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I Made A Bridle!!!
Today was completion (of snaffle bridle with reins) day and what a fab job I did, even if I do say so myself. Don’t get me wrong it’s not going to win any prizes and it’s nothing like what the qualified saddlers produce but I am well and truly happy with my attempt. What do you think? The final item that you have to make as part of this module is a running martingale. This item is what your assessed on during a 4½ hour practical assessment (as well as 2 written papers done separately) but obviously I am just learning all the techniques and the order in which to…
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Bridle Making Week 2 – Mental Exhaustion
I’m a little later than normal posting this [sorry for that] purely because I got in, called home and then crashed on the bed. Exhausted! It’s not even a physical exhaustion either as I’ve not done much walking like I had planned [will do better tomorrow] but instead it’s a mental exhaustion having to take it all in, having to make notes, having to plan what to do next. Its a tough workout on the old brain of mine. So, where am I in the process of making my snaffle bridle I hear you ask…well… …on day 3 I almost, almost completed it. I finished stitching the ‘London chape’ (this…
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Training Week #2
Hello… …it’s my first day back at the Saddlery Training Centre today (25th July) and I have picked straight up where I left off in May. If you remember I had completed the headcollar earlier than anticipated so I was allowed to go on and cut the straps for the next assessment piece – a snaffle bridle. I had managed to cut them all to length, shape the ends of each strap and then edge them. I had initially said I was going to finish the bridle at home (to assessment quality) so that I could get on with the practical and theory exams but life took over a little…
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First Week Comes To An End.
Today has been a day of mixed emotions. I was a little sad to be leaving the B&B where John and Ronnie have taken good care of me. I had the amazing full English breakfast for the last time (until the next time I go down lol 🙂 ), and after checking out I got a hug from Ronnie with her goodbye. They are truly a lovely couple and I will miss our little conversations. It was my final day spent in the workshop with Mark. I prepared all the straps that I had cut for my snaffle bridle yesterday by marking the skiving, billet platforms and returns as…
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It’s All In The Preparation…
Today has been a really good day. Firstly, I have to mention the breakfast at the B&B is to die for. Fruit juices, grapefruits, prunes, peaches, cereals, full English breakfast if you want it. A vegetarian option, if preferred, or there are beans on toast, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, or kippers…lovely! My new buddy very kindly offered to drive us both to the Training Centre today, so off we set just before 9am. When we got there we settled in and resumed where we finished off yesterday evening. Yesterday, I had cut all the pieces to size except for the throat piece, so once I had stitched the jowls…
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What Is A Saddler?
The definition of a Saddler is 'a person who makes, repairs, or sells saddlery'.
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Learning A New Skill…
Hey! I made it. I drove 120 miles all by myself; it wasn’t without a challenge though. I Had A Tumble To start with I had quite a tumble off the horse yesterday. We were on our way out for a hack when she spooked, spun on her heels, bucked and caught me off guard. I fell head first onto my forehead, smashed my hat, bashed my shoulders and the base of my neck and badly sprained my right wrist where I must have put my hand out to break the fall. As you can imagine 10½ stone falling onto one’s wrist is asking for a break but thankfully I have walked…
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Just a Week Away
With just a week to go before I head south to Salisbury to start the first week of saddler training, the excitement is killing me...
