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Webb, Harlan

About | Abstract

About

Webb discusses his family life and his saddle making business.

Interviewee Harlan Webb, male, born in 1932
Date Range 1932-2005
Date & Location April 21, 2005, Webb's saddle shop in White Oaks, N.M.
Project Farm and Ranch Folks
Region Southeast New Mexico
Number of Tapes 1
Transcribed July 28, 2009
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Abstract

Tape 1, Side A

Webb began making saddles in the late 1960s or early 1970s. He briefly discusses his marriage and his children. After a stint in the military, Webb broke horses for ranchers in the Roswell, N.M. area until he moved to El Paso in the 1960s. He purchased the S. D. Myres Saddle Company at that time. He made saddles for cowboys and rodeo hands. Webb states he has made over two thousand saddles. He lived in El Paso for almost twenty years, and has worked with some good saddle makers in his career. He moved from El Paso to Glencoe, N.M. and lived there for twenty years.

He discusses his life as a child in Roswell, N.M. He states that factory saddles look good when you are riding, but they do not hold up because the manufacturers cut too many corners. They use imitation sheepskin, and he uses real sheepskin. Webb is still making saddles at this time, but says that they prices have gotten so high that he does not make as many as he used to. He makes a lot of novelties, purses, and belts and makes saddle repairs.
He discusses his brothers and sisters, as well as his father's occupation. Webb states that he has had a very interesting life. He has worked with some of the best saddle makers, and has been involved with rodeo people such as Casey Tibbs.

Webb has made saddletrees for Austin "Slim" Green, and states that Slim was a really good saddle maker.

Tape 1, Side B

Webb discusses in length his work breaking horses and running cattle. In his lifetime, he has also trained racehorses. The remainder of the interview discusses other things that Webb has done in his life.