resume

On return from my 12 month tour on the border of North and South Korea, I was very fortunate to
receive the opportunity to try out for the US Army’s only full time active duty horse mounted unit. “The
First Cavalry Division's, Horse Cavalry Detachment” The Detachment is comprised of 27 enlisted
soldiers and one officer.

The Detachment is committed to professionally and safely representing the history, pageantry, and
traditions of the US Cavalry of the 1880's and the Indian Wars Era. Every trooper is hand selected and
tested prior to acceptance in the unit. They take a lot of pride in their ability to maintain current
standards of military discipline while preserving the unique skills and traditions of the horse mounted
cavalry of an era gone by.

The Detachment was fully self-sufficient and had there own saddle makers, boot makers, farier’s, and
gunsmith. The Detachment traveled all over the country participating in parades from the Rose Bowl,
to the Presidents Inaugural parade in DC. They also perform an amazing mounted Cavalry tactics and
weapons demonstration.

This is where my love for leather craft grew from a hobby to a perspective career.

After 2 years of active duty service and 2 years riding for the detachment a duty related injury forced
me out of the military.

You can check out the Horse Cavalry’s web page at http://pao.hood.army.mil/1cd_horsedet/default.htm

Their page is a little out of date due to their deployment and recent return from Iraq. We are grateful
for their safe return and continuing service

After my discharge from the Army, I was hired by Dale Martin at the now closed Wildfire Saddlery in
Salado, TX. Dale is the namesake of "Martin Saddlery" owned now by Equibrand. There we made hi
end saddles and tack for every one from the average rider to NFR champs. In 2002 Wildfire Saddlery
was chosen to make the National Finals Rodeo average saddles. I was lucky enough to be one of a
hand full of makers to work on these amazing works of art.

After nearly 2 years at Wildfire Saddlery, I decided it was time to open my own shop.

In 2003 I opened "Lonestar Leather Company" We specialized in everything except saddles. It seemed
to me that the saddle market was overflowing with JUNK and GIMICS, and I didn’t want to get involved in
it. I decided to concentrate our efforts in making the best quality and most unique tack and leather
goods on the market. Over the last 2 years I have been asked time and time again to make custom
saddles for my customers. These customers understood the need for a truly hand crafted saddle and
not one pumped out of some factory. It was in the beginning of 2005 that I decided to offer custom,
hand crafted, 100% shop made saddles under our new company name "Hasburgh Saddlery".

In the summer of 2005 I was given the opportunity to apprentice under master boot and saddle maker
Don Atkinson in Ingram TX. Don is in his late 70's and is TRULY one of the best in the country. Don
started working in the shop of legendary maker Monroe Veach in 1938 in Trenton, Mo (Don was only
9).
Don worked there until he was 18 when he opened his own shop in Pawhuska, OK. Even at that young
age, Dons work caught the eye of celebrities like Bob Wills, and Slim Pickins who he made custom
boots for, just to name a few.
Don has only taken one break from leatherwork and that was to serve our country during the Korean
War in 1950 and 1951.

Don is proud of all his work, but counts these as his masterpieces
--A pair of boots that were displayed for years in the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage on Los
Angles but are now on loan and are exhibited at the University of Wyoming, in Laramie.

--The Todd Whatley Memorial Saddle he designed and made for the RCA National Finials Rodeo
in           1967. That saddle was won by Larry Mahan and has since been placed in the “National
Cowboy Hall of Fame”. Mahan and Don have remained friends for 30 years.

--The trophy saddle for his friend Clem McSpadden's "Worlds Richest Roping" in 1983.

--All the trophy saddles for the European Rodeo Association in Germany for 7 years.

Don preaches quality and attention to detail. I was taught techniques and trade secrets that have
taken Don over 65 years to master.

Don is truly the nicest, most knowledgeable craftsman I have ever known, and I thank him greatly for
his teachings.