Photo's above and to the left are of Holly Ray and her 6 year old Arab named Osiris (LL Ellis) that she will be starting side saddle this fall. He is getting show and life experience astride this summer so he will be ready to take over from his predecessor Goldie (Senors Miss Okie), Holly's 22 yo Quarter Horse mare that she showed and paraded for many years aside.
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The Photos to Right and Below are of an Ironbound side saddle restored by Jacquelynn Holly earlier this year. She submitted the below backstory on this beautiful rebuild!
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This is an Ironbound. Originally built by William S Haven. I acquired it and the story is actually kind of funny. A friend of mine had been dying to rebuild a western sidesaddle and I was on the fence at that time about whether or not I wanted to keep it. We had our own projects we were working on in the garage (both sidesaddles). I remember coming in and sitting down with the tree. Carrie reminded me that she really wanted it for a rebuild. It was 2am and we were exhausted. I told her something to the effect of - I knew it fit me... but wasn't sure about the mule. I said "If it fits Rosy, I'm keeping it. If it doesn't, I'll sell it".... so in the wee hours of the morning we went out to the barn, flicked the light on and Rosy squinted at us and I swear - she rolled her eyes, too! I pulled off her blanket (it was winter) and sat the saddle on her back. It was a match made in Heaven! Sorry Carrie...
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Here is a bit about Colonel Haven:William Stuart Haven, known as W.S. Haven, was born in Denmore, Galway County, Ireland. He "was as public-spirited as any native-born son of the country". At the outbreak of the Civil War he joined the Confederates, and fought throughout, distinguishing himself on several occasions. [Colonel W.S. Haven] was with the 41st Arkansas Regiment, under General Price, and was a gallant soldier and an efficient officer, ever fighting at the head of his regiment. At the close of the war, he settled Shreveport, La., and for twenty-five years was engaged in active business, bravely facing the hardships of ruined fortune with unflinching fortitude. In 1877 he married Miss Laura McDowell, of New York, and removed to St. Louis, where he afterwards lived.... Colonel Haven was loyal to the cause to the end of his life, and no Confederate soldier of broken fortune ever appealed to him in vain for assistance. He had been in failing health for two years, and in April he went to Hot Springs, Ark...................., to recuperate fo the Confederate Reunion at Little Rock, but on the day before the Reunion opened he was stricken suddenly by death." "Colonel William Stuart Haven, of 4329 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, died at eleven o'clock last Sunday morning in Hot Springs, Ark. He was seventy-seven years old. Death was due to heart failure. His body was taken to St. Louis where the funeral was held yesterday afternoon, being in charge of the United Confederate Veterans of which he was a member. He was a jack of all trades, to say the least, selling a variety of items in his warehouse. He was particularly active in selling paper, diaries and stationary.
And I use the sheepskin on it to protect the new white buckskin... note to self - never again use white. UGH
