Author Archives: Don Gonzales

What we like to call, “The Big Loop Project”

So here we are again, our third year making the saddles for the Big Loop Big Money Tour put on by the Phillip Ranch.  This is by far the biggest project that my team and I orchestrate during the year… … Continue reading

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Killing mold on leather!

If you live in the south where humidity is high, you will run across mold on some of your gear from time to time.  This usually happens when you take a break from the horse world for a bit and … Continue reading

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Floral layout practice

Here is a warm up piece we did this morning. I’ve started the layout, now you can take it from here. Notice the flow, be sure to move forward in the right direction.

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Pick Guard

My brother, Ben Schane, brought his Martin guitar in the shop on a Saturday and after a song and a beer or two we did what anyone would do. We tore the pick guard off and made one out of … Continue reading

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Which tree style would fit my horse better?

“I need to use an Olin Young on this horse because it fits him better.”  ”I can’t ride a wade on this horse because his withers are too tall.”  ”You need to be riding a Low TM on that horse … Continue reading

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Does your saddle slide back on you?

A common problem among people is their saddle sliding back on them.  Many times this is with competition ropers and/or ranch cowboys who rope quite a bit in the pasture.  Almost every single time I see this issue, it is … Continue reading

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Third year at the George Strait Team Roping

Well it’s upon us again. Seems like we just finished the Christmas season, and here we are set up at the George Strait Team roping Classic in San Antonio, TX. This is our third year attending this event and we … Continue reading

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What kind of oil should I use?

I get this question a lot both at the shop and when we are out at events and trade shows.  The most common time this question is asked is when a customer brings in a saddle for repair and the … Continue reading

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All Around Performance Horse Ranch Rodeo Challenge 2012

It’s here again!  The world’s biggest ranch rodeo featuring some of the countries greatest cowboys and cowgirls competing for $50,000 and prizes from some of the greatest craftsmen and artist our western heritage has to offer.  We are talking about … Continue reading

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Beware of Import Saddles

These days many items are made overseas, bringing with that lower cost and bigger selections for American consumers. No matter your opinion of this issue, continued import of overseas manufactured items is here to stay and for the most part … Continue reading

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