Don King: The Man in the Center 

By Nick Pernokas 

They say that a good writer should never interject himself into his stories. They say a lot of things. When dealing with “legends” of the West, they say when the legend outshines the fact, print the Read more

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Tanner Custom Leather

Heading West – I mean East – To Texas Horse Country

By Gene Fowler

Christmas morning, 1986, in Wilcox, Arizona. Eight-year-old Adam Tanner tears into his presents. His face lights up at the first glimpse of one particular gift Read more

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Brandit Franco: Drifting No More 

By Nick Pernokas 

Brandit Franco grew up in the heart of Florida’s cowboy country. The family business was starting colts and training ranch horses. Brandit’s father, Sam Franco, took a lot of horses to ride that weren’t making it Read more

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Clinton Hole: Finding a Niche

By Nick Pernokas 

The June heat came off the tarmac in shimmery waves outside the cattle pens at the Oklahoma City stockyards. It was just another sale day, and the cowboy enjoyed moving the cattle up the alleys on Read more

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Three-Generations of Legendary Artistry

Harris Leather & Silverworks sets the standard for the show horse community

A show horse decked out with a custom Harris saddle enhanced with ornate silverwork.

By Lynn Ascrizzi

Anyone deeply involved in big-time show horse events, such as Read more

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Frecker’s Saddlery: A Family Affair

Karsten and Kent Frecker shown with a couple floral carved saddles.

By Nick Pernokas

The tall cowboy eased through the crowd at the tradeshow.  Every once in a while there was a flash of recognition from other shoppers, but Read more

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Tad Mizwa: A Lasting Impression

This Mother Hubbard saddle is representative of the historical miniature reproductions that Tad made. The base price on his miniature saddles in the 1990’s was $3000.

By Nick Pernokas

John Kelley always eagerly anticipated his monthly copy of Shop Read more

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Monroe Veach: A Ten Dollar Horse and a Forty Dollar Saddle

By Nick Pernokas

Monroe performing a rope trick with his daughter Letty in 1946.

The young cowboy dropped his bag on the ground and loosened the cinches on his saddle. The saddle he set a little more carefully on Read more

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Taking Chances and Building Saddles

By Liisa Andreassen

Kevin Parrish

His real name is Kevin Parrish, but he’s affectionately known by most as “The Saddle Guy.” At the age of 13, he started out in the business washing saddles that were in for repair Read more

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The TCAA: A Counterculture Movement

Why You Should Care

By Nick Pernokas

Recently I sat down with some of the officers, and long time members, of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association. We discussed the state of the high-end, high-quality western industry, and some of Read more

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