Charon and Tom Caldwell are saddle makers in Toccoa, Georgia. Eric Gorges visits with them to find out how saddles are made and how they both started Caldwell Saddles.
✯CHAPTERS✯
00:00 The Saddle Maker
01:00 History of Saddles
02:00 Caldwell Saddle
03:40 Charon Caldwell
07:25 How to fit a saddle to a horse
14:06 Leather tooling
18:38 Skiving leather
20:46 Hand stitching leather
22:13 Pride in craftsmanship
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"A talent will only take you so far, then you'll hit a brick wall, that's where genius comes in" Wise words.
I liked that too!
Ah to have a custom made saddle. I've had some pretty good saddles over the past 65 years but never could afford one of those. The saddle is a really important part of the relationship between horse and rider. Thanks for producing this video.
This channel is very underrated
Hello from Eastern France, What absolutely fabulous artists !!! I am an individual and practice leather work as an amateur and, am also rider... I discover there works of art in saddlery. It is a real happiness to see Lovers of their work animals and humans for which they perform such works! THANK YOU for making us discover these Wonders !!!
The artistry is beautiful but, the Craftmanship is stellar!
Greetings from the UK. From my experience the master craftsmen and women in the USA really are some of the world’s very best in the products they produce, attention to detail and the great pride they take in making everything just how a customer wants it so a customer is happy. Man how I would love one of these saddles as the next saddle I purchase for myself.
Hello! You should reach out to them. I'm sure they can help.
Had a custom saddle made in the early 1990s. Have used it all these years on dozens of horses and it always performed perfectly. Can no longer ride, but still have my saddle.
👍Enjoyed your video! I had a spinal cord injury while working up in the Rockies, near Durango, CO, back in the 1970s. Unable to move my legs, while I was in the hospital in Englewood, CO (Denver area), I started tooling leather during the months that I was laid up. It was then, that I decided to make saddles. Due to the paralysis from the chest down, it was doubtful that I'd ever regain the use of my legs, however I "walked" out of the hospital on crutches, wearing a metal backbrace. In time, I could get around, with just a walking stick. I could also ride all day, once I pulled myself up into the saddle. A leatherwork bench was set up for me in the tackroom, that was located in the barn. I began doing tack repair, working on the pack outfit's dozens of riding saddles, the pack saddles for the mules and the pack equipment, using an old Landis Machine to stitch the heavy leather. I later attended school at OSU Okmulgee, OK, where I learned Western Boot Making and Saddlemaking while there. I still have the 1st saddle that I made, back in the 1970s, on a A-fork, shovel-cantle tree, from Standard Saddle Tree Company, out of Vernal, UT. I put many a mile on that saddle, when (despite my broken back, 2 fractured vertebrae + spinalcord injury) I was a packer / Licensed Guide + Outfitter in the high country of the 780 square mile Weminuche Wilderness Wilderness area, located in the San Juan Mountains in the Colorado Rockies. After graduation, from OSU and returning to Colorado, I worked as a saddlemaker at Colorado Saddlery, up in the original saddle shop on the 2nd floor of the building at the corner of 15th and Wynkoop in Denver. When Bona Allen saddles were being made in Olney Illinois, I was a saddlemaker there, till they closed down, 20 some years ago. After the old Landis Stitcher, I later bought a Champion "hook + awl" stitching machine with the 10'' throat. I traded the Champion stitching Machine off, in the 1990s, when I bought bought my 9710 model Singer straight-needle harness Stitching machine. Colorado Saddlery had the Campbell-Randal, (hook +awl) stitching machines when I was a saddlemaker there. Bona Allen in Olney ,IL, had Durkopp Adler Stitching Machines, with "triple feed'. I'v collected a lot of "vintage" saddlemaking tools, since buying my 1st tools in the 1970s, Gomph, McMillen, Hackbarth, CS Osborne, a vintage German made headknife. some vintage Shefield Steel punches .
Wow! That is a wonderful and inspiring story. Thank you for sharing. Are you still making saddles / doing leather work? What stitcher was you favorite to use?
Now that is elegance with humble pride, what great workmanship. 👍
I have 5 Caldwells and had 4 made by Charon and Tom. I had to give up barrel racing for health reasons but still ride in them. My friend told me the other day that I could get top dollar for them, but I don't have any reason to part with them. They are THE best barrel saddle out there.
There is a lot more to saddle making than meets the eye. Incredible!
Those people don’t make saddles. They make art. Blew me away. Great channel. I binged 3 videos and subbed.
Awesome! Thank you!
Really cool. I had an antique H.P Cluck saddle from my Dad, I dreamed of restoration, but, ..I let it get away. Motor cycles also need Saddles that fit, and now you have the knowledge to apply to your craft. Way cool.
Nice hat, Eric! It's always a treat to see a new video get dropped. Take care, Bill
Like the "Old Man" said, "There are craftsman and then there are artists".A craftsman can do beautiful work but it's the artist that dreams up what the craftsman makes. Few are both!
Tom seems like a really nice, humble person. Great video
We agree!
Just started watching. Looking forward to watching the rest
What lovely people!
