Brian Lebel's Old West Show & Auction 2012

It's that time again...

 Every June, the Denver Merchandise Mart hosts this country's permiere Western collectibles event, Brian Lebel's Cody Old West Show & Auction.  There is no better place to view a wide variety of historic saddlery.  The offerings typically include all sorts of Western saddles,

Charro saddles, 

Native American saddles... 

and regalia, 

and, of course, lots and lots of parade saddles. 

I think I touched at least half a dozen Bohlins today! 

There were also a wide variety of other items on display.

 I even managed to find some Tiff-ilicious horse hair prison bridles.

Yep, that really is a pink and purple bridle! 

This one, which was made in Deerlodge, Montana, is a bit more subdued, but that's still pink.  

Most of the tack items at this show are way, way out of my price range.  However, I did not come home empty handed.  

As always, this was a most enjoyable way to spend the day.  I'm already looking forward to next year's show!

Saddle pups

The puppies went home today.

Before they left, we broke out the saddles for one final photo shoot.

Because, you know, at ten...

and thirteen pounds respectively...

they really aren't that much bigger than the rats!

Tiff-ilicious

A couple weeks ago, the kids and I were shopping and we came across a display comprised entirely of bright pink and animal print merchandise.  We paused for a moment to take it in.  Then James shook his head disapprovingly and said, "That's way too Tiff-ilicious."

I have finally completed Tiffany's circus pony set, and I have to say, it's mighty Tiff-ilicious.

Here's the bridle.  I couldn't photograph it on the pony because it doesn't actually fit her.  She's a wonderful mold, but that forelock...  Sigh.  Talk about not tack friendly!  

Another view of all the pieces.  In case it's not obvious, this set is loosely based on the tack worn during the dog and pony act at the Carson & Barnes Circus.  It will be used with custom Breyer pony and a specially sculpted long hair Chihuahua.

Even when I'm making something this fanciful, I always try to incorporate realistic construction values.  Note the no-nonsense rigging hiding beneath the fringe.

On the other hand, I did have to go with a "cheater" crupper.  Rather than passing under the model's tail, this is simply sticky waxed into place. 

Although I am quite pleased with the final result, this wasn't a success only journey.  I struggled quite a bit with the design.  It's a fine line between Tiff-ilicous and trashy, and I ended up removing all the crystals and redoing a couple pieces entirely.

Hope you like it, Tiffany and good luck at NAN and Breyerfest!

Saddle iguanas revisited

I had hoped to share finished pictures of Tiffany's circus costume today, but some days are just too busy for tackmaking... or blogging.

Fortunately, thanks to Cory Sanford and her amazing saddle iguanas, I had a back-up plan. 

The first two pictures show Cory's younger iguana, Baby wearing one of Cory's newest creations.  Doesn't he look pleased with himself?  

Ever wonder how a person goes about saddle training an iguana?  With Mango treats, of course. 

Nom, nom, nom!  Moo is a messy eater so feeding has to wait until after the tack is removed.

Post feeding bath! 

Here's another look at Cory's wonderful tack, this time on an actual horse rather than an iguana. 

Beautiful as always, Cory.  Thanks so much for sharing!

In living color

Since I specialize in English saddlery, nearly everything I make is some shade of brown or black.  Every now and then, however, I'm asked to create something a bit more colorful.  Recently I found myself in need of some blue and pink lace, so I placed an order with Amazing Lace.  

This was my first experience with this company, but it won't be my last.  The lace is very high quality and the colors are rich and extremely consistent.

Unfortunately, some of the lace is quite thick.  These pictures show the pink lace both as it came off the spool and after preparation.  As you can see, there's a pretty substantial difference.  Still, the lace is nice enough that it's well worth the time and effort. 

I used the blue lace to make a showring style Arabian costume bridle. 

The browband was not made by me.  Instead, it was provided by the customer.  

The pink lace was purchased specifically for Tiffany's circus costume, but since I had some extra, I decided to bribe surprise her with a new pink halter.

Something about the pink and leopard skin color scheme paired with the no-nonsense bronc styling really appealed to me so I ended up making a second halter for me to keep.  I almost never do that!

