About Klenda Custom Saddlery and Bob Klenda, Saddlemaker, Meeker Colorado

History of Klenda Saddlery:
Bob Klenda began working with leather in 1959, completing his first saddle in 1961. Kermit Lyons, Duane Soderquist, and Bud Grant, all accomplished saddle makers, commanding only the highest quality of work, tutored Bob. In 1962, after having worked with saddle maker Duane Soderquist of the Newton Brothers saddlery, Bob opened his own shop at Fruita, Colorado, where he was practically a neighbor to Bud Grant, who learned saddle making from C. H. Nelson in Grand Junction, Colorado. Bud was a big influence in Bob’s journey down the saddle making trail. Today, after having made nearly 500 saddles, Bob continues the tradition of making only the highest of quality saddles, chaps, and accessories.

Klenda’s Custom Saddlery is located in Northwest Colorado along Highway 13 between Meeker and Rifle. Just over the ridge is the famed Piceance Basin, known for its cattle and deer hunting. It is range country where horseback is still in style, a country that makes good horses and cowboys.

It is a country rich in history, from Indian battles to the struggles between the cattlemen and the sheepmen. It has been and still is stock country and is a hunter's paradise. The area around Meeker has been home to the largest mule deer herd in the world.

From its beginning, the area has attracted top-notch saddle makers. Saddles from these early makers are now sought by collectors. For many years Bob made saddles just over the mountain to the South at New Castle and Collbran. In 2005, in response to increasing urban pressure Bob relocated to the range country of Meeker. It is oak brush and sage just out from the shop door. It is a setting fitting to Bob, an area that inspires the creative spirit, an area befitting to continue building saddles that match the area. “The finest there is”

Accomplishments:
Bob Began showing his work in 1991, first at the Colorado State fair, then at the “Trapping of the American West art” show in Flagstaff, Arizona. Bob has shown his work consistently at these shows, as well as, the "Dry Creek Art Fellowship" show in Sedona, Arizona, the "Elko Poetry Gathering Saddle Show" in Elko, Nevada, The Art of The Saddle Maker show at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, and at art shows around Colorado and Wyoming. Bob is recognized as a master saddle maker by the Colorado Council on the Arts and works consistently with the Council to foster the Art of Saddle Making.

In 2005, Bob made a saddle for the 2006 Denver National Western’s 100th Anniversary, it was auctioned off at a benefit auction to benefit the National Western Scholarship program. It sold for $19,500.00. This saddle is pictured on the right of this page. Click here or on the saddle picture for more information.

The Colorado Saddle Makers Association (CSMA) http://coloradosaddlemakers.org was formed in 1991. Bob Klenda has been an active participant in CSMA, serving as its President for many years. Bob spends considerable time and effort organizing and speaking at CSMA seminars and teaching leather carving. Bob is also a member of the American Saddle Makers Association and supportive of their program. Bob's work with 4-H leathercraft has prompted many young people to undertake making a saddle. Bob was awarded the Al Stohlman Award for his contribution to leather work in 2010.

Bob and three of his six children beside his saddle at the 2006 Art of the Saddle Maker Show in Colorado Springs. A Message from Bob Klenda

After having grown up on a Kansas farm where Bob learned to be content with long hours of hard work Bob came to Eastern Utah in 1957. There he became acquainted with ranchers and cowboys from the canyon country around Green River. These people taught Bob about range cowboying and instilled in him an appreciation for top quality saddles. There is a lot of rich history in this canyon country as well as neighboring western Colorado; the people coupled with the history wetted Bob’s appetite to become a saddle maker, every bit as good as those that the cowboys had immortalized in Bob’s mind.

Eastern Utah and Western Colorado coupled with several years in Prescott, Arizona have been my domain. This takes in some of the roughest country that a cowboy can ride; a country where it is one horse for the entire day, it is up and down, hot and cold, dry and wet. It is a country where saddles are tested in the most extreme conditions known. Klenda saddles have stood the test, they have been there, withstood the long days, and provided comfort to both horse and rider. Over the years Bob has build saddles, always striving to make one better than the last one, either full or part time. During the part time periods Bob ranched, cowboyed, and was a water commissioner. I am now a retired water commissioner back to full time saddle making.

I invite you to browse this sampling of my work.

May this web site serve as my catalog, pictured on these pages are saddles and gear that I have made. Each one has been carefully made to meet the customer's needs. I welcome you to call me, Bob Klenda, at 970-878-5382. I enjoy working with my customers. Present me with an idea of what you have in mind and I will design it for you. Together we will produce an art piece built for rugged use that is beautiful enough to be in a showcase.

Satisfaction Guaranteed on all Klenda saddles and tack.
I guarantee my workmanship to be of the finest caliber, my saddles to fit the customer and the type of horses they are built for. If for any reason you have a problem with a piece of my equipment call me, we’ll discuss it and decide what can be done about it. I want you to be satisfied.

Looking forward to serving you,

Bob Klenda

Saddle Maker