cremedemonthe
Well-Known Member
Make your own stud guards using an old leather saddle
You can make a stud guard quite cheaply but unless you have an industrial sewing machine or can hand stitch leather you will need the help of your local saddler or possibly a cobbler if they are prepared to help you.
Years ago a customer put me on to this idea so I can’t claim it as my own.
She gave me an old saddle to use and told me what she wanted done and it worked a treat. I think it was a pony saddle, can’t actually remember.
I cut off the flaps and using those I skived the straight edges down (shaved/tapered them down) to make a smooth lump/bulge free join. Laid one straight edge on top of the other and stitched them together, end to end.
You should now have something the shape of a kidney bean?
Now you have to cut 2 holes about 5-6 inches in from the ends, one each end, a Saddler or Harness maker will use a large Trace End punch (see picture)
for this or if you feel brave mark it out and use a Stanley knife. The holes need to be large enough for the girth to go through, feed the girth in on the off side, it should lay over the top of the guard under the sternum, and then feed it back in on the nearside, hope this makes sense?
It’s cheap, effective and simple to do, all you need is an old leather saddle that’s fit for nothing (broken tree or just old!)
If you only have a large saddle then you can cut down the flaps by making yourself a pattern and laying that over the leather first, ALWAYS CUT AWAY FROM YOUR FINGERS!
Use a cutting board too, don’t try using your Mum’s dining room table instead!
Any questions, just ask, Oz
Traditional Working Saddler Est 1988
You can make a stud guard quite cheaply but unless you have an industrial sewing machine or can hand stitch leather you will need the help of your local saddler or possibly a cobbler if they are prepared to help you.
Years ago a customer put me on to this idea so I can’t claim it as my own.
She gave me an old saddle to use and told me what she wanted done and it worked a treat. I think it was a pony saddle, can’t actually remember.
I cut off the flaps and using those I skived the straight edges down (shaved/tapered them down) to make a smooth lump/bulge free join. Laid one straight edge on top of the other and stitched them together, end to end.
You should now have something the shape of a kidney bean?
Now you have to cut 2 holes about 5-6 inches in from the ends, one each end, a Saddler or Harness maker will use a large Trace End punch (see picture)
for this or if you feel brave mark it out and use a Stanley knife. The holes need to be large enough for the girth to go through, feed the girth in on the off side, it should lay over the top of the guard under the sternum, and then feed it back in on the nearside, hope this makes sense?
It’s cheap, effective and simple to do, all you need is an old leather saddle that’s fit for nothing (broken tree or just old!)
If you only have a large saddle then you can cut down the flaps by making yourself a pattern and laying that over the leather first, ALWAYS CUT AWAY FROM YOUR FINGERS!
Use a cutting board too, don’t try using your Mum’s dining room table instead!
Any questions, just ask, Oz
Traditional Working Saddler Est 1988
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