Is anyone a saddler/completed a saddlery course at college?

Polos

Polos

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Apologies if this is not in the right place.

Due to a variety of reasons it is probable that I will be dropping out of sixth form and starting again at college in September.

At the moment I am just looking at options, one of those options is a saddlery course.

I have a few questions though for anyone who has completed this course or is a saddler:

Was the course enjoyable/is the field of work enjoyable?

What did you do after completing the course?

Was it stressful?

What kind of things did you do on the course?

and any other general information about the course. Thank you :)
 
Didn't go to college, but am currently a trainee saddler. The vast majority of people go through Capel Manor then try to find an apprenticeship. That part can be very very difficult, though there are usually a few out there, or perhaps you could even arrange before you even go to college for a saddler to take you on after. You could continue training under your own steam afterwards and set up on your own, but although Capel teaches you alot you could think of it more like a driving test - you learn a huge amount, but in terms of what customers might want and your wider knowledge, then your learning starts when you start your apprenticeship. Sadly some people even work for free after just to gain experience.

As a starting point you could always take a week course with David May and see what you think to it? Maybe a local saddler would allow you to shadow them for a time?

I love it, it is a 3rd career for me so it's taken me a while! It can be frustrating as getting your hands strong enough and careful enough for fine work is a long road. There is a huge amount to learn which I love. In terms of £ it sucks, but you get that rare thing called job satisfaction! If I didn't have my oh and another income then there is no way I could afford a horse. In time I would hope to have my own business to increase my earning potential, but working for someone else your wage is really rather limited. I earn easily the least of my friends lol!

Before jumping in and applying then make sure you spend some time living the role, it is a job you need to love as there are repetitive, frustrating aspects which are easy to enjoy if it is your thing, if it isn't then it could drive you mad!!
 
ThePony said:
Didn't go to college, but am currently a trainee saddler. The vast majority of people go through Capel Manor then try to find an apprenticeship. That part can be very very difficult, though there are usually a few out there, or perhaps you could even arrange before you even go to college for a saddler to take you on after. You could continue training under your own steam afterwards and set up on your own, but although Capel teaches you alot you could think of it more like a driving test - you learn a huge amount, but in terms of what customers might want and your wider knowledge, then your learning starts when you start your apprenticeship. Sadly some people even work for free after just to gain experience.

As a starting point you could always take a week course with David May and see what you think to it? Maybe a local saddler would allow you to shadow them for a time?

I love it, it is a 3rd career for me so it's taken me a while! It can be frustrating as getting your hands strong enough and careful enough for fine work is a long road. There is a huge amount to learn which I love. In terms of £ it sucks, but you get that rare thing called job satisfaction! If I didn't have my oh and another income then there is no way I could afford a horse. In time I would hope to have my own business to increase my earning potential, but working for someone else your wage is really rather limited. I earn easily the least of my friends lol!

Before jumping in and applying then make sure you spend some time living the role, it is a job you need to love as there are repetitive, frustrating aspects which are easy to enjoy if it is your thing, if it isn't then it could drive you mad!!
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Thank you so much for your reply :)

The college would be capel manor as it is local to me. I think a week course would be a good idea to see if I like it first. I have found his website and am currently having a nosey. I could also see if I could 'shadow' my local saddler over the holidays.

I don't care about the money tbh, as long as I can be happy (would also be nice if I could still keep my horse but I could get sharers, put him out on loan etc)
 
I'm currently at Capel and loving it; we cover Lorinery and other leatherwork on top of saddles/ bridles/ harness. Do agree with the driving test analogy though. Would love to do what TP's doing after I'm done at college.
 
I went to cordwainers college which is where the saddlery department was before it moved to capel manor I really really enjoyed it very interesting,

Finished college got offered a job at local Saddlery for £10 ! which I couldn't afford to live on so went to work in a pub !

I did work in a different saddlery about 5 years loved it mainly doing repairs but other than that I have done nothing with my qualification as jobs are few and far between and I didn't have enough experience or money to ''go it alone''

I now work as a Carer :-)
 
I went to Cordwainers College in the dim and distant past, about the same time as CremedeMonthe. I loved it. As it turns out (very long story) I haven't stuck with it as a career and sometimes wish I had, I do miss being creative . But I do mend my own tack, which is handy!!

I did 2 years general leathergoods course first and then 1 year saddlery which included harness/lorinery etc. I am sure the courses are different now, I don't remember them being stressful although there was a lot to cover.

I did go into the leathergoods business for a while after. I was offered a couple of jobs straight after college working in leathergoods rather than saddlery), but ended up setting up something myself instead.
 
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