The Simplify & Clean Issue
GrAy Horse Harness Shop
In this 1906 flood photograph, the horse on top of the shop at Church and Main streets can be seen.
But there is one company that often gets left off the list of Visalia saddle and tack companies: the Gray Horse Harness Shop. It was located in the building on the southeast corner of Main and Church
Cinching a Place in Visalia History
streets. D. R. Douglass built it as a general store in 1860. From there he sold a variety of products including saddles and tack. The business
Story & Photo by Terry Ommen
changed hands several times, and in about 1888, the Anderson brothers began a harness business there. About two years later, A. T. Pruess bought it; it is believed he named the business
Cattle and cowboys have played a big part in Tulare County history
the “Gray Horse Harness Shop.”
since its beginning in 1852. The first homesteaders were stockmen
Pruess started selling harnesses, lap blankets, and whips on a small
who understood the importance of the saddle horse and its
scale, but quickly moved into the sale and repair of saddles. It has been
connection to successful cowboying. Following these herdsmen
said that Juan Martarel even worked there for a time. In 1892, Fred Uhl
came the saddle makers and the dealers anxious to ply their trade
and Frank King were hired; King didn’t stay long, but Uhl did.
and outfit the wrangler with the necessary gear.
Uhl was a native Californian born in Marysville around 1865, but
As the county seat, Visalia was a powerful magnet for these talented
most of his early adult years were spent in Sacramento. There he
leather workers, and it all started with Juan Martarel. He became
learned the saddle and tack trade while working for one of the
legendary in the saddle-making trade, and because of him, the
“largest manufacturers in the business.” Pruess recognized Visalia’s
Visalia Stock Saddle was born. Others followed in the business with
saddle-making legacy, and advertised in 1892 that he had hired “one
names like Walker, Salazar, Ledesma, Herrera, Kern, Ybarra, Samstag,
of the best saddle-makers in the state [probably referring to Uhl],
and others, securing a top spot for Visalia in the annals of saddle
and is now prepared to turn out as good a saddle as is made in
history. Because of them, the popular saddle was often used in song,
California.” He added, “I shall endeavor to keep up the reputation
story, and rhyme.
of the Visalia Stock Saddle.”
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