Have you ever wondered how a custom saddle is built? In partnership with Texas saddle maker and PRCA steer wrestler Pat Hooper of Pat Hooper Leatherwrks, I’m proud to walk you through the process from start to finish over the coming weeks.
When an order is placed for a custom saddle, Pat’s first focus is on building a relationship with the client and seeking to understand the essence of who they are.
Pat explains that people generally come to him with an idea of what they want but may not realize what they actually need. He ensures they are headed in the best direction for their goals by focusing on the foundation of the saddle: the tree. After years of learning from industry leading tree makers, he is confident in finding the best fit for every horse.
Once he knows he has the right tree for a customer’s horse, he begins putting the next piece in place: choosing the swell and horn best suited for their intended discipline. From day workers to ropers and barrel racers, Pat recognizes each intended use requires different construction and treats the build process accordingly, providing clients with a competitive advantage through making proper position in the saddle both easy and comfortable.
Just like every song has its own melody, Pat listens to the melody in each person he meets. He observes their style and personality, from little things such as how they dress all the way to bigger aspects of who they are, such as their actions and what they seem to value. He then will often meditate, clearing his mind of everything except this saddle, horse, and client, and connecting with his creative side before blending this essence of the individual with the passion they are pursuing. This fusion leads to the ultimate product: the saddle that will carry them to their dreams.
His focus on individuality and tack makes an impression on the public. Pat is in the business for the long haul and stands by his work with a commitment to integrity. As a competitor himself, he is working to change the old culture of the steer wrestling industry and revive pride in one’s tack and overall appearance.
Pat doesn’t take any part of the initial saddle creation process lightly—in fact, he is meticulous about everything from selecting the type of leather he will use to adding artistic features to the design. He often finds himself looking at up to twenty cowhides before he finds two good ones he likes. His enthusiasm for quality is apparent as he speaks of the story a hide can tell about the region a cow lived in.
After selection, the hides spend time in something similar to a cigar humidor to prepare them to be worked with. This first stage of the saddle making process also includes putting wet leather on to mold to the swell, doing the inseam stitching, and working on the ground seat.
While details like the ground seat may not cross the mind of the individual ordering the saddle, it is vital in providing the correct fit and ongoing comfort as it affects hip angle while riding.
Pat follows his process carefully, but knows when to let the leather speak and mold itself with a little extra time. Rather than envisioning a standard ending, he plays with the pieces to find creative ways to add individuality to each saddle and let them come to life as new creations.
Each stage is important, and the first one is the beginning of a beautiful vision.
Stay tuned as we follow Pat throughout his saddle building process from start to finish! Insights into stage two are coming soon.
