"The Ultimate Tackmaking Book"--Sue Sudekum "Everything about this book is remarkable"---Gail Fitch, author of Hartland Horsemen
Have you always wanted to make tack but didn't know where to start? Or have you started, but need a little extra inspiration? 
Take advantage of 19 years of experience! One of the great pioneers of the field shares her many tips and tricks in this long-awaited book. The Guide has 222 pages, over 80 photographs and over 50 pages of professionally-drawn diagrams. Color photos, laminated covers and easy-to-read text enhance this classic volume. There is something here for every tackmaker, no matter what their level of expertise!
The Guide is designed for those seeking to expand their knowledge of this most wonderful craft, the art of making model horse tack. Five of its 12 parts are aimed at the beginner; they cover the basics. The next four parts form a "bridge" between easy and advanced; they include Western Bridles, Braidwork, English Bridles and Saddles, and Breastcollar Harness---this last in 3 levels of detail! The last three parts of the Guide feature extensive instructions on making advanced pieces of tack: a Draft Show Harness and a treeless Western Saddle. The Guide is written for adults but assumes no prior experience in the field. Click here to see some pieces made by people using the Guide!
7 Halters including Stable, Light Breed Show, braided Arab Costume, Rope, and Western Show Halter. English Snaffle Bridle with laced reins. English Cutback Saddle. Western slit braid Bridle. Breastcollar Harness in 3 levels of detail (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced). Harness Collar. Braided Rawhide Bosal. Draft Show Harness, including Scotch Peak. Fully Carved Western Saddle (treeless).
"...remarkable: the fact that you're sharing...so well with well-organized text, excellent photos, and outstanding drawings. Then, there's the detailed table of contents, source list, and index, not to mention the best covers and binding I've seen on a self-published model horse book."---Gail Fitch
"The book is GREAT! You must have put a LOT of work into it... going through your book is the next best thing to getting together...with another tackmaker."---J. Kistler
"I got your book this AM and I have to tell you this is AWESOME X 10. I now know what everyone was going on about. They were right. Thanks so much."---K Wilkerson
"I am ever so grateful that you have taken the time to produce such a wonderfully illustrated book for those of us who are 'Still in the Dark Ages of tackmaking' (somewhat!)...What a great book!"---Angie Thomas
"All I can say is WOW!!! Love the drawings, love the color photos, love all the details! Thank you Susan for providing this book to the hobbyists."---C Mundee
"I just wanted to send my praises regarding your tack making book...It is honestly the first book I have ever read over and over. It has been a real inspiration... I really feel that it was largely in part to your book that my tack was so successful."---Melissa Hart
"The guide arrived safe and sound before the weekend. Thank you so much!! I spent all weekend pouring(sic) over the book and now am chomping at the bit! It's everything I was told it was!"---L Sharpe
"Just a quick note to say that my tack book arrived. I'm totally knocked out. The detail!! The illustrations!!! The invaluable insider information!!!!!! Thank you so much for offering this wonderful resource."---A Richardson
"I purchased 'Guide to Making Model Horse Tack' recently and just finished reading it from cover to cover. What a great book and exactly what I was looking for! ... Thanks for all the inspiration you've given me and all the hard work it must have been to create the book."---L Blake
A critical reivew of this book was published in The Hobby Horse News, Issue 63, April 1999.
HISTORY & REPRINTING: The Guide was first published in November, 1998. It is registered with the Copyright Office of the United States and can be found in the Library of Congress. Demand has been steady enough to justify all the printings listed below. Each printing is 150 copies. This record is truly amazing for a home-built, and I am deeply grateful. :) Future demand, and future technology, will determine whether further reprintings are justified.
Priced at $55.00 ($57.00 for PayPal customers) plus Postage and Handling of $10.50. This flat postage rate includes insurance and covers UPS Ground shipment to residences in the 48 States. If your address is a business your postage will only be $9.00. Please include your STREET address: UPS does not ship to P.O. Boxes. If you submit a P.O. Box address, I will use Priority Mail to ship your order, and this is not insured. Pennsylvania residents please add state sales tax of 6% (55.00 x .06 = 3.30).
Foreign order postage: we have had good luck with USPS Priority for International. Note however that this is not insured. UK, Germany, Europe and Scandinavia in general, Australia and NZ: $55 (PayPal $57) plus $15.00 Postage and Handling, US dollars only please. Canada & Mexico: $55 ($57 PayPal) plus $11.00 Postage and Handling.
YES, we take PayPal!!! My account is now a Premier. YOU know what that means, bless you: We Now Take Credit Cards!! PayPal customers, credit or not, please tack on an additional $2.00 to the $55.00; hence the $57.00 quoted above. My PayPal name is the same as my email address: sbytsii@prodigy.net. Click Here to go to PayPal. &nbs;We're an old-fashioned site and don't have fancy check-out carts yet... think of it as valuing hand-made effort!
To order via traditional methods, send check or Money Order (U S funds only) made out to Susan Bensema Young. Please Do Not make checks out to Timaru Star II. Mis-written checks will be returned. Mail to:
Susan Bensema Young
210 West Hamilton #104
State College PA 16801-5218
PLENTY of copies are currently in stock. Further printings will be made in response to demand.
Thank you for your order! Have fun making tack!
The reprintings are distinguished by their coil binding color. The Guide is NOT CHANGED between printings!! (except as information comes in to me about website changes; and these any link-follower can find out for themselves). NO so-called 'updates' are planned for the future---don't confuse me with Felicia Browell!! If and when I write another book, you will hear about it here.
1st printing: November 1998. Red
2nd printing: June 1999. Emerald Green
3rd printing: June 2001. Deep Blue
4th printing: September 2003. Clear
5th printing: April 2006. Gold
6th printing (projected): Purple
7th printing (projected): Silver