A visit to Rachel Fail Custom Tack

A lot of model horse tack makers talk about transferring their skills to full scale equipment, but Rachel Fail is one of the only people who's actually done it.

She went from making beautiful, tiny saddles like this...

to just as impressive custom halters,

reins,

curb straps and beyond.

Since I have also harbored full scale ambitions, the first thing I requested when we arrived in Manteo was a studio  shop tour.

Located in the basement, Rachel's shop is a big, comfortable space filled with tack making tools and supplies.

The window behind her desk provides a good view of the horses. Rachel reports that this is nice but also highly distracting.

Parts of the shop feel very familiar. There's a computer desk with a dog curled up underneath,

a stash of specialty leather,

so much plastic storage, 

scraps that are just a little "too good" to throw away, 

a selection of leather paints...

and of course, a bunch of small hand tools.

There are, however, a few things you would never see in a miniaturist's studio. Rachel says this sewing machine will stitch right through your hand. I opted not to check the veracity of that claim.

There's also this clicker press.

It's used with these clicker dies, which were designed by Rachel and made to her specs.

This one is a noseband.

She places it on a piece of leather and loads it into the clicker press.

Click!

Here's the noseband after it comes out of the clicker press. It's a good clean cut, but there are still some raggedy edges.

These are cleaned up by hand.

Rachel makes it look really easy, but I can assure you, that's the result of lots and lots of practice.

Tada!

The next step would be to tool and paint the design. In a perfect world, I'd have watched Rachel do that, but this trip just wasn't long enough. 

That's okay. I know there will be a next time.

Thank you for showing me your shop, Rachel. I really enjoyed that!