Category: Lessons Learned

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The Kerry

On the Endurance Tree Mixed with Western Charm

Designed, Constructed & Article Written by Tracy P. (Apprentice)

This saddle is named after a very long time friend and leatherworker who passed away early in 2023.  

Double T Leather Works

Double T Leather Works was owned and operated by Kerry Wilcox, I met him while doing historical re-enactments in high school.  Our lives took us in many directions through the years but we remained friends throughout.  So, when I started working for Lara in the fall of 2022, Kerry was happy to give both of us tips and pointers.  Sharing with us what he had learned in his 20+ years of leather working, saddle building and repair.  

When Kerry lived in the Dakotas he even met Cathy who owned Hillview Farms and manufactured Evolutionary Saddles.  When I poorly tried to explain Evolutionary Saddles to him, after working with Lara for all of a day.  He chuckled and reminded me I had a lot to learn but I’d get there.  He was so very correct in that assessment!  

Kerry was a “traditional” leather worker. Everything he did was done with the tools as it had always been done. So, when I’d join him to pick his brain on how to do something, then grab the wrong tool he’d correct me.  Then we would have a discussion on tool usage and why do I have to use something that doesn’t necessarily work for me.  There are still tools that he mastered that some day I’ll understand the appeal.

Sharing Philosophies

One of the discussions we had many times was why conventional saddles were so heavy and not always comfortable for the rider or horse. Kerry was a conventional saddle guy due to living out west and dealing with the cowboys and their saddles.  Either type of saddle, conventional or panel, we agreed had to be a good product that fit the job it was designed for. Additionally, it needed to be made of quality materials and perform as the customer wanted.  

Opportunity Strikes!

So when Lara approached me about making my own saddle, I started thinking about what I wanted.  This would need to be my forever saddle. Knowing it would fit whatever horse I eventually purchased, the sky was my limit for me to design it.  I’m not sure Lara expected a complete custom design as my first build.  

After Kerry passed away I knew I wanted to build a saddle that showed off the skills I learned and be a saddle he would be impressed with, both in function and quality.   So I have dedicated it to him by designing it with him in mind and naming it after him.  The Kerry became a reality.

Kerry’s absolute favorite standard tooling pattern that he put on all of his leather work was the sunburst. Keeping this in mind I wanted to be sure to add it to my saddle.  However, my love of dragonflies also needed to be incorporated. That is how the border tooling on the rigging cover came to be.

Kerry did amazing carved figure tooling on many things and I was just starting to learn but being an endurance western hybrid type saddle it had to have some carving. The frog, where the rear jockeys meet, was a perfect place to add a carving, so I needed to design something.

Our History

I met Kerry 30 years ago at a reenactment event, I was introduced to him as Tripping Turkey. There’s a story behind his camp name, as there always is, but it took several years for me to hear the namesake version.  

Tripping Turkey is where the TT in Double T Leather Works comes from.  Because of this I wanted a turkey feather on my saddle. Feathers are one of the more difficult things to carve, so why not start there.  The frog’s shape is a dragonfly, incorporating something from both of us again.  The colored spots add the color and flash, Kerry and I like blue, green and pink, together and seperate.  

Strings and conchos are favored on western saddles, they add an individual rider’s personality.  I found when going through Kerry’s leather shop stock using the conchos and strings that he had. Allowing me to customizing my saddle and as another tribute to him.

New Skills & New Accomplishments

The Kerry built with black and havana brown leather opens up matching tack options.  Using metallic green leather I had on hand, I created, my first, inlay breast collar with tooled wither strap and tugs. Paired with Kerry’s handmade bridles with hand set Swarovski crystals in addition to one of his handmade leather barrel reins completed my “Black set”

My “Brown set” is one of Kerry’s breast collars and I already had a brown bridle with split reins!

Finishing Touches

Either set looks great with the saddle!  
To keep everything looking nice and having it all together the billet, stirrups, and strings all get held up by the keeper strap on the back of the saddle.  An alternative to being pulled up on the leathers, scratching the saddle or banging me in the legs when I move it.  The stirrup keepers that are on most Evolutionary Saddles, is a design that is ingenious! Makes me wonder why more saddle companies don’t do this!

I added an extra removable keeper strap for my latigo to help keep it from getting in the way.

