Is there such a thing? Just got a new saddle and I want to ID it, but is there a way to do it without putting holes in the cantle?
Small dog tag on the d ring?
You can microchip it if you want for security reasons. I know there are people who can mark leather with an imprint of your monogram. Anyone know where to find someone who can do that?
Does the saddle have a serial number? Wouldn’t that be enough for ID purposes in case of theft?
Or are you looking for a way so that people at the barn know its yours at a glance? If the latter, than a dog tag on the D-ring is a good idea.
I have seen people “brand” their saddles, but not sure what people think of that when they go to buy it used.
https://www.saddlenetwork.com/
This website was marketing pretty heavily a year or so ago for saddle “protection”.
If you just wanted your name on it so grooms would know/random people wouldn’t grab it, the tag on the D-ring isn’t a bad idea.
Or, this is an interesting idea http://moxieandoliver.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-do-you-write-on-leather.html. You could put your name on the inner flap.
There is also these ladies http://personallypreppy.com/pages/shop-products. Not sure if they have one for leather, but you could always reach out to them.
IME, the holes work out fine… because you just change to a new plate if needed.
I realize you may have other reasons for not wanting to do a cantle plate, but just throwing that out there. I was squeamish the first time but I’ve never been sorry to have a cantle plate over decades of owning saddles.
Yeah following this thread because for some reason nails refuse to stick in my saddle for more than a week or two.
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;7793938]
Yeah following this thread because for some reason nails refuse to stick in my saddle for more than a week or two.[/QUOTE]
Don’t they use small screws instead of nails? That would explain why yours fall out. My name plate was still on my old Stubben when I sold it more than 40 years after I bought it and it was still as good as new.
[QUOTE=carroal;7792847]
You can microchip it if you want for security reasons. I know there are people who can mark leather with an imprint of your monogram. Anyone know where to find someone who can do that?[/QUOTE]
You can buy custom leather stamps/brands online for pretty inexpensive, and just do all your leather goods.
Or you can get non-custom ones for cheap cheap…$3-10 range. Flowers, shapes, etc.
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;7793938]
Yeah following this thread because for some reason nails refuse to stick in my saddle for more than a week or two.[/QUOTE]
Does your saddle have a synthetic tree? There are many more of those out there these days than there used to be.
I do know that around 40 years ago, Keiffer was one of the few (if not the only) saddle manufacturers to use synthetic trees and it was NOT recommended to use nails to attach a nameplate.
If I really wanted a cantle plate on a saddle with a synthetic tree, I would use rubber cement - it’s a contact type of glue that does not usually stain and is easily removed (as is any excess you manage to get somewhere you don’t want it). But, it certainly would be good only for ID purposes and not for security as it is not as in any way permanent.
OK, I’ve decided I’m going to get a helmet monogram and heat/affix it to my cantle.
[QUOTE=Lusoluv;7794358]
OK, I’ve decided I’m going to get a helmet monogram and heat/affix it to my cantle.[/QUOTE]
Are you at all worried about the damage if you decide to remove it? I’d love to try this with a regular vinyl monogram but am afraid it would mess up my (sickeningly gorgeous) saddle.
[QUOTE=BAC;7793970]
Don’t they use small screws instead of nails? That would explain why yours fall out. My name plate was still on my old Stubben when I sold it more than 40 years after I bought it and it was still as good as new.[/QUOTE]
Might be a screw, honestly they keep falling off so I haven’t paid attention. It’s about a 5 year old used antares.
Wow, I didn’t know SmartPak had adhesive name plates. From the reviews (some not very good) it seems most people used them for trophies or wood picture frames, not leather. People are using the monogram I ordered for the top of their boots, etc. so I figure they’re not worried about damage. Could cover the monogram later with a brass name plate if need be, but once you nail one on that’s it…
[QUOTE=Lusoluv;7794632]
Wow, I didn’t know SmartPak had adhesive name plates. From the reviews (some not very good) it seems most people used them for trophies or wood picture frames, not leather. People are using the monogram I ordered for the top of their boots, etc. so I figure they’re not worried about damage. Could cover the monogram later with a brass name plate if need be, but once you nail one on that’s it…[/QUOTE]
No, I think it’s less that they’re not worried about damage, and more like they are not planning on taking it off.
I would really inquire with the manufacturer about whether or not the adhesive has been tested in terms of removing from leather…two little holes from a nameplate are much, much easier to ignore than a bunch of gummy, dirty adhesive from something removed.
If it’s a matter of the nails coming out, I’d probably suggest adding a tiny drop of glue (super glue, or 527 cement come to mind) right in the holes, then putting the nails back in. It would provide just a tiny bit of grip and I wouldn’t expect any glue to seep back to the plate if done carefully.
