Everything Horses and Livestock® Magazine August 2016 Vol 1 Issue 3

Everything Horses and Livestock Magazine

plete with steer head decoration and matching silver overlaid stirrups. This

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The company grew and soon initiated catalog sales. Then demand for Shipley saddles and products grew to world-wide proportions. His customers included presidents, Hollywood film and other celebrities. Charles Shipley contin- ued to run his company until he passed away in 1943. Two sons continued to run the company until 1972 when it closed following 87 years in the saddlery business. I found two lovely vintage Shipley saddles in mint condition on the S and H Civil War An- tiques Web site. This is a live auction website run by Chris Yeargan who graciously allowed EHAL to use his pictures for my article. He wants our readers to know that both these sad- dles are for sale.

saddle was once owned by western movie star (silent mov- ies) and rodeo legend Tom Mix. This sad- dle also had a matching silver bridle.

The saddle was found in South America with family members of Juan Malcom who became acquainted and rodeoed with Tom Mix in Ar- gentina. The saddle probably dates from the 1920’s. Charles Shipley also made many, many fine western working saddles. This saddle belongs to family members of the original owner. It dates from the late 20’s or early 30’s. The owner and later his three sons once failed to cinch the saddle up tight and it got under the horse’s belly. This particular gray mare took exception and promptly kicked the maker’s plate from the back of the cantle. It probably landed in the rode this saddle. One of the boys

The first is a black silver adorned pa- rade saddle. No history

came with this saddle, but obviously it was built prior to 1972 (maybe 50s and 60s eras when riding horses in parades was popular). The sad- dle comes complete with silver martingale. The stainless steel horn comes uncovered with the Shipley Makers Mark visible near the gullet. The second Shipley marked western high- backed saddle has fancy floral tooling, large silver hearts with gold stars on all four corners. Tooled two-piece stirrup fenders come com-

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