mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749 
|
Post by mistersmom on Nov 18, 2014 20:32:58 GMT
I just got off the phone with a local saddle repair man. He said it would be about $100 to get my western saddle re-fleeced. Does this sound about right to you? This guy is literally right up the road from me. Otherwise I think the nearest is about an hour away so I would need to start figuring gas costs too.
He sounds like a really nice older gentleman. When I asked about prices he told me if I was wanting synthetic fleece, it would cost about $100. When I asked about other options he said he could put real sheep's wool but it would be more like $165. When I asked the benefits over synthetic, he kind of chuckled and said "none really, just what some people have in their heads!". LOL. So synthetic it is.
If you think the price sounds about right, I will drop it off soon (he's working on a 3-4 week lead time).
Also planning on bringing the trailer into the shop to get the hitch repaired and everything a once over while Mister is still laid up! By spring, we should be good to go (literally and figuratively). :-) |
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Nov 19, 2014 0:58:34 GMT
If that price includes materials and his labor....run, don't walk to that mans business!!!
Think about what he is offering....
Removal of the old product, a sanding and prepping of the surface, cut and fit of the new fleece that he is supplying, gluing of the fleece and trimming all to make it pretty and not unravel....
I think it a very reasonable price....jmo! 
|
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Nov 19, 2014 1:23:09 GMT
Ask all of what hl4l has said. just to make sure he is not going to cut away and re glue a new cover. if he is than that sounds like a deal.
|
|
mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
|
Post by mistersmom on Nov 19, 2014 13:17:41 GMT
Thanks. I will talk to him some more when I drop off the saddle. I will get to see his shop when I go. I've never been in a saddle repair shop before so I'm excited about that (just think of all the saddles that will be there!)  |
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Post by hugs on Nov 30, 2014 3:01:54 GMT
Yikes, that's expensive, are other things more expensive down there than here? I got my western saddle refleeced for $75. Another reason to stay north.
|
|
mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
|
Post by mistersmom on Dec 1, 2014 13:33:36 GMT
I dropped the saddle off a week or so ago. Both his sewing machines broke at the same time so it will probably be after Christmas before I get it back, but not a problem since I'm still waiting on Mister's feet (we are getting close!).
He was a really neat older gentleman who has been around horses forever and had done just about everything with them. I got to hold a western saddle tree (I've never actually seen in person just a tree). He had tack everywhere!
He's going to give the saddle a once over while he has it apart. Even though he uses sewing machines, they are not electric, he cranks them by hand. I think he is going to do a good job and my grandmother is going to pay for it for my Christmas present!
I'll let you know how it looks when I get it back.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Dec 1, 2014 14:14:23 GMT
Hope you thought to take before pictures, of course you will have afters available!!
The once over will be great. Catching anything in early stages is safer, easier and usually less costly to repair...
By what you describe it sounds like the man is a real craftsman, very good with needle and thread, stitching some tough repairs much by hand...
There is a difference in machine stitching and hand work...
The place being packed with repairs pretty much tells me his work is top-notch and sought after for being done right and at the right price!
I know there are differences in the loft {thickness} of fleece as in quality of anything. I can see that myself in our own saddles...
Or are you having real sheepskin applied?
When I look at used saddles I flip them upside down...drives people nuts...
What you see on the underside tells much about the saddle, weak and strong points and how it fit the horse it was used on...
 ....
|
|
mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
|
Post by mistersmom on Dec 1, 2014 14:44:02 GMT
I forgot the before picture...opps!
He was telling me about all the blankets and whatnot he gets in this time of year from the different barns around, many of them are top-of-the-line training barns so he must do good work! Plus he is the only one around our area (that I know of anyway).
|
|
....