Troy West

Built on a 3B tree with large, square skirts, this fully flower carved saddle has a dyed background and over 400 individual flowers. West laid the flowers out like a floral bouquet, he said, with a few monarch butterflies scattered throughout.

The conchas and sterling silver horn cap — bearing the TCAA 25th anniversary emblem — were crafted by Beau Compton.

Sitting at home, West would see the rocking chair his wife bought to rock grandchildren and think, “Wouldn’t it be cool to have a rocking chair with full flower carved sides?” Thus, the idea for this rocking chair was born.

He made the back, seat and arm rests out of cedar, the rockers he made of oak and the sides — which are completely covered in carved leather — are made of Southern yellow pine. “I keep getting asked, ‘Did you build the whole thing?’ Yes, I built the whole rocking chair in my saddle tree shop,” West said.

West created this saddle, Thunderbeast, as a tribute to the American bison that once roamed in great herds throughout the American West. The leather is fully hand carved in a floral pattern while the saddle forks — made from deep, rich mahogany — showcase hand carved bison heads that appear to be lowered in anticipation of a charge. West carved the mahogany saddle horn in a circular scroll pattern, while the cantle carries a depiction of a bison and scrollwork also carved in rich mahogany. The saddle is complemented with hand engraved sterling silver conchas and buckles by Scott Hardy.