Heroes, Heroines, and Friends

Ed Throop

Meet my friend Ed Throop of Sikeston, Missouri. If you frequent cuttings staged anywhere in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Texas or Missouri you have likely seen Ed riding, as he is shown here in the Derby in Fort Worth, Texas, riding D B Dually and most likely he'll be riding a J Shaw Custom Cutting Saddle.

Julie Erkamaa

This is our friend Julie Erkamaa in one of her runs at the Great Lakes Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Louisville, Kentucky.  In addition to winning two buckles, and sportsmanship award, she also was the WPRA World Champion Rookie of the Year and the Great Lakes Rookie of the Year in 2007.

We wish her all the best luck in the world with her new Jerry Shaw Custom Barrel Saddle.

Julie makes her home in East Troy, Wisconsin.  We enjoy our relationship with her and are expecting to hear even greater accomplishments from her in the future.

Virginia Kilduff

When Virginia Kilduff (picture right) purchased her first J Shaw Custom Cutting saddle through an internet sale, she contacted us, telling us how her cutting experience had totally changed.  She explained how her new saddle had helped put her in the proper position on the horse which gave her the confidence she had been seeking.  She immediately began winning cutting classes which before were impossible. When her daughter took ownership of that saddle, "Gin" called us and had us to custom build her another saddle to keep her winnings coming.  We're proud to call her our friend and enjoy sharing the excitement of her many wins. She makes her home in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

Sammy Jo Kilduff

Cowboys and Cowgirls come in all sizes and ages. But when they start young they become tuff competition.  Such is the case with Sammy Jo Kilduff, daughter of Virginia Kilduff.  Her mother tells me she has won nearly every competition in which she has ridden. . . and she rides a J Shaw Cutting Saddle.

She is now fourteen years old but was only thirteen in the picture to the left. You'll be hearing  of many great things from Sammy Jo.

Rhonda Dunlap

Please meet my friend, Rhonda Dunlap, of Windsor, California.  In the picture to the right, she is riding her AQHA Stallion, Tivios Big Shot, making scenic skid marks in the sand. If you look closely you'll see that she is riding one of her J Shaw Custom Saddles. You can always depend on Rhonda having some great horses for sale.  To learn more about her and her horses, CLICK HERE.

Debbie Higginbotham

Meet my friend, Debbie Higginbotham, of Dawsonville, Georgia, pictured here winning a Western Pleasure Class near her home on Gracie. 

Debbie has been riding horses virtually all her life, having been placed on the back of a horse on her third (3rd) day of her life, the day her mother brought her home from the hospital.  She actually began showing when she was five.

She trains, shows and teaches riding lessons in and around Dawsonville, Georgia.

And you may have guessed it; She rides a Jerry Shaw Custom Saddle.

Sheri Guillet

This is my friend, Sheri Guillet, of Flagstaff, Arizona showing off her trail saddle we built for her.  Sheri didn't start riding until after she was about 44 years old.  However, she and her contractor husband Barry live beside a National Forrest, so she can saddle up and ride out of her yard into a vast and beautiful riding area which she does on a regular basis with some of her girl friends in the area.  In a note she said, "Jerry, my riding really is a much more pleasant experience with my new saddle.  I didn't realize what a difference a comfortable saddle would make.  I wish I would have gotten it years ago."

Leah Millwood

Leah Millwood of Nashville, Arkansas is pictured while competing in the Senior Youth Non Pro division in Oklahoma City, 2007.   She is riding Smart Dual Pep.

We recently built her second J Shaw Custom saddle because someone entered the Millwood barn and stole all their saddles and a number of tack items. 

Even though she is in college, she still finds time to compete in cuttings in her area.  We are honored to call her our friend and expect many great things to come from her in the future.

Carol Roberts

One of the enduring blessings of our work is the contact we have with dynamic horse people from all over the world.  Carol, of Ojai, California,  is one of those rays of sunshine that makes our efforts exciting and enjoyable.

She rides reined cow horses and is shown, here, during the herd work on Will He Boogie (by Like A Diamond, by Bumble Boogie by Mr. San Peppy).  He has won over $37,000.00 in NRCHA and NRHA classes.

You may have guessed it already, but she rides a J Shaw Custom working cow saddle.

Charles and Michelle Pellham

Let me introduce you to Charles and Michelle Pellham.  Charles is one of the premier trainers on the East Coast, with a gift for starting colts and working with problem horses. He has a natural ability to teach people, and is an outstanding clinician. His recent accomplishments include the 2007 American Ranch Horse Association World Champion Working Ranch Horse, and 2006 Open Cutting World Champion, and the 2006 ARHA Junior Ranch Trail World Champion.

Michele exhibits versatility in a trainer.  She trains and shows cutting horses, as well as dressage and barrel racing, puts the finishing touches on young horses, and has a gift for working with young or inexperienced riders. Her recent accomplishments include the 2006 American Ranch Horse Association Open Cutting Reserve World Champion and Senior Ranch Trail Reserve Champion, both on the stallion, Heza Classy Chic. Specializing in cutting horses, starting horses under saddle, and ranch versatility, Charles and Michele operate Cornerstone Horsemanship, located in Northern Virginia. See more at www.cornerstonehorsemanship.com/  . 

To see a video of Michele and the Chic Stallion,  click HERE

Or Click Here to see a video about horse training by both Michele and Charles

They are also a dealer for J Shaw Custom Saddles. 
 

Henk Smits

Let me introduce you to my newest best friend from the Netherlands, Henk Smits.  He resides in the city of Venlo near the Germany border.

Henk is pictured standing in our shop behind one of the saddles we built for him. His neighbor, in the Netherlands, owns a J Shaw Custom saddle. Henk wanted to buy it, but when the neighbor refused to sell, Henk contacted me to build two for him.  When he came the states to pick up his saddles, he went out to Punk Carter's Ranch in Celina, Texas to take a few cutting lessons on trained cutting horses.

He is now talking about coming back to the states to take more cutting lessons and attending one of our cutting futurities.

Henk joins a growing list of horsemen around the world who ride J Shaw Custom Saddles.

Lola May Shaw Jones

The greatest heroine and mentor of my life, pictured here on her ninety-second birthday, is the person I call Mother. Come back later and I'll tell you more about the dynamic lady.

Judy Zalinski

A lot of our saddles are sold to horse people in Canada and because of that we have a lot of friends all across that country, one of which is Judy Zalinski.  She lives near Ontario, Canada  and, as a trail rider, has beautiful, but often cold, country to ride in.

Although most of Judy's riding will be pleasure riding or trail riding, she chose to have us build her a cutting saddle using rubber bars.  She later wrote us, "It does ride perfect.  I cannot explain this but . . . no saddle keeps me in the seat or feels like yours does. . . You can tell people the ride feels like the way Angelina Jolie looks when riding that big black Friesian  on Tomb Raider (like you are one with the horse; sounds corny but true) thanks so much, Judy."