Hillman Saddlery

10/03/2024

Used consignment:
16" Wade, 4" horn cap, 3-3/4" cantle, 5/8" tooled (Wild Rose), inlaid padded bicycle seat, matching breast collar.
This saddle was made in 2002, I think this would have been the last saddle with the tooling background dyed until we started doing it again this year. It looks like the original owner didn't ride it much. The 2nd owner picked it up in the last couple of years, but he currently has reasons to put it on the market.
If this saddle was made with these options today (including the breast collar and bucking rolls) it would be $10,100. Considering the condition and availability (it is in our shop, ready to go on a horse), he is asking $7000 for it.
The best way to contact us about this saddle is Messenger, followed by call or text to 432-263-0753.

09/03/2024

Some of the pictures for this one have already been making the rounds on Facebook and Instagram. For Joseph B Harrison , with some stunning hardware from Josh Ownbey JO Cowboy Line.
At the time of this posting, the projected lead time for the next available slot on the list is 55 months.

08/11/2024

14-1/2" 3" cantle (I may just have to start calling this "The Standard" or something for as many as we have on order like this), for Miles Baker.
Hardware by JB Guillory.

07/04/2024

14-1/2" hybrid rigging (Inskirt front, Dee ring rear) for JC Flake.

This marks the first saddle completed since Dad (Jon) passed away.

Considering as much time as we have spent since the middle of April at hospitals, dealing with transferring ownership, and getting the new tree shop area ready for the summer heat, it feels like we should be 3 months behind. However my calculations put us at only 8 weeks behind at the moment.

For the last 2 years we have set our lead-times based on averaging 2 saddles out per month, but we would stay ahead of that each month with exceptions of back to back tooled saddles which take longer of course, but across the last year we stayed ahead of that average. I'm hoping to be able to maintain that average (24 saddles per year) once we find our our rhythm and a new normal. As we get to the other side of this transition, the amount of tooled saddles will dictate whether we meet that goal more than anything.

Thank you to all of the family, friends, and customers that have supported us through these unexpected circumstances.

06/22/2024

Here is a map for parking for the Celebration of Life. Please don't park in the areas with an "X", and not pictured is the baseball fields that are also available for parking.
Also pictured is the front of the building. Please come in the double doors shown in the picture.

06/15/2024

Jon Gavin Hillman, 72, of Big Spring, passed away on Monday, May 27, 2024.

Jon was born July 2, 1951 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to Jay Guy Hillman and Margaret (Munro) Hillman. He graduated Isabelle Sellon High School, Blairmore, Alberta in 1969, and then came to Texas to attend Sul Ross University. After which, he decided to call the United States, and particularly Texas, his home. His passion for horses and leather work led him to establish Hillman Saddlery in 1974, which proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

In 1975, Jon met Kim Ann (Parks) Hillman, and they were married December 18, 1976. They shared a dedication to both the success of the business and each other until her passing in November 2023.

Jon was preceded in death by both of his parents, his brothers, Jay and Terry, and his wife of nearly 47 years, Kim. He is survived by his son, Matt Hillman and wife Danielle of Big Spring; sister Cyd Collings and husband Jake of Blairmore, Alberta, Canada; sister Kate Barnes and husband Sheldon of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada; as well as nieces and nephews, and other extended family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 22nd from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the Glasscock County Community Center Banquet Hall in Garden City. This will be more visitation than ceremonial; people may come and leave as needed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice, or that you attend a rodeo of your choosing in Jon’s honor; reflecting his deep passion for the western way of life.

Jon’s legacy lives on through the craftsmanship of Hillman saddles, his son, Matt, who will continue the legacy, tradition, and craftsmanship of Hillman Saddlery, and the many friends, customers, and people he impacted along the way.

05/28/2024

Sad news...after a month long battle with various lung issues, Jon has gone on ahead of us to ride the next pasture.
Please respect our privacy during this difficult time. Please no calls (text only), no visitors, and no food or flowers at this time.
Thank you all ffor your prayers, support, and love.
Matt

05/23/2024

The latest 2 finished for Dylan Barker and Jeremy Hemmenn.

05/22/2024

Y'all may have noticed an absence of posts and activities for the last month.
For the last 4 weeks Jon has been in the hospital with severe lung issues. He's better than he was when he was first checked into the higher care hospital, but he still has concerning oxygen issues/levels and is pretty much confined to the hospital bed. In typical Jon fashion, he wants to talk to everyone, but the amount of oxygen being force fed into him makes it hard for him to communicate. Even writing and typing are struggles for him. So visitation is still a family only thing for now. It's going to be a long, long road for him and no one is sure of the destination.
For the customers that usually communicate with him directly: I only check his phone on occasion, but I'm around the shop phone most of the time (432-263-0753).
The last 2 weeks I've been at the shop more, getting production going again. Just finished the saddle that was in process when this all started (pics will post tomorrow).
I will be getting with the customers whom have orders across the next several months to work out the details on their saddle (Dad usually only wrote down real brief notes for the order).
I'm hoping the lead time estimate we have been saying is only pushed back 1 month or so.
Please be patient with me as I assume all roles of the business without Dad's help.
We appreciate all of our customers and their support.
Thank you,
Matt

04/25/2024

New spring shirts! Same perfect fit, even more colors and patterns.

04/19/2024