Ben Swanke crafted his first saddle at the tender age of 14. He found the work immensely satisfying and knew he was destined for no other profession. "Something inspired me," he said. Swanke grew up ...

CODY, Wyo. — With the stove pouring out heat and the dog asleep on the floor, Gordon Andrus pulls down his visor and runs a finger over the carved leather of his new saddle. Here in his well-equipped ...

Exhibits at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum are in galleries, hallways, outdoors, and even in barns. Inside the towering Horse and Cattle Barn on the southern edge of the 47-acre campus is ...

HOOKERTON — Experienced horse enthusiasts probably know this better than anyone: The graceful pas de deux between steed and rider is not really a two-mammal show at all. It’s actually a ...

BILLINGS — When you run your hands across one of Chas Weldon's custom-made saddles, you're handling a practical, functional work of art that's meant to be used, not propped up in an art gallery or ...

LOVELAND Rusty May has had two loves in his life.Ive got a lifetime love affair with horses … and my bride, he said.May cant remember the first time he rode a horse. Hes a native of New Mexico, and ...

It takes thousands of taps from a small wooden hammer onto cowhide to make a fancy saddle, and Talabartería Rancho Grande in Magdalena, Sonora, has been doing it for more than 60 years. Strips of ...

HAMILTON – A few years after the end of World War I, an Oregon cowboy named Aaron Wade set out to make his fortune. Over the course of a few weeks, the young cowboy cajoled a herd of 150 horses from ...

BUFFALO — Paul Clark didn’t set out in life to be a saddle maker. In fact, he tried a lot of different things before opening his custom saddle shop in Buffalo in 2020. But sometimes, your vocation ...

The saddles are so soft. My posterior has not lucky enough to try one, but I will trust Wm. L. Huston at his word. "Bill" Huston has been making saddles for more than half a century. He has ...

LAS CRUCES - Victor Hermanson doesn't collect accolades or reviews based on his craft, even though he could. Hermanson is a gifted saddle maker who resides on the outskirts of Las Cruces. Hermanson is ...