Saddles for Traditional-Sized Breyer Horses

[jessica]

Anybody here create saddles for traditional-sized Breyer horses? I am currently working on one for my soldier ape and wanted to see if anybody has any experience. I am making one from scratch and wanted to know if I could glean from your knowledge.

Thanks, Jessica.

[David Lee]

Jessica,

I've always used dollar store knock-offs (Big Lots, Dollar General etc...) for mine.



But if you want some really nice leather work. Check these folks out.
http://www.riorondo.com/

They have a number of kits and a wealth of things for customizing in general, buckles etc...

-Dave

[jessica]

Dave,

Thanks for that info. There's so much out there it's confusing. I'll post the final product when done.

Jessica.

[Meule]

Don't know exactly about the size, but starbuk has silicone saddles. He's a master with that stuff

[jessica]

Here's the update of my western saddle. This is the second saddle tree I have made. I dumped the first one as it wasn't pretty enough. I will cover this with fleather and use real leather for the seats and all of the accoutrements.

I am building the saddle from the ground up.

[jessica]

I'm so excited about this saddle! I have been working hard at it, and it's coming along nicely! You would be shocked that I, a city girl, made it from scratch.

Itching to be Knitting: Holy Smokes Batman! It's almost a saddle!

Maybe it will be finished by Christmas at this rate!

[BlackKnight]

Your Saddle looks to becoming alony nicely.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

Jessica, you may be interested in taking a look at this site. Cheers, Cat

http://www.riorondo.com/

[vman]

Nice job Jessica. The saddle matches the POTA style.

Keep up the good work!

[apes3978]

The saddle matches the POTA style.

I agre, Jessica's work on everything has been very cool so far... That said, i just wanted to say that in PLANET, the apes saddles are closer to English riding saddles than the Western style...

But, as far as even making a saddle by hand, she's far more skilled than me...

[jessica]

Really? You think English riding saddles are closer on Planet than western style saddles? Darn! I just went for western from memory, thinking that it was the closest one. I could always whip up an English riding saddle and use whatever I learn from this experience. From photos, those seem much easier than a western saddle. I'm going to have to watch the movie again... Problem is, I only have the videos and my player does not even have a pause button, which makes using the film as a reference difficult for me. I've been trolling the internet trying to look for gorilla pictures on horseback to no avail. For being such a fanatic, you would think that I would own a couple of DVDs, but no...So, if anybody can help supply me some gorilla photos on horseback, I would be ever so grateful!!!

[vman]

Here are some pics from the first movie. I'll see if I can get some better shots from the others.







Hope this helps.

[jessica]

OMG!!! YESSSSS!! Bill, thank you so much. This is totally awesome! And it even has a shot of the pack on the horse! I'm going to have to add that. I started another saddle last night, and I've already covered the cantle with leather--and it's an English saddle and it's super easy. You would think I was a pro.

I am using a dark brown leather. I was going to braid the cinch, but I like the leather look much better. I have already made a pattern out of tissue so I am ready to cut out the saddle flap and attach it when I get home. I think I will probably finish it tonight without having to stay up late at all. At this point it's 75% complete.

Jessica.

[jessica]

English saddle completed!

Wanted to share what I have finally accomplished. An English saddle for traditional sized Breyer horse so that my ape soldier can patrol the outskirts of Ape City in comfort and style. It is composed of a baked tree and covered with two different types of leather. The black faux fur hyde you see is material I will someday use for Julius' sleeveless outfit. Vman, I thought you would get a kick out of the first pose, as it mimics one of the screen shots you took for me which were excellent sources of reference!



Sideview of soldier astride English saddle:



Up close and personal. A closeup of the handmade leather boot which held up the process of finishing the English saddle. I could not get an accurate measurement until I had completed the leather boots. This leather boot was hand sewn and glued in some parts, and it even includes a toe dent!





This is the English saddle underneath the faux fur hyde:

[Captain]

Wow Jessica, you've got a ton of talent!

As for the Apes saddles....They actualy used a variation of type of saddle called a Mcclellan. These saddles were produced for, and used by, the US Cavalry, since just before the civil war. The ones used in the original apes flick were custom made in the forties or fifties for use in westerns (which is why the had the wide leggings instead of just straps for the stirrups). Basically, they were just sitting around in the Fox studios warehouse. The producers were no doubt looking for an exotic saddle when they found these gathering dust....threw a blanket over them and voila!

these same saddles were often used for stunt saddles for many Indian riders in many weaterns as well. The saddles were usually "hidden" (poorly) under the blankets the Indian riders were supposedly using. If you look (and not even all that closely) you can see where they cut through the blanket for the stirrups. The stirrups themselves were often a special, wider, break away stirrup....which can clearly be seen in use on some of the POTA saddles in the first film.

As for custom saddles in smaller scales, I know of two folks who do this. One lives in BC, and I cant find her e-mail address right now....she focus' on 1/6 scale though.
The other works in many scales, and has some saddles like you are looking for (although yours looks just fine to me!!)
You can get ahold of Ben through his web-site:Ben's Custom Model Horse Tack:Johnny West

Both do excellent work. I have a dozen or so of their saddles under many of my Johnny West crew as we speak.