World Champion Trophy Saddle from W.C. Hape

By famed maker W.C. Hape - Wyarno, WYO and won by Tom R. Ferguson, PRCA Champion All Around Cowboy 1977 on fenders. Medallions on skirt corners: Rodeo Hall of Fame Award - National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center. Full coverage carving, finely braided strings, Cheyenne roll with rope edge.Chester Hape, who is now retired but still does leatherwork for pleasure, learned much from Don King. Hape carves the intricate flower pattern that is the hallmark of the Sheridan style, but his designs appear to be continuous, with every vine, leaf and flower connected. Most of the men who are now known for making Sheridan saddles, in fact, worked at one time with or for Don King. The treasured trophy saddles Don made in the 1950s and 1960s for world-champion rodeo cowboys set the standard for the highly refined floral style.