A new exhibition at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum opened January 22, celebrating the design, style and grace of the western saddle.
The western saddle shows a great execution of form and function merging into art. It is designed for lightness, durability and fit, to give the rider the ability to stay on board while at the same time not getting in the way of the horse, all the while being able to hold an 800-pound steer by only a rope wound around the saddle horn.
But more than a tool, western saddles are iconic representations of the work of an American culture. As much a part of the cowboy way as a hat and a pair of boots, saddles spoke of work in a unique vocation. Work performed by man and animal together, a task that remains remarkably unchanged due to the nature of the work itself – the moving and caring of livestock.
Like any tool, the saddle became an extension of those who used it and because of that became subject to personalization. That unique personalization and embellishment is the basis for the recently opened exhibition at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum. The Art of the Western Saddle will features 16 examples of the saddlemaker’s art. Curated by western historian and author William C. Reynolds, the exhibit features silver-mounted saddles from important private collections and museums across the country. The collection displays the saddles' design, craftsmanship and merging of silver, gold and leather.
The exhibition is a unique opportunity to see the pinnacle of craftsmanship, embellishing the primary tool of the American cowboy.
The exhibit will continue through July 31, 2010, at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo, Texas.
Information courtesy of AQHA publications.
