About the Maker

Horseman George Stark of Stark’s Saddlery and Custom Leatherworks’ has a heritage strongly rooted in horses. His father, John Thomas Stark, was the trainer for the Bing Crosby Thoroughbred Farm from 1937 to 1944. During his tenure, California’s Thoroughbred Magazine named him Horseman of the Year.

George’s earliest memories are full of lavish stories about his father’s career and he attributes his love of horses to the elder Stark’s memoirs and his own childhood and career experiences.

His vast knowledge of horses has been honed over a lifetime of shoeing, exercising, breaking, training and breeding horses. For the last 30 years he has operated as a Farrier.

While running his Farrier business, he took classes in saddle making from a local boot and saddle shop. Here, he discovered his knack for leather crafting.This revelation spawned a new passion.

A combination of skill, experience and wisdom led him to a new line of business in saddlery. His understanding of how a saddle should fit both the horse and rider is rapidly gaining him notoriety as a custom saddle builder. Today, most of his time is devoted to fashioning uniquely individualized saddles from his shop in La Pine Oregon. George offers a diversity of customized, high quality and original leather products.