All Set for Travel!

Since I don’t have a tack room to keep my stuff, my dust cover is essential to the well being of my saddle staying beautiful.  Once everything is tucked in, all of the leather is protected.  However, having 2 sets of tack proved to be a problem with how to keep it protected and together!  

I came up with a matching dust cover for each set that makes it grab and go! My black tack is in the pink bag and the brown set is in the black bag.  

These covers are based on an extra large carabiner clip that opens inside the bag.  I clip the girth strap clip to the D ring the tugs are attached too and then run the carabiner through both D rings. For the bridle, I clip the top of the ear band and the throat latch to the carabiner and then give the reins one turn so they form an X and clip them in. Fold the bag over the clip, tuck everything up inside and snug the draw string. Everything is together and ready to go!

Because I take my saddle everywhere it seems, I have an “in the car” saddle rack.  It fits in my Ford Focus with or without the seats down.  This is also where the amazing keeper strap Lara developed comes in handy.  Once the dust cover is on, the only thing that touches the bottom of the saddle stand is the Sox! This makes it super easy to get my saddle in and out.

Didn’t Stop There

Yes, I did customize my saddle stand! It’s pink!  The black strap keeps it held together when transporting it.  

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Understanding Washing Machines and Caring for Saddle Sox

Not All Washing Machines are Created Equal

It’s important to recognize that different washing machines have distinct functionalities. While this may seem like common knowledge, what might not be immediately evident is the potential harm that eco-friendly washing machines can cause to items like Saddle Sox, wool saddle rugs, and pads.

Traditional Top-Loaders vs. Eco-Friendly Washers

Let’s begin with the conventional approach, the one that has stood the test of time for washing Saddle Sox. For synthetic Sox, a machine wash and tumble dry have always sufficed. This method remains effective for old-fashioned top-loaders. You can adjust the water level (low, medium, or high), and if you’ve forgotten to add an item, it’s easily accommodated. These machines utilize enough water to thoroughly saturate the fibers, and the agitation helps maintain the integrity of the felt. However, the key factor here is the water level.

On the other hand, in eco washers, which determine water usage based on load weight, there’s simply not enough water to adequately wash any saddle sox without jeopardizing the wool felt within. This might not be common knowledge because many, like myself, have a fondness for their old Kenmore washers that allow for manual water adjustment to suit the load type. These machines don’t lock you out once the cycle begins, ensuring that there’s enough water to make the items inside truly wet. I’ve often wondered how a wash cycle with minimal water actually achieves cleanliness, be it for clothes or anything else.

Eco-Friendly Machines and Wool Care

If you own one of these modern, eco-friendly machines, ones that conserve water and lock you out after the cycle initiates, refrain from washing your Saddle Sox, or any other wool felted pad or rug, in them. The water levels will always fall short for proper felt washing.

Caring for Saddle Sox in Eco-Friendly Washers

For those in the eco-friendly washing machine camp, the process for washing your Saddle Sox aligns with how you’d care for Merino Wool or Sheepskin Saddle Sox.

Here’s a straightforward guide:

  1. Brush off any large debris with a grooming brush.
  2. Fill a tub or spacious sink, allowing ample room for full immersion of the sox, with water and Eucalan Soap.
  3. Let them soak for a minimum of 30 minutes, up to overnight. Then, squeeze out any excess water. (Note: If you think they need additional soaks you can repeat this process, never rinsing, until the Sox are clean and then you can spin them out. Personally I have done this up to 5 times on some Sox I have received in for cleaning.)
  4. Place them in the washer, using only the spin cycle to extract remaining moisture.
  5. Finally, let them air dry on a flat surface, ideally in the sun.

Understanding Felt and Water Interaction

Now, some of you might be curious about why a scarcity of water can have such a detrimental effect on felt. The reason lies in the pivotal role that water plays in maintaining the integrity of felt. Without sufficient water, it’s akin to subjecting the felt to repeated shakes by dogs. The fibers begin to disengage, causing shedding and a loss of the felt’s cohesion.

Felting Techniques

To truly grasp how felting occurs, it’s worth noting there are several techniques. One involves the use of needles, a craft in itself where intricate creations are fashioned from felted wool. Another method entails soaking the wool in warm water, followed by agitation and/or needling, and then transitioning to cold water while continuing the process.

