We begin with a wood covered bullhide tree. This is the strength of a saddle tree, your foundation! You wouldn't build a house on sand, it will fall! The bullhide is laced onto the saddle tree with sinew lacing not string that will rot and destroy your custom saddle. The bullhide is thick for strength not paper thin as in alot of cheaper saddles.
Don't be fooled by gimmicks or space age materials. Let's face it, Ralide is plastic and plastic snaps under pressure! Your Sharp custom saddle is made from quality leather and designed to last.
The leather in your Sharp custom saddle is made from #1 USA cowhides tanned in the USA. All leather isn't created equal! Our hardware is either Real brass or stainless steel. We use ONLY thick bark tanned wool shearling. No synthetics to wear out quickly and make your equine's back hot!
For that one-of-a-kind saddle, each of our custom saddles is built individually by the hands of Clay and Robin Sharp with quality craftsmanship, materials, function and good looks being our goal! Each piece is hand-cut and fit for each custom saddle, edges smoothed, beveled, hand rubbed, oiled and sealed. The skirts are fitted and shaped to the saddle tree, not simply nailed on flat. We use screws and nails in the construction. NO staples to pop out!
In our custom saddles, ALL ground seats are hand carved leather paying attention to the physical build of the rider.
Stitching is placed in a groove to prevent wear of the thread.
The strings are heavy, long latigo leather. No cheap or flimsy strings made out of inferior leathers are found in a Sharp custom saddle.
Your stirrup leathers can be "freed-up" for maximum swing or hung straight down. The fender length matches YOUR inseam in our custom saddles. A person 5 feet tall doesn't need a fender made for somebody 6' 2" and visa versa.
The rigging position and style should suit your animals needs and what you're doing with your custom saddle.
The weight of your custom saddle will be 28# to 60# depending on your individual needs and the use intended.
We use Wickett & Craig leather that comes drum dyed in brown, chestnut or black. These colors are NOT topically dyed. Russet leather can either be light, med or dark oil depending on the color you desire.
You can also choose Hermann Oak #1 USA leather for your custom saddle.
The leather weight for your custom saddle comes in 10/12 oz. 12/14 oz. or 15/16 oz. that will last for generations!
Remember "Imagination is your ONLY Limit" We can build your unique to you Sharp custom saddle on ANY style saddle tree. For example: Wade, Association, Bowman, Ropers, Old Time, Slick Forks or even Endurance saddle trees can be used in our custom saddles.
ANY saddle tree style can be built with Full Quarter Horse, Semi-Quarter Horse, Draft size, or Mule Bars. Mule bars are NOT modified horse bars or "just a wider gullet" but the degree, rock and twist to fit your mule.
When you place your order we will ask you specific questions about your riding style, type of terrain you ride in and your height, weight (among other questions!). This way we can help you decide the height, width and dish of your cantle. This is important for your comfort because not everybody's backside is the same! When you're comfortable in your Sharp custom saddle your equine partner can carry your weight easier.
Gullet height and width to fit your individual equine or the majority of stock you ride.
You also choose the horn size and style for your custom saddle.
If you want to dress up your custom saddle, Clay is an excellent carver or Robin can stamp a design on your custom saddle to suit you. You can also go all out with exotic skins, silver or just simply the beauty of plain leather. If you like we can help you with design and fit of your custom saddle or answer any questions in creating a one of a kind custom saddle.
A bit about Clay Sharp...
Clay grew up on a working cattle ranch in the interior of B.C. Canada. Clay spent over 18 years as a certified farrier. This gives Clay a first-hand knowledge of saddle horses, draft horses and mules and the variations within each breed.
Clay began saddlemaking working with a custom saddle tree maker and understands the foundation of a saddle. He has given many clinics and been a guest speaker explaining saddles, saddle trees, and saddle fit.
Clay has worked ranches from Canada to Mexico and knows the needs of equines and their partners in all types of climate, terrain and riding disciplines and the difference in horses in each region.
Sharp custom saddles are used in all disciplines in the equine world from working cowboys, buckaroos, pleasure trail riding, trainers, outfitters, endurance riders and even movies! There is a Sharp custom saddle in almost every state in America as well as in Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Mexico, and Italy.
We enjoy creating a Sharp custom saddle that you sit "in" not "on" and will last a long time. Be sure and give us a call or leave us a message as we do have in-stock saddles and trees if you need a saddle faster than our SHORT wait time!
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Clay A. Sharp - Maker |
P.O. Box 872 |
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