Interview * Richard + Lucy * Barrack Saddles

Wow! If the view didn’t bowl me over then this amazingly talented couple sure did! Richard + Lucy Barrack don’t do things by halves – and thank goodness! As a result of following their dreams and their belief in the integrity and quality inherent in timeless handmade leather-crafted goods, Richard + Lucy left a corporate city life behind to become Saddlers. Rather than just settle on buying off-the-shelf saddles that are often uncomfortable for the horse and the rider – they hooked their Goosneck horse-float to their F250 and headed to a saddle-making school in Queensland where they learnt how to make bespoke saddles from an old master. Voila! Barrack Saddles was born. Impressively, neither Richard nor Lucy had done anything like it before but they certainly discovered hidden talents! Barrack Saddles are a unique cross between Western and Australian Stock saddle designs. The horse’s comfort and rider’s fit are paramount. The dynamic duo also break in horses for their clients and have found home in the rolling hills of Metcalfe where they live with their beautiful rescue Kelpies ‘Belle’ and ‘Venus’. Enjoy! {d} x

Your background is corporate business and urban living. Tell us a little bit about the path that led you to where you are now?

Despite having both grown up in Melbourne, we shared an enthusiasm for the outdoors (having even first met at a campground in the Grampians in our early adulthood!). We found ourselves camping and traveling out of the city most weekends. At the same time, Lucy, determined to become a capable horse rider, was pursuing weekly riding lessons and planning to buy a horse. Most of our thoughts for the future included rural based ideas rather than urban. So, the logical answer was to at least look for a weekender property within no more than a few hours from Melbourne and make our constant weekend travels to the country to one place. As we looked for land with or without a house, the idea grew in our minds that we could live permanently out of Melbourne, and on finding our vacant 70 acres with fabulous views and within 1 ½ hours of the city, we settled on the idea of building a house and moving to the country! We told ourselves we can always get an apartment as well or sell up if we can’t cope. We never looked back even for a second and can’t imagine an urban life for us at all!

We continued to travel to Melbourne for work for some years, which probably made the transition to rural living easier because we had a daily link to our “old” haunts and came home to such a wonderful “new” place each day. However, we did always crave more time at home and to be with our beloved horses and Kelpie.

In late 2007, a little idea started to keep being mentioned between us “what if we just packed up some of our horses and went on the road around Australia for a few months?” What an amazing trip that would be! As the plans formed, a few months became a year, which once on the road, become two years, and traveling Australia became as much about working in the rural industry, seeing the real Australia, than the tourist sights.

We will forever be grateful to the farms and stations that gave two rookie station-hands & their three mares work and the countless people who shared their stories with us and supported us along the way.

Tell us about ‘Barrack Saddles’. How did your amazing artisan saddlery studio come about?

While traveling, we had become quite particular about what we wanted in a saddle (13 hour days in the saddle will do that to you!). Lucy became focused on getting a new Wade roping saddle, and after much discussion about where to attain one, we came across a saddle-making school in Queensland and decided to both book in before heading home to Victoria. We made a saddle each (a Wade Saddle and a Halfbreed Stock Saddle) and enjoyed the leather-work and the whole experience more than we could have imagined.

On returning to Victoria, and unsure of our direction next, we bought the basic tools and made another saddle each. Some (very trusting) friends ordered saddles from us too! Quite early on, we felt this business would be a match for us, and in the first year or so we tried to run it while working elsewhere as well. However, we genuinely believed the best way to continue to grow as a business and importantly continue to hone your skills is to dedicate yourself to what it is you want to achieve. So, we took the plunge and work virtually full time making saddles, and working with horses.

Neither of you had made stuff before let alone craft a professional leather saddle from scratch! What qualities do you possess that allows such amazing craftspersonship?

We always try our very best and aim to self-assess constantly. We are humbled by some of the craftspeople we’ve met throughout this journey to date, and we have always aimed to be (and want to remain) approachable to those that have such great experience working in this trade. We always try to accept feedback graciously and soak up more knowledge. You learn a great deal by being open to advice. We endeavour to make every saddle or item we produce better than the previous one.

Richard has a particular talent for practicality and a feel for what will be the best solution. Lucy has always had an attention to detail (which rather than just frustrating Richard with her constant pondering over everyday things, now has a topic to centre around!).

Many of us dream of setting up a small business in the country and waving goodbye to the commute. What have you learnt along the way? What advice might you give?

Choose a business that reflects you and your values – this makes all those commitments along the way a lot easier! Also be realistic about your motivations. We are not likely to ever be financially wealthy through Barrack Saddles, as we want to keep our business personal and always be the actual saddle makers! Our decisions reflect this business model and we have a lifestyle where we work together in an industry we are passionate about – so its’ easy to want to work hard at it for yourself and your customers, and we guess this offers us wealth in another way.

Your superbly detailed and finished hand crafted saddles are tailored to fit the horse and the rider. Tell us a little of the philosophies/ethics that are important to you/Barrack Saddles?

We both feel very passionate about not only the practical use of a saddle (good fit on a horse and for the rider) but all the little things that improve a saddle and make it functional, durable, and beautiful looking. A saddle should interfere with a horse’s movement as little as possible and provide good weight distribution across their back, allowing them to have good posture and move underneath the saddle comfortably. If you imagine a rucksack for a person going hiking, it helps distribute the weight on their back and allows them to better power up those steep hills! Our saddles are made to be versatile and fit more than one horse (with possible small changes to saddle pads), and should be the right size and shape for the rider.

