Let’s face it, leather is an uncommon medium for the modern artist. It’s expensive, hard to work with, and even harder to make a living on. Craftsmen from around the leather industry struggle with a niche market. Even more so, those who create horse tack struggle with the added trials of serving a community with its own unique quirks. Namely, the kind who would rather rig up a broken headstall with baling twine than spend money on a replacement. Along with these challenges, the leather horse tack industry has evolved rapidly over the past century. From the horses we ride to the trends of Western sports, the West has fostered unprecedented growth. Gone are the days of “one-size-fits-all” saddles and good horses bought for cheap. That being said, what makes a leather company stand out in this obscure trade?
Enter, Buckaroo Leather Products.
The year was 1979. Bob Brand and his son, John Brand, began their journey in the leather business. No local makers were providing high-quality, American-made, and cost-efficient tack for wholesalers. The Brands spotted this gap in the industry and decided it was up to them to fill it. While they could have gone the easy route and chosen imported hides, sacrificing quality simply was not an option for the Brands. They decided to go all-in, using exclusively Hermann Oak hides. Inspired by the mutual family-oriented atmosphere of the Hermann Oak Tannery, the Brands similarly honed in on the aspects of a family-owned business.
Bob and John Brand poured their time, materials, and interests into making quality leather tack that would work hard and look good doing it. The result? Their business quickly became a success, thanks to the undeniable quality of their products. The Brands began to branch out and offer custom pieces for retail customers, and soon an online store and mobile “tack trailer” became main staples to the business’s repertoire of services.
What would seem to some an unachievable dream, to the Brand family had become a legendary legacy.
Buckaroo Leather Products has been a force in the western horse tack industry for well over four decades. From a grass-roots startup in a small-town rural garage to the legendary reputation they have curated today, Buckaroo Leather Products has championed the slogan “The Brand to Demand”. Their reputation for high-quality Western products affirms this adage. Celebrating their 45th anniversary this year, Buckaroo Leather Products is proud to promote their American-made, fully-customizable, luxury horse tack.
A tribute to their western heritage, the business has thrived through the years, embodying the grit, determination, and rigidity of their namesake– the very same qualities imbued in each piece of handcrafted tack they create. Currently owned and operated by John Brand and his wife, Michele, Buckaroo Leather Products has kept the family business small, focusing on quality over quantity. Employing a small staff of skilled leatherworkers, Buckaroo Leather Products is proud of every piece of tack they create. But they also recognize that every customer is a part of the Buckaroo family. Providing the highest level of customer service, a business like this has truly become a rarity in the leather industry.
So, next time you swing a leg over, take a moment to enjoy the creaking of the saddle, the smell of the leather, and the shine of the conchos. We western folk get to experience a lifestyle that few others call their own. Buckaroo Leather Products understands that life is too short not to enjoy every moment with your equine partner. As an adage goes, “Character shows up best when tested.” Buckaroo Leather Products is proud of its character, rigidity, reputation, and legacy.
Written by Molly Price
Buckaroo Leather Products is a small, all-American leather company located in Diamond Springs, California. Producing the finest quality leather products since 1979, Buckaroo Leather Products stands by its motto, “The Brand to Demand”. To find your next piece of quality horse tack, or for inquiries, please contact:
John Brand
buckaroojohn@sbcglobal.net
800.873.0781
Or visit https://buckarooleather.com for more information.
