Saddlers Rest Wondai

06/08/2026

🤠 Ever wanted to make your own leather belt?

There's something pretty special about wearing a belt that you made with your own hands.

This Sunday, Dave will guide you through every step of creating your very own handcrafted leather belt—from cutting and tooling to stitching and finishing.

No experience needed. Just come along, have some fun, learn a new skill and leave with a belt you'll be proud to wear for years.

⚠️ Only 2 places remain!

If you've been thinking about it, now's the time to book before they're gone.

📍 Saddlers Rest – Wondai 🏷️ All materials included. ☕ Coffee available while you work (or while your support crew relaxes!).

Send us a message or call the shop to secure your place.

Create it. Wear it. Be proud of it. 🤎

05/08/2026

🩷 A New Chapter Begins... 🐮And how YOU can help us bring it to life and be part of our story.

Some dreams take years to find their shape.

Four years ago, we opened our little saddlery in Wondai with one goal: to build the best saddles we possibly could as a draw people to Wondai.

Today, that dream is growing into something even bigger.

We're so excited to introduce the next chapter...
Saddlers Rest – Wondai
Home of DEX Saddles

A place where handcrafted leather, country hospitality, great coffee and community come together.

This isn't our shop... yet.

This is the dream we're working towards.
Over the coming months you'll see the shop slowly transform. There'll be plenty of hard work, plenty of sawdust, lots of coffee... and hopefully a few laughs along the way.

Like many small family businesses, we don't have a massive budget, so we're building it one step at a time.
And we'd love our community to be part of it.

🤎 Father's Day Special
Our handcrafted men's belts have stayed the same price for four years, and to celebrate Father's Day we're including a little extra.
🎁 Order and pay for a men's belt before Father's Day and we'll include a Saddlers Rest branded cattle ID tag at no extra cost.
A handcrafted gift Dad will treasure for years.

🪵 Become a Founding Member of Saddlers Rest
We're creating a permanent Founding Members Wall inside the shop.
For $50, you'll receive:
🤎 Your own personalised plaque displayed permanently in the shop. 🤎 A Saddlers Rest branded cattle ID tag. 🤎 One of our brand-new Saddlers Rest trucker caps when they arrive.

To claim a belt or plaque send us a message and we'll get it organised.

Only 100 Founding Member plaques will ever be available.
Years from now, when people walk into Saddlers Rest, your name will be part of the story.
Because you'll be one of the people who helped bring this dream to life.
Whether you've supported us by buying a saddle, a belt, sharing a post, grabbing a coffee or simply cheering us on...
Thank you.

Your support means more than you'll ever know.
Here's to the next chapter.
See you at Saddlers Rest. 🤎☕🐮
— Dave & Tania

Huge thanks to for the inspiration

04/08/2026

"I don't think I'll ever retire, I think I'll die next to my bench"

Yep and leave me to sort out the rest 😔💩😂😜

Thanks to for suggesting do an article of Dave in the latest in .mag.

I got mention..... I "help" in the shop and mustering 😂😕

Seriously though, very thankful for any exposure.

02/08/2026

I started as a cow, then became a hide 🐄🐮😉

In Dave's hands, I was carefully cut, stitched, shaped and brought to life. Every curve, every stitch and every detail was crafted with one purpose... to become someone's trusted partner.

Today, I leave the shed.

Dressed in elegant pink stitching, with my matching bridle and breastplate by my side, I'm finally ready to meet my very excited person.

Together, we'll share early morning rides, trail rides with friends, maybe a comp or two and some ribbons, laughter and memories that neither of us will ever forget.

I'll mould to my horse and rider, becoming more comfortable with every ride. If I'm cared for, I'll still be telling our story for generations to come.

Leaving the workshop is never the end...

It's where the real adventure begins.

🩷 Safe travels, beautiful pink Florence. We can't wait to see where your journey takes you.

01/08/2026

When Dave explains leatherwork... 🤨

Me: "Yep, got it."

