Gary Dunshee owns Big Bend Saddlery in Alpine, Texas, and builds saddles, tack and other gear needed by working cowboys across America. Born in Tucumcari, N.M., Dunshee went to work at the Big Bend Saddlery in 1971 under owner George Nix, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Sul Ross State University in 1973, bought the saddlery in 1978 and partnered with Bret Collier in 1983.

 

Dunshee represented the southwest region of the nation as saddle maker and roper at the national bicentennial celebration in Washington, DC, in 1976 and was the first Texas saddle maker invited to Trappings of the Great American West in Flagstaff, Ariz., in the 1980s. Dunshee started Trappings of Texas in Alpine and curated it for 16 years. He ranches in Gonzales and Brewster counties.

 

View his website at bigbendsaddlery.com