El Escritor Article on the Fabled Saddles of MORDO

El-Escritor.com • Editor@El-Escritor.com				FEATURE ARTICLE The Fabled Saddles of MORDO Sampling the Fleisher Collection
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	The most beautiful saddle? Certainly a tough call, but one century-old charro saddle demands nomination. The bare tree is encrusted with silver on its horn, pommel, and cantle rim, and the stirrups are bound in sliver. The cincha rings are overlain with silver, as are all conchas and buckles. Most astonishing are the embroidered and molded leather embellishments covering both saddle and cantinas. The rig is replete with rapier. Another of Fleischer's Mexican saddles was in fact a throne of sorts. Built for the 1864-67 reign of brave but feckless Emperor Maximilian, the saddle had fallen into dirty desuetude, but Fleischer, who does his own restoration, patiently worked it back into display condition. Fleischer isn't usually interested in saddles in advanced disrepair. He prefers purchases pristine and complete, like his prized Edward H. Bohlin outfit from the early 1950s. Built for show ring champion Leo Ahrenholtz. it is perhaps the finest of Fleischer's many Bohlins. The saddle, breastplate, and bridle are			Saddle king Ed Bohlin believed this 1954 outfit represented the best of his work. The highlight of the Fleischer Collection, it features sculpted sterling silver figures accented by red gold and rubies.

			festooned with silver eagles, Indian heads, stars, and floral engravings with key points highlighted in red gold and ruby accents. The glistening tapaderos nearly reached the ground.
	"The Old West," Fleischer says, "symbolizes the pioneer spirit of individuality, ruggedness, and character that made this country so great. Western memorabilia is one form of art that is truly American and representative of this indomitable spirit." Two impressive saddles stand in Fleischer's living room. They represent a century of saddlemaking in the West. The first can be found just inside the old Spanish doors. The silver mounted saddle, breastplate, and bridle appear to be Bohlin, but actually are not. Instead they are the collaboration of noted leathersmith F.O. Baird and well-known silversmith Fred Fredholm. Both men worked for Bohlin and were considered the best of their crafts in the 1930s. But in the place of honor, hard by the walk-in fireplace that dominates the great hall, stands a California saddle from the 1840s. The dark leather of the mochilla and tapaderos is delicately carved in a bordered floral pattern as is the anquera, and extension of the mochilla, providing a perfect place for a senorita. No doubt the men who fought with Emiliano Zapata would approve.			A later model Plains saddle by Cheyenne maker F.A. Meanea. The angora saddlebags and rifle scabbard were typical for a top hand.
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