Membership
The membership of TCAA is made up of select individuals with established reputations as saddlemakers, silversmiths, bit and spur makers, and rawhide braiders. They are all legitimate heirs to a legacy that tracks back to the classical vaquero tradition of Visalia saddles, Santa Barbara bits, and Ortega rawhide.
The artist members accept membership applications from western craftspeople within the four disciplines it presently represents but seventy-five per cent of the active membership must approve candidates in an annual review process. All work must combine artistic quality with genuine practicality—so that even when pieces may genuinely be considered fine art, the over-riding criterion is one of use and function.
Founding Members
| Michael Beaver, Emeritus Rawhide Braider |
| Mark Dahl, Bit and Spur Maker |
| Mark Drain, Silversmith |
| John C. Ennis, Bit and Spur Maker |
| Scott Hardy, Silversmith |
| Dale Harwood, Emeritus Saddlemaker |
| Bill Heisman, Bit and Spur Maker |
| Don King, Emeritus Saddlemaker |
| Ernie Marsh, Bit and Spur Maker |
| Al Pecetti, Emeritus Silversmith |
| Cary Schwarz, Saddlemaker |
| Chuck Stormes, Saddlemaker |
| Al Tietjen, Emeritus Bit and Spur Maker |