Also me: doesn't got it.

Case in point... I made the cardboard pattern for this bridle so we could have a clicker press knife made.

Only AFTER I'd finished did Dave casually mention...

"You were supposed to double the cardboard so both sides stay perfectly even."

Oh. That would've been useful information... about 20 minutes ago. 🤦‍♀️😂

The difference between someone who's been making saddles for decades and someone who's still learning is that the expert forgets all the little things that have become second nature.

So if you've ever watched someone do something and thought, "That looks easy!"... trust me, there's a whole lot they didn't realise they forgot to tell you.

Anyone else married to an expert? 😂👇 In some areas 🙄

31/07/2026

Happy Birthday to all the horses out there! 🐴🎉🎂

Life wouldn't be the same without my three mares. They fill my heart... even if they do empty my wallet! 🤣❤️

To celebrate, we're treating all the horse lovers too!

🎉 20% OFF selected Western bridles
🎉 10% OFF leather split reins & rope halters
🎁 Spend over $100 and receive a FREE personalised leather keychain.

Whether your horse deserves a birthday present (or you're just looking for an excuse to spoil them 😉), now's the perfect time to grab some quality gear.

📍Saddlers Rest – Wondai
Sale available for a limited time. Pop in or send us a message!

31/07/2026

🤠 Our workshops are back! 🤠

After a busy year on the saddle bench, we're excited to announce that our leather workshops are returning to Saddlers Rest – Home of the DEX Saddle.

Join master saddler Dave Earle for a hands-on day of traditional leathercraft as you make your own premium leather belt from start to finish.

Whether you've always wanted to try leatherwork or you're simply looking for a unique day out, this workshop is designed for beginners and anyone who enjoys creating something with their own hands.

📅 Sunday 9 August 2026
🕙 10am–3pm
📍 Saddlers Rest
73 Haly Street, Wondai
Your ticket includes:
✔ All leather, hardware and materials
✔ Expert tuition from Dave Earle
✔ Light refreshments
✔ Your own handcrafted leather belt to take home.

💰 $225 per person
✨ Only 6 places available to ensure everyone receives plenty of one-on-one guidance.

If you've ever wanted to experience traditional leathercraft, this is your chance.

🎟️ Tickets available on our website.

Tag someone who'd love to spend a day making something they'll wear for years to come. 🤎

30/07/2026

"Why Dave stopped buying me flowers (and what he gives me instead) 🛠️"

For 20 years, I’ve been the neck that turns the head. I was the vision, the strategy, and the one 'poking the bear'

But five months ago, necessity moved me from the my business to the stitching horse.

Going from 'The Brains' to 'The Apprentice' has been the most humbling journey of my life. It’s friction, it’s sore hands, and it’s a whole lot of Dave telling me I’m holding the tools like a pen.

But working on this one vision—together, at the same bench—is how we’re building a legacy that lasts.

Who do you think is winning the 'Bear Poking' battle? 👇

barryking

LeatherWork SmallBusinessAustralia LegacyBuilding Wondai

28/07/2026

Never work with kids and animals 🤣

My daughter came to help me get some photos of our bridles on our very unimpressed models.

Epona absolutely refused to be on camera. 🙄

Luna (grey) agreed to exactly two photos. Her modelling fees were outrageous — she demanded TWO molasses balls for her part in this charade! 😂

She is looking pretty good in our Standard Western Bridle: 🤎 Natural – $220
🤎 Dark Brown – $260

Daisy (bay) tolerated 😣 the remainder of the bridles. Given she hasn't been ridden in four years, she deserves the full container of molasses balls for her efforts! 😁
(No, we didn't give her the whole container… although she clearly thought she deserved it!)

✨ One Ear Bridles – varying designs – $130
✨ Show Bridle – Light Natural – $260

All bridles fit Full to Cob.

We've also got a variety of bits and reins to compliment your new bridle.

👀 See one that catches your eye? Claim it in the comments!

Saddlery

27/07/2026