PrintBook Review: Restoring Vintage Western Saddles
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Restoring Vintage Western Saddles
Alain Eon
Self-published
As a boy growing up in France, Alain Eon was enthralled by the American West. At the age of 22 he decided to take a crack at becoming a cowboy and asked several Wyoming ranchers if he could work on their ranch. CM Ranch owner Leslie Shoemaker gave Eon a chance, and the Frenchman lived out his dream for six months.
During Eon’s stint as a CM Ranch cowboy, Shoemaker assigned him the responsibility of cleaning 50 saddles that were stored in the tack room. The entire experience at the ranch was an awakening for Eon, but it was his time intimately spent with the work of skilled artisans of the past that inspired him the most.
Eon has continued working with saddles since his experience in 1969. He moved back to France and in 1972 taught himself how to build his first saddle. Around 1980 he began collecting and restoring antique saddles, and he has used his skills to allow others to admire the craftsmanship of historic saddlemakers ever since. Now Eon hopes to share his methods and passion through his new book Restoring Vintage Western Saddles.
In the book, Eon describes every step and consideration of the saddle restoration process. Included are more than 300 photographs, which help guide readers through each step. Despite a less-than-perfect English translation, the directions are easy to follow. Readers do not have to know much about saddlery or leatherwork to use Eon’s method to turn a decrepit pile of leather into a beautiful, shining saddle that appears as if it came straight from the saddlemaker’s shop.
• Info: alain.eon.free.fr.
