Side Saddle

I have recently refurbished an old side saddle, circa 1840's. The side saddle has been stripped down to the tree and seat (as these sections are in good enough condition to save), the rest has been rebuilt with new leather to the same design as the side saddle was originally.

The side saddle is shown here before any work has started. It is being modelled by my old 14.2hh pony and as you will notice from the photo, it is too narrow for him (which is why it looks like it is leaning backwards).

The side saddle has many interesting features, including the hankerchief pocket on the offside skirt and the padded stitched knee flap on the nearside.

This photo shows the saddle stripped back to the tree and seat. The Leaping Head has had pigskin blocked over it. It is then removed and the fancy stitched insert is stitched into place.

The finished leaping head with fancy stitching.

Next the seat is stretched over the tree, to form the shape. The skirts are positioned and marked, before removing them to be stitched.

Once the seat and skirts have been stitched they are pulled back onto the saddle and the top of the saddle is complete. The fancy stitching and flocked knee pad have been done in the traditional method.

The next section to make is the panel. This is made of serge and leather. The serge is the underside that will be against the horse.

The leather is the top which sits underneath the tree. The panel is flocked and quilt stitched.

Once the panel has been finished and flocked, the panel is laced onto the top to complete the side saddle.