A little background

James Colton “J. C.” Martin came from a family of European leatherworkers. His father’s family came from England, bringing a tradition of harness making, while his mother’s family came from Germany, where they practiced bootmaking and leatherwork.

Raised around his father’s workbench, James learned to stitch leather and repair bridles before earning his first wages as a ranch hand. Years spent riding in Texas shaped his approach to saddlemaking. He paid attention to where leather rubbed, which seams failed, and what made a saddle comfortable through a long working day.

He founded JC Martin Saddles with a simple belief: working riders deserved dependable equipment at a fair price. Quiet and particular about his craft, Martin often examined a customer’s worn saddle before asking what they wanted in a new one.

“A saddle earns its name after it leaves the shop,” he liked to say.

As the business grew, Martin hired Rick Shawn as his accountant. Rick’s interest soon extended beyond the books, and he became Martin’s saddlemaking apprentice. He spent years at the workbench learning to select leather, stitch by hand, and build saddles under the founder’s guidance.

The company has since changed hands and is now run by Rick. With experience in both the business and the craft, he carries forward Martin’s commitment to practical choices, dependable workmanship, and fair value for riders.