February 2026 - Note from the Saddle Bench

Holster and belt made by Gary Dunshee
Photo Courtesy of Mattie Sargent

Hi folks, 

Hope your winter is clicking right along with minimal cold weather. It has warmed back up here in far West Texas. We have had several 70° days and should have some more the next 10 days or two weeks. The skies have really looked good this week. Big old thunderhead looking clouds. It rained about a half inch here in town. I hope there's more to come! If we could get about another foot and a half we would start to get caught up. One good thing with the dry weather, we have hardly had any loco this winter and with cattle prices this high you sure don't want to be losing any of them to loco. 

I would like to congratulate all the winners at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Cal White, Lauren Lovelace, and all the other folks up there sure put on a class act. Looks like we will be making a couple of more trophy buckles for the Fort Worth Rodeo since they had ties in the steer wrestling and saddle bronc riding.  I'm sure all the rodeo hands will be headed to San Antonio for the next big one.

We will be headed to Wickenburg, Arizona to the Art of the Cowgirl show in about 10 days if you can make it out there and you like watching some of the best cowgirls in the world roping and riding some of the nicest horses you'll ever see you should try and attend. They have plenty to do. A 25 team all girl ranch rodeo, the World's Greatest Horsewoman competition, all kinds of seminars from training stock dogs to building saddles and everything in between. They also have a world class horse sale. Hope you can make it!


Jeff Erwin came by last week going to a varmint calling contest in Fort Davis. He worked here in the Saddle Shop when he was attending Sul Ross. He is now recently retired from the military. He brought us by a real nice gift. A photo from his tour of duty in the Middle East. We are proud to have men like Jeff defending our country.


Don't know much else. Hope you have a good month. Let us know if we can help you!


Gary Dunshee

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