CARY SCHWARZ

Cary refers to this saddle as a half-breed, with a combination of roughout seat, floral carved leather and fleur-de-lis border stamp. It is built on a 15-inch Wade tree with a 4 1/2-inch roll cantle and has 4-inch stainless bell stirrups with heel blocks, beavertail buck rolls and an Oregon cross over rope strap. The silver string conchos and cantle concho are made by R. Schaezlein & Son, California.

CARY SCHWARZ, Saddlemaker, Salmon, Idaho
Cary Schwarz first began working with leather in 1972. Growing up on the family farm in a German Lutheran community in Idaho proved to be fertile soil for creativity and learning. In the late 1970s he worked for wages in a holster shop in Twin Falls. This experience reinforced his belief in taking the time to get the job done right. In the early 1980s he attended a trade school for saddlemaking taught by Jesse Smith in Spokane, Washington. Since then, Schwarz has diligently studied the art of saddlemaking, crediting Ray Holes Saddle Company, Dale Harwood and Chuck Stormes, as major influences in his development as a saddlemaker. Cary is a member of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association, and believes that "the best saddles are those that successfully blend function and art."

Photos by Adam Jahiel