The saddle has become an American icon. Wranglers rely on saddles every day, but discerning outsiders favor them for image enhancement and self expression. Thus saddles turn up in paintings, films, even advertisements for cigarettes and automobiles. In the marketplace of western memorabilia they have great value. One of the most famous saddlemakers is Donald L. King of Sheridan, Wyoming. His Sheridan-style saddle, among the finest of all western saddles in craftsmanship and beauty, is commissioned regularly for championship rodeo trophies and is prized by collectors. This study of the Sheridan saddle and its creator not only highlights King`s contributions but also traces the origins of the western saddle to its roots in Mexico and Spain.