I put a great deal of my life into each saddle that I make, and I feel each is a reflection of my character. Whether making a working utility saddle or a fancy collector saddle, I try to make each one the best work that I can do. I design my saddles around the requirements and desires of my customer. Most of my saddles now are cowboy styled, and most of them for working cowboys. These men still spend countless hours horseback, riding and roping. Their saddles must be comfortable, durable, and properly fit their horses. These requirements are what drive me to do the kind of work that I do. Above all, the saddle must perform perfectly I do extensive hours of research and development, personally testing and proving my designs. Cosmetics do not make a product work better or last longer. Much consideration is given to how each piece will effect the rest of the saddle, both in design as well as function. I build them from the top down; by that I mean that I know exactly how I want the saddle to look before I cut the leather. This process leaves nothing to chance and makes my saddles flow together and not look like a collection of mismatched parts.
I have spent a number of years working with my tree maker, developing and refining my trees to fit a large variety of horses, to be strong, and to allow close contact of the rider to the horse.
I take special care to grade each piece of leather to come from the right part of the cowhide for its part on the saddle. If the piece is not good enough, I get a different hide; I don’t just move to a different place on the hide.
I am very particular about the shaping of the ground seat, and the shaping of the skirts, riggings, and seat in relation to the ground seat. I feel this not only ties a saddle together smoothly and greatly reduces break-in time for the rider, but also greatly increases the usable life of the saddle.
The cowboy way of life is very traditional. I hope that the quality and style of my work has, and will continue to support that tradition.
-Keith