I don’t need anything major - some stitching replacement of the panel to flap, check and adjust or replace wool flocking and repair one stirrup leather keeper that’s loose. This is a Barnsby close contact saddle from the 1970’s, not a newer 21st century model.
Just have no idea where to take it in the Nashville, Franklin or Murfreesboro area. Thanks in advance.
There used to be a tack shop up at the Muddy Pond Amish community. The guy up there was amazing! It is in the Cookville area. I’ll see if I can get you the contact information if you want it?
That would be great @TXPiaffe - if there ends up being no one closer, that’s not too bad of a drive from where I am.
If you can’t find a local tack-repair person, I’ve had great luck using a good cobbler. Probably not for the flocking, but they can all restitch, match and replace straps, and blend new leather seamlessly with the old stuff. I have all my bridles and halters repaired in a tiny shoe-repair shop in a strip mall in my town, and they’ve also done some minor saddle work for me once.
@chestnutmarebeware yes, I did consider that, but since I want the flocking checked (it definitely needs replacing in the shoulder panels under the flap), and since its the stitching of that same panel to the flap that needs replacing, a saddler or saddle repair place is needed.
But you’re right, if it weren’t for the flocking, I’d just call the place in Nashville were I always had my shoes fixed (assuming its still there). That’s part of the problem - so many family owned, independent tack/feed/horse places are gone now due in part to large retail stores, a “throw away” mentality and the internet. At least I have my found memories of Knouds of New York, The Saddler in Wilton, Connecticut, Dark Horse Saddlery in Franklin, etc. Or maybe I’m just old and too nostalgic! lol
I’ve not had them do any saddle work, but I’ve had bridles and reins and other leather works repaired at Bedford Tack in Shelbyville. You may want to call and ask them if they do repairs. They are not an “English” tack dealer, but they do a lot of leather work. Might be worth a shot.
Kate Wooten in Knoxville area comes to the middle TN area pretty regularly. She is the only person I ever found in the area to adjust flocking, etc. Here is her business FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/English-Sad…-211901218748/
For other leather work, the only place I know of consistently in existence is Bedford Tack. A lot of people also used to go to the shoe repair place in Green Hills, but I’m not even sure they are still open with all the growth in the area. And I definitely wouldn’t trust them with flocking or anything.
Unless Bedford Tack has changed a lot, I’m not a fan. But, I haven’t been there in probably ten years. So, they may be the best thing since sliced bread. However, I have had good luck with National Bridle Shop in Shelbyville. Yes, it’s a gaited horse shop. But, back when I made beaded browbands, they provided me with the blanks and were wonderful to work with. They do saddle-fitting, so perhaps saddle repair??
I second contacting Kate Wooten. She has someone she can subcontract out the stitching repairs to after she does the flocking adjustment too. She did a wonderful job on an old late 70s monoflap for me at a great price!
Too funny - that’s exactly what I was thinking about! Model Shoe Rebuilders. I googled it. Still there on Bandywood. However, the people I used to deal with 20+ years ago may have retired, as it just has a 3.2 star review rating. Which does not install confidence.
I will reach out to Kate Wooten. Thanks for that suggestion @Texarkana and @GutsNGlory. That sounds like the best solution.
And Bedford Tack still hasn’t gotten back to me.
I never thought they were the “best thing since sliced bread.” But… they seem to be the only gig in business consistently who does leather repair! A lot of the other folks closer to Nashville seem to come and go.
Totally forgot about National Bridle Shop… I never actually used them!
Kate Wooten’s web site is no longer available and her FB page hasn’t had any posts since like Dec of 2016. I tried emailing her and it came back undeliverable. But I did send her a FB message too. If I can get a signal later, I’ll also try calling. We have storms coming in and my cell is nearly useless because the signal is constantly dropping.
In the mean time, I may contact National Bridle Shop as well. Thanks for that suggestion.
I think Muddy Pond is closer to Clark Range, maybe 1/2 hour +- from Jamestown.
Bedford Tack did get back to me, but they want to actually want to “see” the saddle first in order to tell me if they can work on it.
I’ve also heard back from Kate Wooten, so I’m hoping that woks out, as I’d rather have to drive all the way to her than use Bedford Tack.
Really appreciate all the suggestions, as I was clueless as to how to get this taken care of.
I’m glad to hear you have some options.
Right around the time I moved to Nashville in 2006, I remember asking folks where I could get a leather halter repaired. Despite having a long established horse community in the area, everyone looked at me like I had two heads asking such a thing! People would say, “well I guess you could take it to the shoe repair place in Green Hills… I know someone who did that…” :lol:
It still blows my mind how there are so many horses in the area yet so few basic services, like tack repair. And how driving all the way down to Shelbyville or to another time zone in Knoxville becomes “no big deal” in order to get things done.
I had a bad experience with Bedford Tack. It was a simple repair 5 minute that they screwed up. They had the saddle for 4 weeks. When I called to see about picking it up, they said it was ready, yet when I got there the saddle was not ready. I had to take it to someone else to repair what Bedford Tack had done.
LOL @Texarkana . Well, way back in the day, like WAY back (1970’s - to maybe mid-1990’s), we did have several English, Hunter/Jumper “full service” tack shops in Memphis or Nashville or Franklin area that did have a number of services, or could hook you up with a repair person or whatever you needed. But all we have now is Dover…
Thanks for the heads-up on Bedford Tack. Like I said, I didn’t need much persuasion not to go there. Blue Ribbon, also in Shelbyville, has never gotten back to me.
Kate Wooten suggested a lady in Connecticut - Patty Barnett at East Crow Saddlery. She might be super, but I’m really not looking to ship my saddle cross country. I guess I thought maybe Kate fixed them herself or knew someone local who did… but it may simply be the age of my saddle and maybe only local people work on the fancy, newer adjustable saddles or saddles made in this century. I dunno.
I’m going to Florida in November, and am going to swing by Tenney’s to be fitted for custom chaps. Tenney’s Saddlery does have repairs - so maybe I just take the saddle with me?
Edited to say - not sure why I said Blue Ribbon above. LOL I meant National Bridle.
I do know of a guy in the Lebanon area, who did very nice work on my Western saddle that Bedford Tack screwed up. I don’t know if he works on English tack, but would assume he could. I do know he builds Western saddles from the ground up.
Let me know if you would like his information and I will pm it to you.
I’ve always had excellent experiences with Bedford Tack, but you have to be VERY, VERY SPECIFIC and clear about what you want done. Remember, they’re Walking Horse guys, mostly, so they don’t have a lot of experience with other tack. But they’ve always been great for me.
You could take a drive down to Lawrenceburg to the Amish community for the basic leather repairs, if you’d prefer. They’re certainly closer than Muddy Pond. They made me several pairs of stirrup leathers once, in a custom size, for ridiculously cheap. Like with Bedford, you’ll have to show them exactly what you want done, but they’re quite capable.
For the flocking, though, you’ll need to work with a saddle fitter. I’m surprised Kate can’t do that for you. Taking the saddle to FL might be the easiest option on that front.
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