I've been asked for some more information about my saddle bag carrying plate. So here is a photo showing the screws that attach it to the cantle. I used four 35mm brass coach screws set in pre-drilled holes. The steel plate is painted with red oxide paint against rust, and is covered by a piece of old harness leather.
In fact this was rather a rough installation on a saddle that my former guide used at the old riding centre. I needed to equip a saddle for her, which meant some rather quick work in the forge. A job on my list is to attach the carrying plate more neatly. I'd like to set it slightly lower and re-drill the holes a bit more accurately. As usual running an equestrian business, many tasks were, basically, field repairs that tended to be functional rather than beautiful. Now I have a little more free time.
Still, this carrying plate lasted for a whole season without a single problem.
A plate like this makes a useful carrying handle too. It's a handy thing to grab and lift a saddle by.
interesting... i can't tell from the angle of the pic - does it make a flat surface parallel to the horse's back, or perpendicular, or something in between?
Posted by: jme | January 17, 2009 at 12:57 PM
JME, I had a lot of questions last time he posted it, and I'm pretty sure I remember that it's curved, following the arch of the horse's back.
WHP - is it leather covered?! How do you attach leather over something like steel? I can cut and stitch a functional bridle, but I don't know anything about shaping leather, unfortunately.
Posted by: funder | January 17, 2009 at 04:00 PM