Jeremiah Watt: Something Different
Written by Doreen Shumpert This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.38 The courage to do something different places you in a different position. Being a little bit of a risk taker has its …
Horse Gear & Makers
The Double Diamond Halter Co.
Written by Doreen Shumpert “It’s tougher than you think.” With that simple statement, the “gauntlet had been thrown down” as Pete Melniker said, the challenge was on, and the seed was planted for what would …
Hagel’s Cowboy Gear
Written by Doreen Shumpert This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.35 What once started out as a summer job for teenage Wyoming ranch cowgirl Sara Douglas has blossomed into a full-time business for …
Tooling of the Trade
Written by Doreen Shumpert Known best for his rich and beautiful Sheridan-style, wild-rose tooling patterns on his leather work and saddles, Ray Arthun originally hailed from Montana and Wyoming and was a bronc-ridin’ rodeo cowboy. …
The Family Man of Frecker’s Saddles
Written by Dorreen Shumpert If you’ve got your eyes on one of Kent Frecker’s custom saddles, get in line. For a long time. Try until about 2016 because that’s how long he’s booked out as …
The Mecate Master
Written by Doreen Shumpert The horsehair mecate is as traditional to Spanish-influenced horsemanship as fireworks are to the Fourth of July. However, master craftsmen like Doug Krause, who can produce modern-day quality hair ropes, aren’t …
Gary Wiggins, Cowboy Gear Maker
Written by Doreen Shumpert Gary and Cynthia Wiggins (Wiggins Bits and Spurs) transplanted one year ago from the hustle and bustle of Castle Rock, Colo. to the quieter side of life in Brewster, Kansas. The backdrop …
Bucking Rolls
Written by Cary Shwarz Bucking rolls have increased in popularity within the last few years, which has followed the increased demand for slick fork saddles. Questions arise as to their practicality, where and how they …
What’s in a Snaffle
By Sue Stuska Ed.D. We recognize two main types of bits: snaffles and curbs. There are many variations on each type, and some bits combine the actions of both. We will concentrate on snaffles and …
The Elements of the Saddle Part 3: The Rigging
Written by Chuck Stormes This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.15 The original “saddle”, a simple cloth much like a saddle blanket, and the later pad-saddle version were held in place by a …
