Meet the folks behind Legacy Saddles
Born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, saddle making is a family tradition for David Allen. Both his grandfathers were saddle makers and insisted he follow in their footsteps.
In his youth, Allen cowboyed extensively in Texas and New Mexico on some of the larger ranches. During the long winters he repaired their tack and made their saddles. Allen has been building saddles in Texas and lately, in Virginia, for 30 years. Allen has experience with all styles of riding and their demands, and with the style and quality of material and workmanship it takes to create a saddle that will become a family legacy.
Donna Tillmann came to saddle-crafting after a 20-year career as an art conservator. With a Master's degree in Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin and a Master's degree in Art Conservation from Queen's University in Ontario, Tillmann specialized in restoring high-quality English Sporting artworks from the 18th and 19th Century and American Primitives. She restored fabulous works of art for individuals and East Coast galleries. After developing solvent toxicity, Tillmann turned to another part of her life for a new career. As an endurance rider, she was well aware of the difficulties in finding saddles to fit the backs of the mounts she used in competition. After studying under David Allen, Tillmann decided to combine her love of art and history with her riding background to produce handsome, comfortable saddles that replicated a great era in American history.
A California vacation trip, driving a horse herd over 100 miles from summer to winter quarters, gave her even more saddle-contact time than a 24-hour endurance ride, and a feel for the importance of a saddle that keeps the rider both comfortable and safe when the going gets rough.
Her drive for authenticity took her to The Plains Museum at West Texas A&M University. There she studied, measured and photographed the largest collection of working cowboy saddles in the United States, dating from the great trail drive era.
Legacy saddles are hand-crafted in these original styles. You can't ride anything more authentic, unless you have access to a 120-year-old museum piece!
More About Legacy Saddles
SHOP TALK! - July 2003 Issue