For many, a highlight of the All-American Quarter Horse Congress is walking down the red carpet of the one and only Congress Hall. It is an experience unlike any other; a horse lover’s shopping paradise. Amongst the assortment of booths and vendors, one thing always seems to stand out.

Sitting on its own spinning pedestal, the featured saddle of Harris Leather & Silverworks is an excellent introduction to the artistry of saddle making.

From its humble beginnings in 1968, the small family owned business has grown to be one of the leading producers of customized tack and equipment in the horse industry.

The story behind Harris Leather & Silverworks started to take form as brothers, Phil and Eddie Harris, were growing up showing Quarter Horses in North Carolina. Their father and mother, Ralph and Mabelene Harris, carried along several small tack items, all  handmade on Mabelene’s kitchen table, to sell at the shows,

“They made bridles, belts, purses and wallets for several years until 1982 when I graduated from college and built the first saddle,” Phil said. “We haven’t been without a saddle order since.”

From design to display, each individual saddle is a product of the collective efforts of many. Harris Leather & Silverworks of State Road, North Carolina has around 30 full-time employees.

“Everything from the silverwork to the leatherwork is all done right there in our shop in State Road, North Carolina,” Preston said.

Three generations of the Harris family continue to make a mark on the family business: Ralph and Mabelene, Phil and wife Phyllis with sons Preston, Stanton and wife Kimberly, Eddie and wife Robbin with daughters Mary-Gwyn and Victoria.

With over 49 years of experience, the Harris mission strives for exceptional quality and excellent customer satisfaction, creating personal relationships along the way.

Behind the scenes, Harris Leather & Silverworks is continuously focused on building work and show saddles. Due to a large demand for the equipment, work saddles are divided into groups of 10 to efficiently complete the manufacturing process. From start to finish, the completion of this operation can vary between 12 to 18 days.

A western show saddle typically requires nearly 200 hours solely devoted to the construction of the silverwork, in addition to 100 hours of leatherwork and tooling. The flawless finished product of the work and show saddles reflect the true craftsmanship and hard work done by experienced saddle makers and silversmiths.

Going hand in hand with manufacturing saddles, Harris Leather & Silverworks continuously strives to introduce modernization with new generations of tack equipment.

“It is a team effort generating new ideas for design, I will have an idea and the younger crowd will bring it into fruition using modern technology,” Phil said. “Sometimes they’ll have an idea and I’ll make it happen.”

There are many factors that are taken into consideration when coming up with the company’s newest designs. Amongst them all: being trendsetters in the industry.

“The most important of those being uniqueness; other considerations for new designs include, aesthetics, durability, as well as longevity of the design,” Stanton said. “We strive to ensure that Harris riders are always on the cutting edge.”

Along with anything else, coming up with new designs presents challenges of its own. One of the largest obstacles is creating something trendy enough to be new and different, without going too far.

“A new design has to be unique and different but not stray too far from traditional expectations of how a western show saddle should look,” Stanton said. “It is a fine line you have to walk.”

This year’s new design.

Completing the design of a Western show saddle does not go without the skill of a true silversmith. Eddie Harris enjoys the process of building and designing the silver additions to a saddle.

So, what sets Harris Leatherworks apart from other businesses?

“It’s our ability to customize and create unique designs, that marry the customers’ ideas, with our decades of experience making high quality silver products,” Eddie explained. “Our designs are grown organically in house from a combination of our old-world manufacturing style and the customer’s ideas and creativity – blending both to create the cutting-edge style.”

Black filigree lace top skirts on any saddle quickly became a Harris favorite and a favorite of the customer, as well.

“This design was unveiled at the Congress two years ago and has been really popular since then,” Stanton said. “I think everyone loves the uniqueness of this design and the intricate cut and design of the lace.”

The evolution of saddle making has made significant strides, dating back to when the company first opened its doors. Year after year, the spinning pedestal featured in the Harris booth at the trade show at the Quarter Horse Congress features the latest and most unique saddle design of the year. Like other fads that go in and out of style, the trends of saddles fluctuate over time.

“Back in the early ‘90s we had pleasure horses, hackamores and different things on the corner plates of a saddle, which has phased out,” Preston said. “That also includes items such as riata straps and breast collars.”

