Untacked

"I take it you've hand-stitched leather before, then?" she asks. As a girl who hated home economics and refused to learn to sew fabric because of her feminist principles, my answer is obviously going to be no. Getting There To finish, I use a piece of real bone to seal the edges and add an even greater level of shine. We walk back to my workbench so that Karen can show me how to crease the leather with a little tool that resembles a shovel. This creasing tool is set to a desirable width, and then we pull it down the leather strap from top to bottom to create a decorative crease along the edges. Next we draw a line with the wing divider near the inner crease. Then a No. 12 stitch marker is hammered into this line to create 12 stitching marks. I repeat Left: When it comes to tack style, the Howards are traditionalists—black and brown are their go-to stain colors. Right: "There's something special about seeing everything look so shiny and bright, isn't there?" says bespoke bridlemaker Karen Howard. "What you have at the end really bears no resemblance to what you started with. It's as if the hide comes alive again." Philip and Karen Howard's monthly bridle-making workshops at Lee Valley Saddlery in Galashiels, Scotland, run £400 (about $640) for a five-day course at any level, plus the cost of materials. You can learn more about the program, contact the Howards with questions, or book a workshop on their website, SaddleryTrainingScotland.com. Should you choose to stop off in London first, there are plenty of connecting flights up to Scotland with British Airways, Virgin and Easy Jet. But United Airlines flies direct from New York (Newark) to Edinburgh airport, and rental cars are an easy and convenient way to reach Galashiels. Bus services (about $20 round-trip) also run every halfhour from the Edinburgh bus station. You can get the X65 or X95, which will get you to Galashiels in 1½ hours. I stayed at Morven Guest House during my visit. The rooms are clean, simple and warm, and this accommodation is within walking distance of the Saddlery Training Scotland premises. Prices start at $45 for a single room with breakfast. Check out their website, AccommodationInGalashiels.co.uk, for further details. Taxis are also available and cost just under $8 for a one-way trip to the workshop. You can also liaise with Philip, who will collect you from your chosen B&B/Hotel in Galashiels for no extra cost. Interested in buying a bespoke, handmade bridle? Contact Karen at info@saddlerytrainingscotland. com. Basic custom bridles start at $270, plus international shipping. C H RO N O F H O R S E .CO M W INTER 2013 81

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