Cindy brought Gabe home with her last night to spend the night and part of today, to give his folks a break. We had to get a shot of both the boys together. Evidently Hope has been getting enough sun! She didn’t want to be in the picture, but I talked her into it. š
Been pretty hot, so I’ve been working on the grandkids saddle, some more.
Here’s a picture of the back of the cantle with leather on it. While I was waiting for the stirrup leathers to get ready to work, I went ahead and put the leather on the back of the cantle, to form it. When it is dry, I will remove it and carve and stamp whatever design I am going to put on it and then glue it on the back of the cantle.
Here’s the pattern traced onto the leather of the stirrup leathers or “rosadero’s” or sweat fenders, all names for this piece of a saddle.
Pattern carved into the leather. Now the real work begins!
Before and after. Every line must have a tool, tapped around it called a beveler. Then I use quite a few other tools. Each different mark is made by different tools of various sizes, through out the pattern.
Close up of the finished carving. Notice the real small cuts in the flower petals and leaves. They are called decorative cuts and they are the last thing I do. They are cut freehand with a small swivel knife.
Dennisranch 
I thought I submitted a comment earlier, but maybe it didn’t go thru. Anyway, the stirrup fenders are lookin good. Are yall going to keep the rest of the fender clear?
(I’ve ridden a few saddles that were fully tooled & felt like they were all too slippery-coarse could be cuz I can’t ride a lick).
Also, on the cantle leather, I assume yall will re-wet it to carve, will that affect the “fit/shape” that ya have at this point?
Thanks
You did comment. But it was on the thread from Sunday. This is what I replied to you there.
Hooks
I think I will just put this on the corners. Smaller on the seat and rear jockey. And yes, I will re-wet the cantle piece and carve it, but it will just be a small amount of carving probably and it will change the shape slightly, but should still fit alright.
I’m never real sure what I am going to carve or how, until I do it. Depends on shapes, my mood and how big of a hurry I am in to get it done. š
As to the carving making it slick, my feelings are that the original reason to carve or stamp stuff like this on a saddle was to roughen the leather up so you could get a better purchase. So many factory saddle are coated with a substance to make them shine and it’s pretty slick. I just use pure neetsfoot oil. They might not shine quite as much, but they are not as slick either
Cool saddle pictures! Thanks for the update. I still can’t get over how big Gus is….and Gabe is long past baby! What cuties