Hello, my name is Ted N. Estes!

I live in Ball Ground, Georgia, and I've lived in Georgia my entire life. I'm fortunate to have come from a home with a loving (yet stern!!!) Daddy and Mama who took me to the Baptist Church and taught me right from wrong. This is where I was saved by the grace of God. There are many things/laws in our country today that I do not believe in, nor tolerate, nor accept. I have way too many "convictions" to have "tolerance." And, having thoroughly studied the Constitution of the United States, and more especially the men who drafted it, I will tell ANYBODY that we, as a nation, are very much "off the mark!" I'm married to the best wife (and best looking!) ever, Joyce, (yes, she's a woman, and she took my last name- that's the way WE believe and STILL do things around here!!!). Together, we have two boys, Micah Thomas and Lucas Edward, who've brought so much love and compassion into our home it cannot be put into words. I currently teach middle school and make saddles for a living. I've ridden horses as far back as I can remember, literally. And, I've always had an appreciation for something other than a "production" saddle. It wasn't until about ten years ago, however, that I took apart (fully) a saddle marked "Oklahoma City Saddlery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma"- a heckuva saddle! Since that time, I've taken apart countless R.T. Fraziers, Hamleys, and N. Porters to meticulously study their construction from the groundseat up. I employ what I've learned from these countless, long hours of study and work into every saddle I make, or repair. I do not bow in shame when I state that I'm, for the most part, self-taught, because the experience I've gained has paid off. Mistakes? I've made many, but am at the point now that I'll place my saddles next to anyone's. No, I'm not a "full time" saddle maker like many boast, but hope to be soon! Let me assure you that my saddles do not appear, or ride, like a "part time" saddle maker constructed them. When I make a saddle, remember, I have "convictions," not "tolerance," and I feel it shows in my work. Judge for yourself. I make each saddle a little better than the last one. I do this by actually taking notes on a completed rig asking, "What can I do on the next saddle to make it better than this one?" I drive my wife crazy because I'M NEVER SATISFIED with my accomplishment. I desire to do better. Any saddler who does not employ this attitude has halted his/her own personal skills. In terms of my saddles, I believe the one thing that sets mine apart from many of the others is the ground seat. I devote a tremendous amount of time on this part of the construction. I will add here something that Steve Mecum and I discussed while I was with him in Wyoming. THE BEST, MOST COMFORTABLE TRAIL SADDLE IN THE WORLD IS THE SADDLE THAT'S BUILT TO COWBOY OFF OF- PERIOD.

~Ted N. Estes~

TRADITIONAL COWBOY ARTS ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT!

It’s been some time now any many saddles later after studying under Steve Mecum of Crowheart, Wyoming, (ironically, Steve is no longer with the TCAA by choice). First, I will state that my Traditional Cowboy Arts Association scholarship has been only a very small part of my overall saddle making experience, but an important one, nonetheless. I will firmly state here, however, that my absolute, hands-down BEST saddle making instructor has been a guy named EXPERIENCE. Concerning the scholarship program, many individuals (makers) scoff and state “How much can you learn in a week?” or “You can’t learn any of the finer points of saddle making in such a short time.” I’m reminded of this every time I’m running circles around people who walk at the local recreational park. Who’s getting a lot more benefit in a much shorter time, huh? It’s amazing how the tongue in somebody’s mouth can so accurately display the ignorance of their brain. As a martial arts instructor myself for years teaching Korean Hapkido, I witness students learning at many different paces. Some master the techniques, and become much more dangerous, much faster than others. TCAA scholarships are not for beginning saddle makers. This fact is verified on the TCAA website, (actually, there’s no such thing, if you think about it, as a “beginning saddle maker,” if you’re a beginner, you are NOT a saddle maker). I had to submit several photos of saddles I had previously made to prove I fit the bill as a scholarship candidate. The entire point of a TCAA scholarship is for a student, who’s made many saddles, and has definite, pinpointed questions about fine tuning the critical areas that separate custom saddle making from cheaper production saddles. I contacted Steve long before the visit to inform him of what I felt like I needed to see in order to improve on my weaker areas. Steve complied, and it worked out great. He’s a very good teacher and has one of the most admirable traits a human can have – modesty. Steve’s got plenty of room to be arrogant like so, so many other saddle makers (many of whom apparently spend more time blogging away meaningless hours on various “professional” online forums than they spend in the shop) out there today, but, that’s just not Steve. I honestly don’t know how many photos I took, notes that were written down, questions asked and answered, techniques that were watched, and so on. The true learning from my visit with Steve took place, and continues to do so, AFTER I returned to my shop and started “applying” what was learned in Crowheart. I doubt if Steve himself realizes that he’s taught me so, so much more since I got home than he did while I was there. In conclusion, what I learned about saddle making in one single week with Steve Mecum, has manifested itself into an ongoing learning process that continues to bloom and blossom. So, what could I possibly have learned in just one week with a guy like Steve? Heck, I don’t know, because the education and improvement is still going on.

Ted N. Estes
5055 Conns Creek Road
Ball Ground, Georgia 30107
(770) 893-1201
tedestes@estessaddlery.com www.estessaddlery.com