Home Hedgpeth Saddlery: Technology Transforming Tradition

Hedgpeth Saddlery: Technology Transforming Tradition

By Josephine Cozean Styron

You’ve heard the saying “Give the People What They Want.” Well, that’s just what Hedgpeth Saddlery has been doing for over 20 years. Under Don Goyette, the renowned saddle company has kept its high standards while incorporating technology that has made its saddles and tack even better, as well as easier on the pocketbook.

History of Hedgpeth Saddlery

Hedgpeth Saddlery has a long history with Missouri Fox Trotters, going back to the 1980s and Clarence Anderson, who owned Mary’s Saddle Shop in Willow Springs, Missouri, where he designed his own saddles.

“The distinguishing feature of Clarence’s saddles is that they were comfortable. The seat was ergonomically designed to place your weight comfortably for you and the horse, and the fenders were cut to prevent strain on the knees,” said Goyette.

Those features, along with the saddle tree configuration determined by Clarence, are still used by Goyette today. “Clarence only had a fourth-grade education, but he knew his stuff,” said Goyette.

In 2003, David Hedgpeth bought Mary’s Saddle Shop, renamed it Hedgpeth Saddlery, and moved it to Rogersville, Missouri. Hedgpeth kept the same designs and established name recognition for his saddles at Fox Trotter shows.

Meanwhile in Connecticut, Don Goyette got educated in electrical engineering, owned a computer shop, then moved to Missouri. Goyette started riding Quarter Horses but wisely switched to Missouri Fox Trotters. “I went to Hedgpeth Saddles to buy a saddle because I had heard through a friend that they were comfortable,” he said. Of course, you know the story: go in to buy a saddle and leave owning the company. Well, not quite that fast, but after training with Hedgpeth, Goyette bought the saddlery in 2009 and moved it to Bolivar, Missouri.

Supplementing Proven Design with State-of-the Art Technology

Goyette has supplemented the excellent design of Hedgpeth saddles with his own skills in engineering and computer technology. “I follow the same design that Clarence used, but I do things a little differently,” said Goyette. “Most of my skill comes from engineering. I use state of the art computer software, then cut it out with a CNC cutting machine. Cutting by hand, you can’t get it that precise. Using the cutting machine also cuts down on labor costs, so it’s less expensive for the customer. Custom-made saddles are more of a challenge because they involve programming the design and the computer work,” he said.

Everything is then assembled by hand in the Bolivar shop, using American products: leather from Pennsylvania and saddle trees from Tennessee. Goyette uses only English bridle leather in his saddles and tack, another Clarence idea. “It’s lighter weight but twice as strong,” Goyette said.

While making saddles and tack is enjoyable for Goyette, his greatest satisfaction comes from the positive feedback he gets from his customers. He likes knowing the person for whom he is building the saddle. “That way I can put personal things on that I know they would like,” he said.

Goyette rarely gets negative feedback; when he does he might use it to make changes. One change is making saddles that weigh less. “I support my customers, because if you buy one of our saddles, you pretty much have this saddle the rest of your life,” he said.

The MFTHBA and Hedgpeth Saddlery Partnership

Because of their long history of working with and designing saddles that have worked for the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, Hedgpeth Saddlery became the Official Trail Saddle of the MFTHBA in 2013. “This designation made sense for the MFTHBA,” said Dr. Joyce Graening, MFTHBA president. “Hedgpeth Saddlery has a long history of providing quality trail saddles.” The partnership between Hedpeth Saddlery and the MFTHBA runs through 2017. “We value being partnered with Hedgpeth Saddlery and hope our relationship will extend well beyond that time frame,” said Graening.

Through this partnership Hedgpeth Saddlery and the MFTHBA will be providing a Hedgpeth saddle to the winner of the Amateur Versatility World Grand Championship and the Amateur Owned 5-Years-and-Older World Grand Champion. In addition, an attendee at the Show and Celebration may register to win a saddle, with the winner being announced on Saturday night of the show. One participant in the MFTHBA Fox Trot America program will also win a Hedgpeth saddle.

Don Goyetee believes his company is different from other saddleries because of its guarantee, technology, and quality. Go to www.hedgpetheasyride.com to learn more and to see why Hedgpeth Saddlery is one of the America’s best.