Celebrating 27 Years of Tom Balding's Bits & Spurs
Bit and spur making is as much artistry as industry. When a horseman aspires to something more than the cheap hardware stamped in China, his desire for hand-crafted work often leads to small artisanal shops like that of Sheridan’s Tom Balding. Horsemen and collectors the world over clamor for the Tom’s unique, beautiful and functional designs, which the master metal worker has been crafting here for nearly three decades.
West Texas Style Spurs with Silver and Brand
Tom is always innovating, always looking for ways to make his products more beautiful and functional. Nowadays, he does look at and consider how other craftsmen do their work. For instance, while teaching a seminar about welding to a group of Texas bit and spur makers, he noticed the heavy heel bands often favored in the Lone Star state. He took that idea home and came up with his own “West Texas” line of spurs, adding his own design ideas to the popular style.
“People stop in to see us work all the time. And the number one comment I hear is, ‘I never had any idea how much goes into making these,” said Tom. “They leave with a real appreciation for the art and craft of bit and spur making.”
Tom Balding Working His Magic
“Probably 90 percent of my shop time is spent on developing new products,” he says. “We’ve been around for 27 years now, but we can’t stop moving forward or looking for ways to make out products better.”
Known by horsemen and trainers alike as the industry leader in quality, design and crafting of bits and spurs, Tom Balding invites you to become familiar with his many unique products and wares by visiting and touring his shop in Sheridan Wyoming.
Tom Balding Bits & Spurs, is located just off Coffeen, at 655 Riverside in Sheridan Wyoming
Open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday – Friday and Saturdays
Check out all his wares and Custom Bits & Spurs , or call 307-672-8459 to learn more about this local Wyoming Artist and Entrepreneur.
Excerpts taken from Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine
