Info on training to be a master saddler

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maree t

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Hi, my son is thinking of training to become a master saddler. I have been looking at various sites on the net but wondered if anybody had any experience. Is it worth training to be a saddle fitter first and working on home courses to repair tack. He really wants to work with horses and people , he has strong hands and has good attention to detail so think that this would suit him well.
 
Contact Mark romain at the saddlery training centre, he'll give you all the advice and information you need. They have a website. Hope this helps :)
 
Not sure if this helps, but 20 yrs ago I trained at Cordwainers College in London - I did 2 yrs leathergoods and then a year's saddlery. Having gone there with the intention of becoming a saddler, I ended up in leathergoods.... (that sounds really dodgy doesn't it).

When I was there the courses were fairly sound. Covered the basics, although of course you can only do so much in a year and you'd then need to go on, IMO, to working with a saddler. But I felt it was a good grounding. Over the year we made a couple of bridles, a complete saddle, some harness (bridle, crupper and dock), and various other stuff. We also studied basic lorinery (bits). NO idea who teaches there now but the teachers we had at the time really knew their stuff.

Funnily enough now I've got a pony for my kids, I'm itching to make some bespoke gear - but I haven't got any tools or anything. I can see I'm going to have to re-equip myself!

Good luck to your son, it's a fascinating craft.
 
Yes, I trained at Cordwainers 24 years ago as well, still in aptly named Mare St then!
The new Cordwainers in Capel Manor is good as I went to their open day with colleague a few years ago, it's a good place to start training. It's far better to learn how to make a saddle,rather than just learn how to fit one.As a Saddler you learn the material sciences involved and why it is made how it is,as well as actually making one of course and the learning how to fit and flock a saddle on site is part of the training of a traditional saddler.
After 24 years I am still making saddlery, fitting and flocking in all weathers too!
I have designed new products now on the market too, it is a good trade to learn, good luck
If you PM me I can give you my website to look at.
Here is capel manors

http://www.capel.ac.uk/animalcare/
 
Last edited:
cremedemonthe said:
Yes, I trained at Cordwainers 24 years ago as well, still in aptly named Mare St then!
The new Cordwainers in Capel Manor is good as I went to their open day with colleague a few years ago, it's a good place to start training. It's far better to learn how to make a saddle,rather than just learn how to fit one.As a Saddler you learn the material sciences involved and why it is made how it is,as well as actually making one of course and the learning how to fit and flock a saddle on site is part of the training of a traditional saddler.
After 24 years I am still making saddlery, fitting and flocking in all weathers too!
I have designed new products now on the market too, it is a good trade to learn, good luck
If you PM me I can give you my website to look at.
Here is capel manors

http://www.capel.ac.uk/animalcare/
Click to expand...

I reckon we were there at the same time! I was there 86 to 89...:cool:
 
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