The amount of craftsmanship and old world skill in TX is in itself amazing 👏
It really is. All over really. Thanks
Being home sick I finally found something worth while to watch! Fantastic show.
Thank you! I hope you are better!
Imagine the motorcycle seats they could make. Their work is phenomenal. Love your show, makes you appreciate things a whole lot more when you know where they came from.
That would be a killer motorcycle seat! Thank you for the kind words!
@@CraftsmansLegacy you're well deserving of the compliments. You do a great job and I really enjoy your content.
That was great had no idea how involved in making one thats craftsmanship thank you for the knowledge. All the best to you & yours
What a wonderful experience, and a wonderful tour by an exceptional lady.
Thanks Eric for spotlighting the artist and craftsmen. I enjoy watching these episodes over and over because I always hear or see something I had missed the first several times. I Would love to visit and spend the day with them all to watch and be in Awe.
This is such an inspiring video. I could listen to Mrs. Caldwell talk for days.
Certainly one of the most beautiful video i`ve ever seen!!!!, their hands are magic!!!!!
What an amazing woman, family and business…….true artistry in a craftsman😎
I certainly hope you keep this show going! And thank you for the ones that you have made !!! Thank you !!!
We will!
I would love to apprentice with her and learn the art of saddle-making.
I love horses - real and steel. I wish they made a saddle for my bike like they do for a horse! Very impressive all the hand work that goes into those saddles - as well as engineering the fit for the rider and the horse. My hands kinda hurt after watching this!!
You can just have the tree made with no stirrup leathers attached a good friend of mine rides a steel horse with a custom saddle "seat"
@14:33 - True words of wisdom!
Love this channel Eric ! Always a great episode ….
gracias y muchos exitos me comunico desde el Perú.
absolutely amazing quality on this show! so much time and effort in the production, interview and editing. the saddlemakers were so welcoming in this episode too. love seeing them get excited for their craft. thank you for sharing this with us here. c:
Glad you enjoyed it!
I learned something awesome
Amazing as always Buddy! Keep going!
Another great video. They seem like such great people, thanks for sharing
This video is incredible. Well done.
Awesome Craft. Awesome Work.
Another incredible video Uncle Eric, great stories to share, and got to love the craftmanship behind those saddles, such creativity and so well put together. keep up the awesome episodes! Love - Logan
I don't own a horse, but if I ever do, I know where I'm going to get a saddle! Made to fit the horse and made to fit the rider. Great video!
Another great episode!!Thanks soo much Eric👍😎 Always wished I could go horse back riding....those saddles r beautiful,the detail,time,they put into each one...Amazing!!
One of your best!
Eric, You've become a craftsman of the "story" with these videos. You may not get my comment from your side, but those that watch your channel will understand
Thank you! Very kind to say
Absolutely beautiful skills to make such a beautiful object. Watching you and your channel from Sheffield in the UK ❤️🇬🇧👍
Thank you so much 😊
I finally got a couple custom saddles, one out of Oregon and another out of Bishop California.. love em both
It my be an unusual thought but when I see this small family run company produce amazing products the initial feeling I get is appreciation but with sadness. In the sense that I fear we’re not far from losing these skill sets. The day a machine starts stamping out pieces of art like these the worlds going to be just a bit more dull. I appreciate your work Eric to keep it on the forefront of peoples mind.
Thank you! I totally understand what your saying.
You are interested and willing to let the topic shine! Great job, love it. Thanks
Thank you Rob.
This channel is absolutely great!
Wow, thank you!
Good ,thank you so much
Thank you too
Hola soy de costa rica me gusta mucho sus trabajos yo fabrico monturas pero no tan lindas como las suya pura vida,,
Neat
You could see she was emotionally attached to Billy Cook's Skiving Knife
Bendiciones Infinitas
It's only personal commitment
Traduccion al Español Gracias
Those were some really beautiful saddles. How many thousands do those cost?
I'm not sure. A good saddle is worth every penny.
I can imagine the breakfast conversations they have. "Im going riding" five minutes later..." Have you seen my saddle?", Lady says " You don't own a saddle , but if you want one I can make you one"
I wish that I was closer to my Uncle as a Kid. He used to TAC, Shoe Horse's & Mule's & make beautiful custom Saddles here South of Houston, Texas. He also bred & raised beautiful Quarter Horses. He had a huge Stallion & would sell his sperm to Ranches all over including the 6666 Ranch back in the day.
I wonder how much that saddle cost?
I’m not sure.
simalar to memory foam
hi. Altai Republic
I’ve been apprenticing at a saddle and tack shop for over two years. I’ve repaired countless saddles in those two years, and I won’t ever speak against the craftsmanship of real Billy Cook saddles, but every since he left Texas, the quality of his saddles have DRASTICALLY diminished. Those mass produced saddles never keep consistent quality. It’s a shame really.
This video is amazing but who let her just go to town with a hammer on that steel at the very end of the video!?!?!?! If she wants that to fit.... she needs to apply some heat to that!
free hat, free saddle, good thinking to get your stuff for free lol
Sure.