Living in horse country has its advantages (except when a passing car forces me to ride my bike through a fresh pile of horse manure in the road) as there are several saddle and bridle makers in the immediate area, one only a couple miles down the road. I have yet to need to frequent any of them although I have stopped in to verify what they can do so I can know what to ask for. But they have some of the finest quality leather out there, and even just walking into the shop the smells carry me off to great grand-mother's farm and tackhouse of my youth. Nothing like fine leather.