This story was ran in the Western Horseman Magazine also.
The saddle was made by Hamley's of Pendleton in June 1922. It was ordered by Hoot Gibson, a tough rodeo contestant and a cowboy movie star of the 1930's. Hoot had it made-to-order for his friend Pete Waldren of Stone Canyon, and was known as quite a drinker. He rode out to check his cattle every day, and he always had a bottle of bootleg whiskey with him. Sometimes the bottle won out over Pete, and his horse would go back to the ranch without him.. Pete would fall out of the saddle and end up walking home if someone didn't go out to look for him.
Hoot called Hamley's and made arrangements for this saddle, designed especially to help hold Pete into it. It worked pretty well, but Pete didn't last too long. The whiskey won out, and Pete died a young death.
The ranch was sold at public auction in 1926, and Eugene's family bought this saddle along with several other saddles for their children to ride. For years this saddle was on display at Hamley's in Pendleton.
Is the saddle stamped with Hamley maker's marks?
Hamley Saddle SPECIAL 4695
SADDLE HAS ON IT STAMPED WITH THE SPECIAL 4695
HAMLEY & CO.
--MAKER--
PENDLETON, ORE
Letter from Hamley's said this
The subject saddle was made for Pete Waldren of Stone Canyon, California in June of 1922, making it fifty-five years old. Because it was a special saddle, our records do not show what the initial price was...
THE SADDLE IS NOW 86 YEARS OLD.
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