1st Place $500, 2nd Place $250,
and 3rd Place $200
PURPOSE
This is a contest that was developed to encourage new and beginning students of the saddle-making arts. If entering, your saddle will only be compared with those created by others with similar times in the trade. Entrants will receive unbiased analysis, valuable insights for improvement in basic construction and finishing of working western saddles, written score sheets with candid critiques, and one-on-one Q&A with master saddlemaker judges.
JUDGING CRITERIA
100 Points Total
30 pts: Consistency of lines
15 pts: Overall appeal
15 pts: Seat
10 pts: Rigging
15 pts: Construction
10 pts: Finish
5 pts: Decoration (only 5% of total)
QUALIFICATIONS TO ENTER
Entrants may have been practicing leatherwork for any amount of time, novice, amateur, or professional, but may not have made saddles for longer than three (3) years prior to the show entered.
The saddle presented for the Preview must have been created within the past 24 months prior to the start of the Southwest Leather Workers Trade Show for that year’s competition. No saddles from previous ESPs may be repeat entries.
HOW TO ENTER
Go to www.leathercraftersjournal.com to download the registration form and complete details, or call 715-362-5393 (LC&SJ) to request a form to be sent to you by mail or email. Complete instructions are available on the registration form.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
All fully completed registrations must be received by 11:59 p.m., Friday, February 7, 2025, CST at the Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal. In accordance with rules for other competitions administered by the Journal, no late entries will be accepted to remain fair to other contestants. The Emerging Saddlemaker Preview is held annually at the Southwest Leatherworkers Trade Show in Prescott, Arizona, at the Prescott Hotel and Conference Center. Awards are presented on the Saturday of the trade show. Attendance is encouraged but not required.
AWARD
A $500 Cash Prize will be awarded to the maker with the most points and a $250 Cash Prize to the second-place maker. Saddles may be featured in the Journal.
DISPLAY TIME
Saddles shall remain on display for the duration of the trade show. The trade show dates and hours are Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m & Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sunday,
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
SHIPPING/DELIVERY
Shipped Saddles: All saddles entered into the Preview must arrive at Prescott Resort & Conference Center no earlier than Monday, February 17, 2025 (if shipping the saddle) and must be packaged in new packaging (to ensure return shipping in the same packaging is viable). LC&SJ staff will re-package and return-ship the saddle according to the instructions on the registration form. Valid payment for return shipping shall be designated on the registration form.
Hand-Delivered Saddles: Saddles may be checked in with LC&SJ staff at the Prescott Resort & Conference Center on Thursday, February 20, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. You are encouraged to provide your own saddle stand. Saddles must be picked up by the maker or a pre-designated person (see registration form). Pick-up is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 23. All saddles shall be picked up by 2 p.m. Sunday unless they are to be return-shipped (including packaging at drop-off).
