So, this all started when earlier today when I was cleaning my mom's western saddle. I was cleaning it, and I thought to myself, "I'd like to make saddles." 

I've had this thought before when I saddle up a horse or cleaned tack in the past but it was always just a passing thought. Today, it was obviously more than that. I really want to learn to make saddles (and all tack, really). Not so much as a profession (although, I would welcome it if my service was popular enough) but maybe more like an "expensive hobby". 

I looked up some saddle making schools or classes and I've found a few. There's actually one about 3 hours from where I live. However, it's not exactly my first pick. The other ones I've found are in Kentucky (my first pick) and British Columbia, Canada. All of these schoolings have pretty inflexible crash courses for saddle making and aren't cheap.

The one closest to where I live is 10 weeks long, Monday-Friday 9-5, and $14,000 (with 1-4 students). The one in Kentucky splits it up between a beginner 4 week course and then after, an advanced 4 week course. The beginner course is $4,800 and the advanced is $5,000 (total for me $9,800 and 8 weeks) and also these are Monday-Friday but for as long as the instructor and I want to work (this is a one-on-one course). I like the instructor in Kentucky better, but if I do this I may have to stay in California.

As I've said, I would really like to learn this. Saddle making is an advanced form of leather working and I can learn to become a craftsman in this trade (which, by the way, is a dwindling art--craftsmanship that is). However, I don't have enough money for either course, and I would have to stop working while I'm learning this. I own my own janitorial service, so in order to do this, I would have to leave my clients for 10 weeks and then rebuild my clientele when I return (which could be tricky).

Pretty much what I'm saying is: I need to find a way to get $14,000, I will have to move from home for 10 weeks, find some sort of income to support me for that 10 weeks, and lose my current clients/job/income. When I come back, I won't have any clients (income), but I will have 2 hand-made saddles worth $3,000 each that I may be able to sell, and a knowledge of how to make custom western saddles.

I've thought about looking for a custom saddle maker in the area and asking if he/she will teach me, or if he/she knows where I can go to learn. So maybe that'll help? Also, I am going to contact the school and ask if they know of any Federal grants or scholarships that might help with the tuition. What do you guys think? Should I even continue searching to see if there's any way I can do this? 

My logical brain is telling me, this isn't worth it. I don't have the money and I definitely don't have the time. But my heart is really wanting to learn this. There's no college course, book, or DVD that can teach me how to do this. As I said, this is a craftsman skill which can really only be taught by an apprenticeship. It could definitely be my mother's spirit coming to me and making me want this...so I'm also hoping it's not a flash-in-the-pan desire.

That would be awesome! :). Sounds like it would be pretty pricey, though! But I'm sure if it's something you really want to do then it would be worth the cost.

If you have doubts, then just take some time to think about it! And I think your idea of finding a custom saddle-maker in the area is a very good idea since you could also ask them questions about it to learn how feasible and economical it actually is.

That sounds like a really awesome thing to go do and learn!
I agree with Sam, take your time, think things over and over, and do more research!
How cool would that be though, to make your own saddle and to be able to sell it or ride in it for yourself! xD

To BV: I know! I'm very excited about this.

Thanks for the support you guys. I told my family and they are also supportive of this. They thought looking into custom saddle makers in the area was a better idea than going to the school (first at least). 

I feel like riders really value custom saddles when they decide to get one, especially if it's because they have a finicky horse.