The Saddles of Fiesta exhibit opens in Santa Barbara in time for Old Spanish Days

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -  A collection of some of the finest saddles honored in Old Spanish Days is now on display at the Carriage and Western Art Museum of Santa Barbara.

Saddle Historian Tom Peterson opened the exhibit Saturday with a reception and a story about some of the featured saddles.

They date back to 1928.  Joining him in the effort are Dylan Peterson, Bill Reynolds and Griff Durham.   As a team they work on many saddle exhibits together.

The saddles are from makers including the Visalia Stock Saddle Company, Dick May Saddlery and the G.J. Jedlicka Saddlery.  
Many from the early days came from the first Mayor of Beverly Hills Silsby Spalding who had land at the Tecolote Ranch on the Santa Barbara County coastline.   He had a collection of bits, spurs and saddles which are part of the display.

Peterson said,  "we have kids come in the 6th graders that are studying the 49ers that come in and see the wagons and see the saddles and the bits and spurs and things that we have to show them."

A show like this is not presented annually.

Peterson said, "we do different shows in different years but this is the first time we have done the Saddles of Fiesta and we are doing it because the Historical Museum is doing their Project Fiesta and so we thought this can go hand and hand and after they go to their show they can come over and see ours."
This event will be set up through August.
For more information go to the :  Carriage and Western Art Museum of Santa Barbara.