Beautiful Custom Saddles Fit Riders Perfectly
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Lester Yoder takes pride in creating truly customized saddles that “fit like a glove”. At age 37, Yoder already has more than 20 years experience making custom saddles. He stays busy in his Hulett, Wyo., shop filling orders for 3 saddle companies and fitting in with custom-made saddles when he can.
Yoder spent a lot of time in a saddle growing up working on a Montana ranch that had as many as 3,000 calves to brand in the spring. So he knows what makes a good saddle beyond the shape of the seat and using quality Hermann Oak leather.
“Saddles have to start with a really good tree, which is quality wood covered with rawhide. It needs to fit the horse good,” he says. “Then you have a good saddle.”
He also measures the rider’s inseam to make the fenders, the leather barriers between the horse and the rider’s legs. And he finds out what customers do when riding a horse. Team ropers need smaller swells that provide the base for the saddle’s horn. Ranchers want special seats. Others want detailed tooling.
“Everybody has an idea of how they want it. One lady was an artist and had pictures she wanted in the leather. I entered it in a show and it won first place,” Yoder says.
Other than an industrial sewing machine for some pieces, most of the work is done by hand. A fully-tooled saddle can take 250 hrs. to complete. Yoder makes 50 to 60 saddles a year and currently has a 9-month waiting list. Prices start at $3,800.
Beyond his handcrafting skills, Yoder listens and pays attention to customers.
“I really stress that if they are going custom, they want to get all they’ve dreamed about in a saddle,” Yoder says. “And I try to give them that to make it their unique saddle.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lester Yoder, 437 Ewing Rd., Hulett, Wyo. 82720 (ph 307 467-5230).
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Beautiful Custom Saddles Fit Riders Perfectly LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Lester Yoder takes pride in creating truly customized saddles that “fit like a glove” At age 37 Yoder already has more than 20 years experience making custom saddles He stays busy in his Hulett Wyo shop filling orders for 3 saddle companies and fitting in with custom-made saddles when he can Yoder spent a lot of time in a saddle growing up working on a Montana ranch that had as many as 3 000 calves to brand in the spring So he knows what makes a good saddle beyond the shape of the seat and using quality Hermann Oak leather “Saddles have to start with a really good tree which is quality wood covered with rawhide It needs to fit the horse good ” he says “Then you have a good saddle ” He also measures the rider’s inseam to make the fenders the leather barriers between the horse and the rider’s legs And he finds out what customers do when riding a horse Team ropers need smaller swells that provide the base for the saddle’s horn Ranchers want special seats Others want detailed tooling “Everybody has an idea of how they want it One lady was an artist and had pictures she wanted in the leather I entered it in a show and it won first place ” Yoder says Other than an industrial sewing machine for some pieces most of the work is done by hand A fully-tooled saddle can take 250 hrs to complete Yoder makes 50 to 60 saddles a year and currently has a 9-month waiting list Prices start at $3 800 Beyond his handcrafting skills Yoder listens and pays attention to customers “I really stress that if they are going custom they want to get all they’ve dreamed about in a saddle ” Yoder says “And I try to give them that to make it their unique saddle ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Lester Yoder 437 Ewing Rd Hulett Wyo 82720 ph 307 467-5230
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