Susanville, CA 2004
Jeff has been working with leather since 1968 starting out as a teen in Shingle Springs, California. "I started making custom saddles full time in 1994 in a small shop in Brownsville, Texas. From South Texas we moved the shop to Capitan, New Mexico. In Capitan I enjoyed briefly working for Harry Jones (now in Midland, Odessa) who helped me refine my skills. "Thanks Harry". Before long we had to move to California to look after some family business. We opened up in the Northern California town of Susanville.
Probably my biggest influence in saddles making has been Dave Silva. Because of his past experience The Visalia Stock Saddle Co. I tend to lean toward that style. Growing up in northern California, Dave's shop was where I gravitated to when in Sacramento. And you always felt welcome there. In 2006 after our family obligations were completed it was back to Texas. That's when we opened our shop in Graham, about 90 miles west of Fort Worth. In September 2019 we relocated in lovelock, Nevada to be closer to our customer base.
Sorry to all our lovelock, nv supporters, we moved to Oklahoma because of Nevada's extended closure due to COVIc-19 virus. we can operate in Oklahoma without the same covid related restrictions. All of our services are by appointment. Please call anytime."
Probably my biggest influence in saddles making has been Dave Silva. Because of his past experience The Visalia Stock Saddle Co. I tend to lean toward that style. Growing up in northern California, Dave's shop was where I gravitated to when in Sacramento. And you always felt welcome there. In 2006 after our family obligations were completed it was back to Texas. That's when we opened our shop in Graham, about 90 miles west of Fort Worth. In September 2019 we relocated in lovelock, Nevada to be closer to our customer base.
Sorry to all our lovelock, nv supporters, we moved to Oklahoma because of Nevada's extended closure due to COVIc-19 virus. we can operate in Oklahoma without the same covid related restrictions. All of our services are by appointment. Please call anytime."
Graham, TX 2016
Jeff has built and repaired lots of saddles and made many other custom leather items over the past 45 some years. This web site is designed to inform you as to what we are all about. If you will feel better in knowing more of my background and want answers because you are considering our products please call. I am happy to visit with you. The products reflect my personal interests in practical California style horsemanship. Our preference is what "works" best for the horse and rider.
dave silva
Dave Silva circa 1970
Dave Silva, passed away on Tuesday, October 16, 2007. David was born in San Jose, Calif., on February 6, 1921, to Juana and John Silva. His father John was a cinch-maker when David was young, so David went with him to saddle shops all over California delivering hand-spun cinches. David was enthralled with the old time saddle-makers and dreamed of becoming one. After the war, he eventually was hired by the famous Visalia Stock Saddle company, where he became a master at hand-tooling leather. Over the years, he was trained to not only tool leather but to make the well-known Visalia saddles and was the last head saddle maker / foreman for the company.
The Visalia saddle shop was destroyed in the Town & Country Village fire in 1963, so he opened his own shop, Silva's Village Saddlery, at 2628 Marconi Avenue. The shop thrived as both a retail saddle shop and custom saddlery for thirty-four years.
David made many friends during those years at the shop. The old time "general store" atmosphere of the shop drew old timers and young buckaroos as well. After David's retirement, he was honored with the Don King Saddlemaker of the Year Award.
The Visalia saddle shop was destroyed in the Town & Country Village fire in 1963, so he opened his own shop, Silva's Village Saddlery, at 2628 Marconi Avenue. The shop thrived as both a retail saddle shop and custom saddlery for thirty-four years.
David made many friends during those years at the shop. The old time "general store" atmosphere of the shop drew old timers and young buckaroos as well. After David's retirement, he was honored with the Don King Saddlemaker of the Year Award.
some silva saddles
(877) 293-1433
saddles for $ 2,295.00 as seen in western horseman magazine click saddles below
