Idaho Librarian

Contents

On My Mind...

At first glance this curious volume might seem too esoteric for the general reader.  Saddlemaking?  In Idaho?  Who but an enthusiast could get excited about this?

Ah, but the enthusiasts already have their sources and lore.  It’s precisely the general public that has a treasure to be gained by looking into a book like this.

Urban dudes may not know it, but over much of Idaho, horseback was a primary means of transportation up into the 1940’s.  And since the days of the fur trade, Idaho has been an epicenter of Western symbolism.  Thus the saddle played an important role in Idaho history.

This book serves as an introduction to the saddle as a utilitarian article, and hints at the importance of the saddle as a lifestyle icon.  One could’ve appreciated more input by riders themselves as to the nature of saddles—an expertise thankfully not yet dead—but such an inclusion would have at least doubled the book size, and perhaps halved its chances of publication.

Sitting Tall contains a series of essays introducing such topics as:  the saddle as folk art, Native American saddles, and the history of saddlery in Idaho.  Also included is a list of Idaho saddlemakers, some of whom are contemporary craftspeople.  Of special interest is a pictorial album of makers’ marks, which consist of leather stampings by both past and contemporary saddlers.

Illustrated with many rare period photographs and historic newspaper advertisements, even the jaded may be drawn into the aesthetics of this otherworld—both forgone and parallel to our contemporary realm of chrome and injection molded plastic.

Sitting Tall is a somewhat short but satisfying read.  Highly recommended.