During this period we had pleasure training several students who came from different states across the US and one student from France. Most of them shared our love for horses, horseback riding and leatherwork. All of them left as friends. Their reasons for taking these classes were varied-to start a small business, to add leather-working skills to an existing tack shop, to teach basic saddle repair to students, to make money doing something they loved, etc. Our student from Illinois may have had the most unique reason for learning leather-work. He is a wood sculptor and wants to make authentic props, in this case gun holsters, for his carving work. After taking the gun holster class, he decided that he would also like to bring in some income making and selling custom gun holsters. One Saddle Making School student liked the work so well that he returned for another class on making gun holsters. His enthusiasm caused his wife to come with him and take a class on making saddle bags. Another student returned to take the Saddle Making School course after taking a one-week class in general horse equipment repair.
We wish all these students well in their new endeavors. They all have access to help by phone or email with any leather work questions they might encounter.