best. I took out a bundle of Herman Oak harness. Cut out a bunch of 5/8" split reins. I will have a large variety to choose from at the Mane Event. Well today I started early and finished late. Go Canada Go.

Feb. 22, 2010

Well that's it, the roll bindings are all sewn. It took longer than I had hoped but they are finally done. I'll have pictures to prove it tomorrow. Anne and I well put the blocking on the skirts tomorrow. A lot of glueing, trimming, and grinding. Wednesday we will apply the sheepskins to the skirts. That's always a good day. At that point the end is just a few days away. We have no time to waste from here on in. We have less than 2 months til the Mane Event and we have a pile of product to produce. I bet there are a few out there that hope that we are unable to meet these goals but I assure you everything will get done. Talk to you tomorrow.

Bucking rolls in progress.

Cliff Wades

The rest

Feb. 18, 2010
Well alot has happen in the last 4 days. My Weaver and Hermam Oak orders arrived. Now I am busting at the seams. That's ok. I worked in tighter quarters before. All my seats did get on. Those inlaid seats really do look nice. I've been busy putting Arizona twists in the fenders. I've started cutting out chestnut and russet headstalls. I've made thousands of them for other saddle shops but these headstalls are the first to go into production for Experience Leather. We will be also developing a line of harness leather headstalls as well. All will be on display and on sale at the Mane Event show. Of course they will be of the same quality as our line of saddles. You have to come by and say hello and take a look for yourself. Tomorrow I have to get started on the roll bindings on the saddles. That should take me a couple of days. Good night.

Feb. 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day. Trying to muster up the energy to get off my ass and go do some work. I'm all ready for seats. I found myself doing other things that needed to be done in the shop. I better get at it. Not before an extra large double double. Have a great day.

Feb. 11, 2010
I finally got those fronts stamped. Did a bunch of small jobs around the shop. Prepped a couple of dozen centre pieces for breast collars. Cut the foam and garment leather for my inlaid seats. Then around 2:30 this afternoon we decided we had enough, grabbed the toboggan and hit the local slope. It was fun. Even though I have a slightly pulled groin, we're going out again Sunday morning. But tomorrow I start on applying seats. These saddles seems like there taking forever, but they are coming together. Later.

Feb. 10, 2010, 7:30 am ( www.maneeventexpo.com )
Sorry I didn't get these pictures to you last night. I was cmpletely bagged out. No I didn't get all the fronts done. I didn't even get that lion's share done. I got 3 done. I know. I know. That doesn't sound like alot, but by the time I got Anne on the go, talked to clients and prepped for myself, only 3 was done. But today I am by myself and I should have few distractions, so I should finish them by supper tonight. Have a great day.

Association. Just been stamped. Seat back on the draw down to be reshaped. Earlier you saw me put the first shape on this seat. Once this seat is completely dry, Anne will take it and do her voo doo to the edges.

Finished Cliff Wade front. Seat edges have yet to be painted.

Anne painting the edge of a Cliff Wade seat.

Anne having a lark and painting edges, I think.

Anne really has gotten very good at painting those edges. Over the last 12 years I can't tell how many thousands of pieces she's painted. Good job Anne.

I finally started stamping those fronts.

Feb.9, 2010, 7am
All the seats are stamped. They're in Anne's hands now. She will edge, slick and edge coat all of them today. I will start stamping the swells ( fronts ). I won't get all of them all done today but I should get the lion's share done. It would be nice to start applying seats tomorrow. I will upload todays pictures tonight.

Feb.7. 2010 ( www.maneeventexpo.com )
Now, before I tell you what I've been upto, I want to pass on something. For those wine lovers out there, try this. Lindemans, Bin 45, 2008. It's a Cabernet Sauvignon. Australian. A full bodied red wine that I'm sure you will enjoy. If anyone has a favorite wine that they think I would enjoy, let me know and I'll post it on my blog. Thanks.

I've been very busy the last three days. Got lots of work done. Trimmed all the seats. They look fantastic. Then they all have to be border stitched. All of my saddles get a border stitch unless instructed otherwise. Then a geometric or a basket weave stamp and a border design. Once there stamped, they have to go back on the draw down to be reshaped. The same nail holes are used. I keep it on for no less than two hours. Fortunately I have more than one draw down. Below are some pics of the last couple of days in the shop.

All of the saddle strings that we put on our saddle are hand edged and slicked. NO short cut. NO cutting corners. Our saddles are cut right, assembled right, NO exception.

www.maneeventexpo.com

Slick Fork with fresly stamped seat, back on the draw down.

Border stitch on a Cliff Wade

Cliff Wade seat trimmed and ready for border stitch.

ALL of our seats are trimmed to fit skirts, swells and around the cantle.

Geometric stamp with san carlos border.

Basket weave with barbed wire border.

Stamping a geometric pattern.

Everything is hand stamprd. NO EMBOSSING!

