Ken Spain Saddle Collection
In 1992, the Cattle Raisers Museum acquired 14 saddles collected by Ken Spain of Aledo, Texas. Dating from the 1850s to the 1920s, the saddle styles vary from a half seat to a full seat, loop seat, and double and single rigging. The collection contains the F. A. Meanea saddle, which was among the first fully tooled saddles with matching bags, as well as a saddle from the 1870s by well-known maker J.S. Collins. The collection also contains the only known saddle by Helena, Montana, maker Peter Franklin, and a Miles City, Montana, saddle recognized as one of the finest in existence today. The acquisition of this magnificent saddle collection was made possible by a partial donation by Ken Spain and by a grant from the G. Rollie White Trust of Fort Worth.
The Museum will display 8 saddles at a time and they will be rotated periodically.