Handwerkskunst!

How to make a saddle (2x3)

Air date: May 13, 2016

Creating a Western saddle is similar to making a shoe, as both require precision and custom fitting. Master saddler Guido Netzer crafts each saddle to fit the horse perfectly. Using digital measurements, he selects a saddle tree, which functions like a shoe last. The chosen buffalo leather is cut, and key components, including the skirt, fenders, and jockeys, are built around the saddle tree. These parts are glued, sewn, padded, and decorated by hand. Unlike the shoe last, the saddle tree stays in the final product. Each saddle is a unique piece of craftsmanship, completed within five days with great attention to detail. Guido Netzer, passionate about his work, even uses tools passed down from his grandfather, a master shoemaker, reflecting the historical connection between shoemaking and saddlemaking.