The Consequences of Insufficient Water Usage

When water is used minimally, only to slightly dampen the items, all the integrity painstakingly established during the felting process is compromised, resulting in a lumpy, unfelted mess.

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Puddles – Bottomless Pits?

country lane field meadow puddles

Puddles – I finally understand why horses see them as bottomless pits!

Hopping puddles when riding a horse is annoying! I have a horse that was my regular riding horse that refused to put a single hoof in a puddle. I learned why on this particular road trip in July of 2020.

The road trip…

So let’s set the scene, an ATV trail being called a road on Google Maps.  Fully loaded 2012 Subaru Outback with one of those hitch racks to carry a cooler.  Two capable women and one large dog loaded for a two week vacation on a lake disconnected from the world. 

My riding companion, Sandy and I were traveling to my family’s cottage in Lower Michigan. At the time I was in my previous career and was visiting the remote locations in the Upper Peninsula that I serviced.  Performing the yearly checks to make sure things are running smoothly.

Rerouting…

Following the GPS, as some of you know the upper peninsula of Michigan has sketchy service at best in many areas. Then missing the turn and of course my GPS rerouted me. 

I should have known that when the dirt trail turned into something akin to an ATV trail I should have just started backing up.  As a ‘forward’ kind of person I kept going. 

Being a forward kind of person…

As this driveway turns into a forest trail, then into sand dunes, next were the pot holes. WOW, more like pits of doom getting ready to swallow us up when we were already where AAA would never get to us. 

The point at which it was decided that we were going to turn around we had just come through a puddle that was as black and opaque as ink and it was sketchy.  The next puddle was as long as the car and looked about as deep as the car was tall, again inky black water stood stagnant in it.  That puddle looked for sure like it was bottomless.

Now I get it!

Both Sandy and I assessed it, this was the moment that we both realized why horses hate puddles.  There was no way anyone was going to get me to drive in there. I would back all the way back out to the highway if I had to.  ALL. THE. WAY. 

I understood at that moment, why a horse can and will refuse to step in a puddle but will go swimming in a lake or pond.  That looked like a bottomless pit and who knows what was at the bottom if there was one! Some is the horse’s trust in you not to put them in a situation that will hurt you both, but also them making a decision to do the same for you both at the same time.  Either way it is a decision I respect now.

Leaving the Puddles behind!

I only had to back up a few yards before I could turn around completely.  Getting out of there was as hair raising as getting in there going over each obstacle wondering how we got that far to begin with.  I learned a couple valuable lessons, don’t trust the GPS in the UP of Michigan and puddles really are a scary thing.

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Camping Must-Have Items for Horse Owners

Camping with your horse can be an enjoyable experience, but it’s important to remember to be prepared. In this article, we’ll cover these camping must-have items that you need to ensure a safe and comfortable trip with your horse.

The Camping Must-Have Items

  1. Conduct a Pre-Trip Check: To avoid complications on the road, make sure to conduct a preflight check on your truck and trailer. This includes ensuring that they are in working order, tires are aired up and ready to go.
  2. Know Your Horse: Bring a cooler or light blanket for your horse in case they get chilly at night. Traveling can be stressful, so it’s important to bring something comforting for your horse. Also, remember to bring food and drink for both you and your horse. Including electrolyte packets to entice your horse to drink unfamiliar water.
  3. Plan for Accommodations: Know where your horse will spend the night and bring your own fencing if necessary. Even if corrals are provided, it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan in case of conflict.
  4. Basic First Aid: Bring a first aid kit for you and your horse to be prepared for any injuries or accidents.
  5. Plan Your Route: Plan your route on a computer or larger screen to avoid any potential traffic issues and to stay aware of the progress of your trip.
  6. Leave on Time: Plan your departure to avoid heavy traffic during rush hour and ensure a smoother trip.

Remember that the most important thing is to have fun and relax! Camping with your horse should be an enjoyable experience, so don’t stress about the details. Focus on the essentials, like those camping must-have items listed above, and have a great time exploring the great outdoors with your equine companion!

Here is a list of places that I have camped at!

Want to talk about the experiences I have had there? Set up a free consultation!