northern ireland courses? in saddle fitting and saddle making?

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SKY

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hi,
just wondering is there any courses to learn saddle fitting and saddle making in northern ireland. just wondering as i am interested in learning more about it. thanks
 
Not as far as I know, there are only a handful in the UK. Saddle fitting and saddle making/repair tend to be quite separate - I know you can learn flocking and other making/repair stuff in Cumbria (Cumbria School of Saddlery or similar), there are courses near London as well. The Society f Master Saddlers is you starting point. I have a fellow saddle fitter friend in the US who is starting a course for horse owners - http://saddlefitter.blogspot.com/2012/02/saddle-fitting-course.html - and she is very good and a lot of fun so if you can afford the air fare....
 
thanks for reply, i dont know a great deal of fitting but it has always interest me and would love to learn more just really for me not a business as such, but its a trade hard to find out about. only thing is i would have to do it in ireland as i work and couldnt leave my horses. but will do some more digging, thanks for helping.
 
One of my colleagues who trained with me at Cordwainers (Saddlery College in Hackney) back in 1987-88 is out in Northern Ireland still I believe, he was doing more bridlemaking and leathergoods last time I caught up with him but he trained to make saddles, same as I am. I will do some googling to see if I can find him, he may be able to point you in the right direction but as sbloom has said don't think there's any recognised training out there , you may have to plead to local saddlers to take you on as an apprentice or failing that come over here to train at capel manor.
I will get back to you, Oz :)
 
You could try asking Crawfy Jackson (bracken Saddlery near 'the burn' in belfast) He is a master saddler and might be able to point you in the right direction
 
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