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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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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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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...