I've really enjoyed this venture into the world of colorful tack.  In fact, I've started to think about placing a second order with Amazing Lace.  Does anyone need some jade, purple or turquoise tack?  Please, give me an excuse!

Dog and pony show

Yep, it's another dog post!

Today I'm sharing photos of the dog and pony act at the Carson & Barnes Circus.  

The dogs performed first.  They walked on their back legs, danced, rolled a barrel and jumped through hoops.  

Finally it was the pony's turn.  

He trotted around the ring a few times by himself...

before coming to a halt in front of a platform where his passenger awaited.

The dog stepped down...

onto the pony's back...

and off they went!

There were several different riding dogs, and each had his own distinct style in the saddle.  This dog stood up tall... 

while this one crouched down low.

The scruffy little terrier used his mouth to hang on.  I don't think the pony was a fan!

After all the dogs had taken a turn or two, they were called out of the ring.  The pony came into the center of the ring and took a bow with his handler.

I think I'm officially done with dog posts now... but no promises!

Max Dalton

Although I've always loved dogs, I didn't have one when I moved to Tennessee in 1991.  I wanted one. of course, but my life was so busy it seemed easier to do without. Besides, my days were anything but dogless. I was living on the A-show Hunter Jumper circuit. Dogs were everywhere.    

My bosses had dogs,

Jennifer and Holiday

my co-workers  had dogs, 

Ron and Elmo

even my friends had dogs!

Leigh and Scout

In fact, it often seemed as if there were more dogs at horse shows than there were horses.

So even though I missed having my own dog, I was doing fine until the summer of 1993 when Ron and I attended a show in Dalton, Georgia.

I don't remember the show's official name, but it quickly became known as the Show From Hell.  

The problems started early, when Ron and I were given woefully inadequate directions to the showgrounds. What should have been a pleasant three hour drive turned into an all day extravaganza on the back roads of middle Tennessee. During one of our many stops for directions (no one had cell phones in those days), Ron walked into the truck's side view mirror and split his head open. By the time we finally reached our destination we were hot, tired and more than a little bit crabby. 

This particular show was a brand new event at a facility that had never hosted a hunter/jumper show. To say they were unprepared would be an understatement. When we arrived, there was no place to park the mobile shop and no electric or water hook ups for the camper. We spent what was left of the day getting the mobile shop more or less situated, but there wasn't time to deal with the camper. In the end, we decided to make the long drive back to town in search of a motel and beer.  We were successful in the former but not the latter, and somehow that seemed like a fitting conclusion to the longest, hottest, most frustrating day ever.

But, I digress.  

This is a dog story and here's the dog.

He showed up on the second day of the Show From Hell - just trotted right in, sat down and made himself comfortable. I kept expecting someone to come looking for him, but nobody did. Eventually, I started asking and was told that he was a stray who'd been hanging around the showgrounds for a couple months. The people who worked there called him Max. 

For the rest of the week, Max was my dog. He spent his days with me in the mobile shop, rarely if ever leaving my side. In the evenings, he'd follow me...

back to the camper (which did eventually get water and power)...

and sleep just outside my door.

I am not usually a scruffy little terrier person, but Max's persistence won me over. I really, really wanted to take him home with me, and would have if I'd have had a home to take him to. Unfortunately, at that time, I was renting a room in a fancy house where dogs were absolutely not allowed.

So, instead of bringing Max to Tennessee, I found him a good home with a horseman from North Carolina. Over the next couple years I'd occasionally catch a glimpse of him from across a crowded showring. He looked happy, healthy and very well loved.

Two months after the Show From Hell, I moved out of the fancy house and into a dog friendly apartment complex. I wanted to be sure that I was ready the next time I crossed paths with a little dog lost.

Nine months later, I welcomed Abbie into my life.

Although nineteen years have passed since I met Max Dalton, I still think of him from time to time. Mostly I am grateful that things turned out the way they did, but occasionally, I'm just a bit wistful. He was such a wonderful little dog. Part of me still wishes I had kept him for myself.