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Level 3 Bridle Making…the final week (Part 1)
,Hi Everyone, I am sat on the bed in my guest room at Websters B&B in Salisbury on day 2 of my week-long training and assessment for the Level 3 Bridle Making qualification. On Monday I started the journey to Salisbury which usually takes me 2½ hours (120 miles) mainly down the M5. I reached the Saddlery Training Centre 10 minutes early, for a change, and settled in. I had already completed most of my double bridle at home which is the 2nd piece of work that will be assessed later this week. However, there was a bit of stitching left to do, blocking up, creasing keepers and polishing…
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Starting Level 3 in Bridle Making…
A couple of weeks ago I attended my fourth week of training at The Saddlery Training Centre. Following my successful completion of Level 2 Bridle Making, I was now to go straight onto Level 3 (in Bridle Making). So for my first practical piece I was tasked with making a stallion in-hand bridle with a fixed nose band, fancy stitching and a clencher brow band. I chose a rich brown coloured leather called ‘Conker’ from the store and decided to use brass clenchers and buckles as well as stitch it in a yellow contrasting thread. I like working with a contrasting thread because if you go wrong it stands out…
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I Made A Martingale!!!
Friday’s are always a bit of a rush, or at least it seems like it and today was no exception, with most of the trainee’s (except for me and one other girl) doing their assessments. It’s only technically a half day till 1pm and most of us want to finish what we’re doing or at least be at a point where we can carry on at home with no issues. I did finished the martingale I was making in time but didn’t have time to do another one in the allocated 4½ hours for the practical aspect of the Level 2 exam, plus you have to sit two written papers,…
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I resigned from my day job…
Taking Action…
Training Week 1 – Saddle Making Level 3
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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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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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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...