Preston said that, in addition to coming up with new saddle designs each year specifically for the Congress, the family works to create a new and improved feature to help exhibitors have a more comfortable ride.

“In years past, we released Horsemanship adjusters and cut out fenders or what we call ‘flex fenders’ to potentially help exhibitors have a better ride,” Preston said.

While building customized saddles is a primary focus, Harris Leather & Silverworks also sells work and show equipment, saddle pads, headstalls, halters, belts, belt buckles, spurs and men’s and women’s boots and apparel.
This year marks the 28th year that the family owned business has sold merchandise at the Congress. This does not go without lengthy preparation and a large inventory.

“We start at least six months ahead of time preparing for the Congress,” Phyllis said. “We also spend a lot of the summer months doing overtime.”

Harris Leather & Silverworks is a corporate sponsor of the Congress and supports some of the largest shows and futurities in the industry.

Phil Harris with the family’s first saddle.

The Harris family travels year-round to major events including: the AQHA Novice Championships, in Raleigh, North Carolina; The Madness, in Wilmington, Ohio; the Tarheel Triple Classic/The Little Futurity, in Raleigh, North Carolina; the Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity, in Berrien Springs, Michigan; the Big A and Show For Dough, in Conyers, Georgia; the AQHYA Championship Show, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and the NSBA World Championship Show, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The year is always capped off with a month-long stay at the Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio.

There they get to catch up with many long-time customers.

Twenty years have passed since Richard and Betty Carr, of Bremen, Indiana were first introduced to Phil and Phyllis Harris and the Harris Leather & Silverworks tradition.

At that time, they showed under the guidance of Troy Oakley Quarter Horses, then located in North Carolina. Oakley recommended the Harris product, taking Richard and Betty to see first-hand the fascinating process of how saddles are made.

“As impressive as that was, it paled in comparison to the feeling we got after meeting Phil and Phyllis,” Richard said. “We could tell right away that we were in the presence of some wonderful people, and every interaction we have had since with Phil and Phyllis has reaffirmed that feeling.”

Richard explains that the Harris family’s values, ethics and morals sets the business apart from others.

“They treat everyone they meet the same way they would want to be treated,” he said. “They always seem to remember what we have purchased and how all of it fits together.”

All-Around trainer Tommy Sheets of New Albany, Indiana, is a devoted Harris Leather & Silverworks client. He purchased his first halter in 1982 at a show in Richmond, Virginia, when the family operation only offered halters, bridles and breast collars.

Sheets said the Harris experience is unlike that of any other.

Tommy Sheets.

“They stand behind their equipment one hundred percent,” he said. “They are extremely loyal and their craftsmanship is impeccable.”

Although Sheets didn’t realize it then, that halter purchase in 1982 would be the start of a long-lasting relationship with Harris Leather & Silverworks.

Sheets still has that show halter and it has retained its radiance, demonstrating the true longevity of the Harris brand.

Like others, professional trainer Steve Reams, of Eberlee, North Carolina, is drawn to the beautiful equipment made by Harris Leather & Silverworks. But, he is also drawn to the fact that it is a family-oriented business and he is especially happy to see the Harris tradition passed down over several generations.

“They are a huge asset to our discipline and our industry,” he said. “They have not only supported the North Carolina Quarter Horse Association, but also our industry as a whole, in a huge, huge way.”

Trainer Bruce Walquist, of Walquist Quarter Horses, located in Cleburne, Texas, also sang the praises of the Harris family business.

The long-time Harris customer said the Harris family bends over backwards to help him and his customers.

“The quality, workmanship and integrity are excellent,” Walquist said. “I think it is their willingness to provide a product and help the person buying it to the best of their abilities that stands out.”

Amateur competitor Kari Jewell, of Walcott, Iowa, has been a devout customer of Harris Leather & Silverworks for years.

“They are very accommodating,” she said. “Every time I need something they make it and it is beautiful. There are never any issues.”

Harris Leather & Silverworks customers come from all over the globe including Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States for the one-of-a-kind show equipment.

Eddie Harris said one of the most rewarding parts of what he does is being able to create products their customers appreciate and most importantly enjoy.

Visit Harris Leather & Silverworks at www.harrisleather.com.