Ranch Cutter Saddle - #5

For his fellowship piece, Breitenbach blended traditional California style carving with a modern-day cow horse/ranch cutting competition saddle. Sporting in-skirt rigging with hidden rivets, this saddle has a 13-inch-wide Buster Welch style fork covered in a one-piece gullet-fork cover with no welts or hidden stitching. Breitenbach recessed the seat leather into the fork and, to give it a balanced and smooth look, he also recessed the cantle binding and gave the horn a rolled edge. Scott Hardy fabricated the silver conchas and fender length adjustment plates — delicate details that Breitenbach feels help achieve a classy and traditional look.

Marco Breitenbach, Saddlemaker (Fellow)
Schweinfurt, Germany

Born and raised in northern Bavaria, Germany, Marco Breitenbach was influenced early on by his father, who had a keen interest in the American West. After crafting some small personal items in leather, Breitenbach began building saddles 23 years ago under the tutelage of a local saddlemaker. For the past 15 years, he has made numerous visits to the United States to study with master saddlemakers including Cary Schwarz and Dale Harwood, who — along with Chuck Stormes — he counts among his biggest influences. A reined cow horse competitor, Breitenbach continues to reside in northern Bavaria, where he lives with his wife and operates his own saddlemaking shop.