Handmade Driving Harness by Robert H Steinke. Master Saddler - Harness Maker - Equestrian Author
Handmade Driving Harness by Robert H Steinke. Master Saddler - Harness Maker - Equestrian Author
Robert H Steinke - The Harness Makers Workshop
In my Workshop
This web site spotlights my work both from the past and also the present day. Regarding the work that I am now producing in my workshop it is available:
A/ Direct from myself if stock is available.
B/ Made to measure for special orders.
C/ Through my Etsy shop where most of my in-stock items are listed. The direct click through link to my Etsy shop is:
www.etsy.com/ie/shop/HarnessMakerWorkshop
My workshop is a bit like a Mini Museum with several items on display dating back to the early 1900's, indeed, many of the tools I regularly use are 100 years old.
Every item is cut and prepared by hand with all buckles and points of stress stitched by hand by myself. I DO NOT sell ready made bought in saddlery or harness.
My Horses
A good friend, Henry Blake, once said that he felt sorry for me as he reckoned that riders only get ONE really good horse in their life and that I had mine then, namely Duke. He was wrong about me, thank goodness, as I've had THREE.
DUKE. Bought out of Llanybydder Mart in Wales he carried me hunting for 18 seasons, then started to slow down. Answer? put him in harness and drive him at shows, brilliant!
Mr. TIBBS. (on the left here) Bought as a foal he rode, swam, pulled my1896 Beaufort Cart and showed in-hand in farm harness.
SOLERO. My golden girl, came to me when she was ?? & got me into the Riding Club show jumping & dressage team. The spitting image of Triger, Roy Rodgers cowboy horse in size & colour.
So I consider myself very fortunate to have had three great horses in my life, plus of course my two mini Shetlands, Rocky & Rambo.
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I served my apprenticeship & later appointed foreman at Keith Luxford, saddlers to H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II. My work is in the stables of Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace, King Hussein of Jordan & King Idris of Libya.
Over the years I have exhibited at various venues including;
London Design Centre, Equitana in Essen Germany, Royal Welsh Show, Royal Dublin Show, Marlborough House Buckingham Palace ("Bridlework" book launch), Irish Driving Champs at Birr Castle, B.D.S. Driving Show at Smith's Lawn Windsor.
For 10 years I had a private museum the "The Museum of the Master Saddler" beside our stables in Cavan. Having closed the museum, I now work and live in Co. Wexford, Rep. of Ireland.
I have also made saddlery & harness for Film Horse Masters, Stunt Riders, Police Forces, Re Enactment Groups & Rock Stars !!
**STOP PRESS** MY LATEST VIDEOS ON CARRIAGE COMMENTATOR & YouTube
As a regulator contributor to "The Carriage Commentator" my workshop videos are up online with this exciting new web site. Well worth a visit for all interested in carriages, harness, horses & all the latest news from the driving world.
RECENT VIDEOS ON MY YouTube CHANNEL "Rob Steinke"
*Tools on my Workbench
*Vintage Leatherwork
*Handmade Leather Belts
*Horsebrass Martingales
*Broken Trees in Saddles
*Ornate Bridles with Coloured Inlays
*Items Previously Exhibited in the Museum of the Master Saddler
* Welsh Cob Stallion Tack
*** With many more in the pipeline ***
My workshop not only contains my everyday tools and materials but also items from the past. Many of these date back to Victorian times and include farm harness fittings, pit pony bridle, child's side saddle and a model village scene depicting how important the horse was in pre petrol days.