Bowden Brand History

  Francis Bowden's career in saddletree building began in 1960 at Standard Saddle Tree Co. in Vernal, UT, where he learned every aspect of the craft. After a brief move to Oregon, he returned to Standard and, in 1976, partnered with its owners to purchase Ritter Saddletrees in El Paso, Texas. The company, named for noted saddletree maker P.Q. Ritter, was renamed Ritter Saddle Tree Co., Inc.

In 1977, Francis relocated the business to Anthony, TX. The first years were challenging and after a year of hand-making trees, Francis built the first cutting machines. In 1980, the shop tragically burned down. Francis seized this moment, purchased his partners' shares, and fully took over the company. He then impressively rebuilt the entire operation, patterns & improved, second-generation machinery—from memory within two to three months.

As the company's reputation for exceptional quality grew, Francis branded his unique bar designs as "BowdenBrand" (BB). His sons joined the business, leading to rapid expansion and the development of third-generation machines, firmly establishing the company's reputation for high standards. In 2000, the company was formally renamed Bowden Saddle Tree Co, Inc. Bowden Saddle Tree Co. began modernizing in 2005 with the purchase of their first CNC machine, which vastly improved the accuracy and consistency of parts. Though embracing new technology, they've retained the traditional hand-crafting skills and a core of long-time employees.

For the Bowden family, saddletree building is an honored tradition, combining new methods with old-fashioned ideals to ensure customer satisfaction. 

Insist on a Bowden  •  Since 1976