Saddle Construction
Part 3
This is another view of that un-trimmed leather where you can see what a hard ridge it creates. The nail head can also be seen.
See the lumps and bumps page for further examples of this common problem.
Here's another feature we are not keen on. Notice how the leather attached to the upper D ring in the picture hasn't been trimmed back and overlaps onto the metal strengthening at the back of the tree. This creates another bump to be transmitted through the panels to the horse's back.
Another finishing touch we'd like to have seen is for the trailing edge of the metal reinforcement in the front arch of the tree to have been filed down to give a smoother edge. It is this attention to detail that makes all the difference between a poor saddle, likely to damage the horse, and a quality product.
Next the flaps are taken off...
And we are left with the seat and skirt.
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