You seem to have followed your dream at each crossroad you came to. Do you have any advice for others about how to overcome fears/procrastination?

We are certainly not saying the decisions we have made were easy … we’ll never forget driving out our gate on our trip and feeling the excitement very clearly mingled with trepidation. However, once you’ve said an idea out aloud and recognise a way you “could” do it, then as Richard loves to quote Yoda from Star Wars …”there is no try only do!” Just keep busy with the preparations, so there’s no time to worry!

Barrack Saddles is renowned for making quality bespoke saddles and many of The Countryphiles’ readers move to the country to be able to own a horse or two. Are there some key pointers you can give people looking to buy their first saddle?

We understand that a saddle is an expensive purchase and it can be overwhelming deciding on one, but take your time and learn a little before just getting something quickly so you can get on and ride. A saddle that’s right for you and your horse will aid your riding, rather than hinder it. Remember a good leather saddle will outlast your current horse and probably a few after that!

Do your research – keep your eye out for saddle tips in publications and saddle talks (we do several per year at various horse events). Ask as many horsey people as you can about their saddle preferences, and try and ride in a few as well. Like many saddle makers, we are always happy to answer queries and enquiries so don’t be afraid to e-mail or call! We usually have demonstration saddles available for people to ride in, which is another good way to ensure a saddle is a match for you. The majority of our business is word-of-mouth, so asking around is a great place to start.

What does a typical day in the life of the ‘Richard + Lucy of Barrack Saddles’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

We’re not sure any day is “typical”! After being woken up by our Kelpies stretching and yawning loudly in the living room (they are early risers!), we’ll check the chooks and maybe put some washing on (exciting). We usually get going with some horse work first thing – starting young horses under saddle, maybe the odd horse riding lesson, trimming and shoeing horses or when time permits riding a few of our own! Some weeks it’s straight to the saddle workshop for the whole day. By mid to late morning we like to be in the saddle workshop planning the day and getting a few things done before lunch time, or sometimes a trip to town (Kyneton!) for errands.
Lunch together down at the house breaks the day and usually gives us some time to do material orders, e-mails, or chat about upcoming events or saddles and horses we are pondering.
Afternoons are mostly for saddle making! We both work in the workshop on different parts of a saddle or making two at once. At the end of a day of cutting, molding, sewing, stamping, designing etc we usually have some horses to feed, wood to collect, or at least an eager kelpie waiting for a little game of ball or Frisbee.
A dinner at home is generally our style (yes Richard is most often the amazing cook!) and it is sometimes on the couch watching some TV or reading horse and saddle related books and magazines.

Do you consider yourselves to be ‘Countryphiles’? Do you love country life? Why?

We do love country life – we adore our district and have been really enjoying the opportunity to work and be involved the local community more since starting Barrack Saddles. Not quite locals yet – but enjoying the country life regardless! We relished the opportunity to be a part of the very different outback Australian country life on our travels. Even covered in sweat and dust and exhausted after a long day mustering cattle, the pride in your horse and the beauty of the remoteness is romantic in a way!

What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?

We enjoy working together, and each day sharing the simple aim of creating a traditional product that someone will get pleasure from. Sure we have our moments, but we genuinely love being a team (for the record, we both approved this comment :)

What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life?

Finding a car-park in Kyneton on the weekends, or really most days (we drive a Ford F250 Ute!)

Do you prefer Coffee or Tea? Your favourite country café and why?

We both have one coffee in the morning and then tea after that!

What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?

We had a lovely birthday lunch at “Small Holdings” in Malmsbury not long ago, and we (a little too) frequently buy lunch at Piper Street Bakery ‘Kyneton Bakehouse’ when we are running errands in Kyneton!

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

One of 3 places – at home riding horses, driving some of the way to Melbourne to pick up our niece, Laura, who loves coming to stay & ride with us, or at a horse event sponsoring and displaying saddles!

Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?

Definitely, if they enjoy what it has to offer. Our story shows how one decision to move to the Country can alter the journey of your life…

What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of making a TREE CHANGE?

Well, based on our track record – just move! Seriously, spend some time in different areas, talk to the locals, drive around and get a feel for different areas & no doubt you’ll feel comfortable when a place is a match for you! Working in outback Australia gave us more of an insight into the real district than we ever would have gained just traveling through.

What can we expect NEXT from you/Barrack Saddles in the future?

For the next year or so, we want to consolidate our little business that has done so well over the past couple of years, and continue to grow a trusted brand name in Western and Halfbreed saddles. We will always grow our skills – make every saddle better than the previous one!

What are you looking FORWARD to and why?

Ever since he read about the top few saddle makers in the U.S.A, Richard is always hoping we’ll one day have a 4 year waiting list from order to delivery of a saddle, just like them (our customers do not hope for the same thing!)

What would be your dream project?

Having the opportunity to work alongside the mentors involved in the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association in the United States of America. This Association offers scholarships and works to preserve and promote the traditions of the Californios (American Stockman!). To provide one of the prize saddles for “the Californios” competition would be amazing. Involvement with the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association would be a great opportunity to continue exploring the relationship between artistry, functionality and quality in saddle making.

Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?

Perhaps sad – perhaps wonderful, but we don’t really miss city life at all! Mind you, we have a good coffee machine at home!
Richard + Lucy
Barrack Saddles
0427 778 555