Feb. 4, 2010

I sent out that Bork 1 3/4" flank buckle to be field tested. As beautiful as the buckle is, it isn't very practical. First, the tongue is too long. Very difficult to get it in the hole you want. Second there is no roller. If you're leaving the flank loose threre's no problem, but if your're cinching that flank up, a roller comes in handy. The quality of the hardware that goes into our products is of the highest priority and it has to be functional. Anne and I are forever trying new pieces of hardware to better our saddles but as you see most don't make the cut.

Now, I did get the rest of the seats shaped and I got all of the fenders stamped this morning. They really do look nice as you will see at the Mane Event. In the 20 saddles that will be on display, you will see something of everything. All of which will be new for 2010

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17" Association

Feb. 2, 2010

I want to talk about cleaning your saddle for a moment. I,ve had inquires about 2 in 1 soap/conditioners. I don't like them. Years ago I tried using those 2 in 1 shampoo conditioners. There crap. They always leave a film on my hair. So I never use them. Treat your saddle the same way. When cleaning use saddle soap. Scrub using a piece of sheep skin and soap. Rince with clean water. Allow to dry. Then use a oil designed for saddles and tack. A lot of guys use peanut or conola oil. I use oil designed for leather, not cooking. Lets not forget that a saddle goes on the worse possible envirnment. On the back of a sweaty animal, in the heat, cold and the rain. So I don't think peanut oil is going to cut it. Then a leather conditioner can be applied. Saddles are expensive, so take care of them. Or bring them to a saddle maker and have him do it for you. Either way your saddle will thank you. Anyway that's just my opinion.

Feb. 1, 2010

I didn't get all the seat shaped. I got 5 done. I'll have to get the rest done tomorrow. The leather for the chestnut saddles showed up today. Quite a pile when it's placed in the middle of a small shop. But once you tuck it away it's not so bad. See pics below of some of todays work.

Will James ( notice how deep the seat is )

Slick Fork

Feb. 1, 2010. noon

Got those last two fronts on and reapplied the skirts. Now I'm ready to start shaping the seats.

Slick Fork

Cliff Wade

Reiner

Jan. 31, 2010

Got a fair amount of work done today for a Sunday. I don't like to work on Sunday but there is so much to do, I feel I have no choice. I ended up being two fronts short. It's 7 pm, so screw it. I had enough for today. Tomorrow I will shape seats on the saddles that I put fronts on today. They are progressing very well. Below are some of the fronts I put on today.

Reiner

Will James and a Slick Fork in the back ground.

Cliff Wades

Jan. 30, 2010

Another pretty good day in the shop. Worked on finishing and applying rigging all day. Now they really start to take shape. Those plate rigs are certainly impressive to look at. By far our most durable rigging. Tomorrow a big day. I will detach the skirts and apply the fronts and reapply the skirts again. Going to be a long one.

Slick Fork with plate rig

Cliff Wades with plate rigs

Jan. 29, 2010

   So as you can see, I've figured out how to upload photos of the progress I'm making on this batch of saddles. As I mentioned earlier, once I first shape the skirts to the tree, they do start to look like saddles.
   I want to talk about Bork hardware. Herb and Nadine Bork out of Oregon (US), are two of the nicest people you would want to do business with. Their both in their 80's and still hard at work. Their products are some of the nicest bronz I've ever put in a saddle. I'm even using their 1 3/4" bronze flank buckles. There the best I've ever seen. But I will send these buckles out to be field tested. The results will determine whether or not I incorporate them into my saddles.
   When saddles are being advertised as being brass hardware on a saddle, you should ask the question, does that include the rigging hardware as well. I was told by another saddle maker many years ago never put solid brass hardware in my riggings. The material is too soft. I believe him. So all I ever use in my plate and drop ring riggings is yellow or white bronz from Bork. I will have both finishes at the Mane Event show. You will never go wrong by using the very best. Good night.
Below a Cliff Wade

Below a Slick Fork

Below an Experience Leather Cutter in a hard leather seat

Jan. 26, 2010, 8pm.

13 hours in the shop. Worked on shaping 10 pair of skirts. They look fantastic. I like getting to this stage. The saddles are starting to look like saddles. These 10 are the russet colour. They will be at the Mane Event. I will also have 10 chestnut coloured saddles there as well. I want to show everyone what we're made of. To do everything I want to do every day will start early and end late. But that's ok. If I didn't believe in what we are doing, I certainly wouldn't be putting in the effort.

Jan. 26, 2010

So that everyone is aware, this my first blog. So I'm going to have to get use to this. Why would a saddlemaker want to have a blog? We are booked in as an exhibitor at the Mane Event in Red Deer at the end of April. We want to put together the largest collection of Experience Leather saddles and our latest line of tack and saddle accessories. We want to give you a direct window into what's involved in preparing for such a big show. All of the leather products there will be produced by us. We use only the finest leathers and materials to build our saddles and tack. So for the next 80 days or so I would like you to keep in touch and as soon as I firgure out how to upload pictures of what we're doing to get ready, I will.