Change of pace

12/03/10 7:47 AM


The summer of 2015 saw me retire from traveling & fitting saddles.  I’ve embarked on a single path of bench saddlery & repair.  The repair world was my first love before I started fitting & flocking saddles in 2005.  Previous, starting in 2000 I was very fortunate to start working for & apprenticing with Gary Severson learning the skills & trade of saddlery.  After 5 years I split my time between repair & fitting.

Most of my clients never knew that my full time job, 5+ days a week, was saddle repairs.  The traveling & fitting was my public / part time job 2 days a week.  But behind the scenes I did repairs not only for my own clients, but also for other fitters & tack shops, and even warranty work for a small handful of saddle brands.

Before I burned out working 7 days a week, I decided to slow down to a more reasonable pace and retire from traveling & fitting and focus on the repairs once again.  I’m fortunate to have had a very successful 12 year career in fitting & flocking, perhaps one day I’ll travel again?

As for saddlery repair, I’ve continued my education most notably with the Society of Master Saddlers.  But take advantage of every source of information & skill I can.  I’ve had the good fortune to rub elbows with several master saddlers and trades men & women along the way, collecting tidbits of knowledge & idea’s where I can.

I truly love what I do, and feel gratitude that I get to make a living doing something I love.  I take pride in my work, and hopefully it comes through in the end result.  I’m thrilled to be back at the bench and focusing on repair work, life is good.

One Comment on “Change of pace”

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