Here is a story that is about a saddle that a friend of mine left me when she moved to Florida. I've copied the email she sent about the saddle: She says it is a Billy Cook Saddle. The only marking I could find is Hullings Saddlery, Freeburg IL. Custom 6402.
If anyone has any info about this, let me know. I will send another email with pictures
"The saddle was one that my dad took on "trade" for a horse, I'd say in the 1950s or early 60s. Dad had the horse and the person didn't have enough money to buy it, but he had the saddle and money, so Dad traded the horse. I remember him coming home and my mom saying that was fine, but we couldn't eat the saddle! (Her dad was a country doctor and people would pay with whatever they had, which sometimes included wood carvings--yes, I have those--so I can imagine her mother saying the same thing to her father!
My dad knew a lot of people with horses, and he knew a lot about horses. So he would "pick up" horses to sell to others who were "looking" for something in particular. It was quick money when we needed to eat! I have an old Clydesdale blanket that he was given when he found a horse they wanted.
The fellow I took the saddle to was Martin Bergin. (in 2015) He cleaned the saddle you have and told us not to put it on consignment and accept anything less than $800-850. He said that it was the tooling that made it special."
Here's a link about him: Cowboy Poet - Saddle Maker - Martin Bergin
Cowboy Poet - Saddle Maker - Martin Bergin
Renowned cowboy and saddle maker resides in Overland
Renowned cowboy and saddle maker resides in Overland
OVERLAND, MO (KTVI) - Inside of a modest Overland home is a hidden jewel and his name is Martin 'Cowboy'...
I had his name from a horse owner at Mary Queen of Peace who knew him and his work.
There are some markings on the saddle itself, and here are some links about the place:
Looking For Info On Hullings Saddlery, Freebug, Il
Looking For Info On Hullings Saddlery, Freebug, Il
A friend of mine has a saddle that we're trying to find some information on. He bought it from a friend in t...
