Along with all the other suggestions, having tape or something on the bottom will stop your feed dogs from scarfing up the leather. If you don't put something under it the feed dogs will leave 'tracks' in the leather. A walking foot might do the same - so add something on the top also.
Another idea would be to use your sewing machine to just pierce the hide and then come back with an threaded awl and hand stitch it together.
Shari