Pat Horlacher (Burns) is a traditional silversmith who started his own business in 2009. He creates hand engraved horncaps for saddles, nameplates for the cantle, concho chokers for neck scarves, belt buckles, rings, pendants, and money clips.
Bio
Pat Horlacher’s interest in the buckaroo culture was first spurred by the annual Horlacher family road trip from Eastern Washington to Jordan Valley's Big Loop Rodeo in the high desert region of Southeastern Oregon. At the rodeo, Horlacher was able to view the works of top Western gear makers. Little did he realize that one vendor on hand, Ernie Marsh, would, years later, become his mentor in the silversmithing trade. After completing the farrier science program at Walla Walla (WA) Community College, Horlacher took a job at a dude ranch in Sisters, Oregon where he met his wife-to-be. The couple eventually made their way to Corvallis, Oregon and for the next eight years, Horlacher shod horses in the Corvallis area. Silversmithing had always interested Horlacher, but it wasn’t until one of Horlacher’s clients, John Hyde, owner/silversmith at the Yamsi Ranch in Chiloquin, Oregon, invited him to try his hand at it that his path to entering the trade became clear. To this day, Horlacher credits Hyde for giving him a foundation in the craft. Horlacher's transition into silversmithing quickly gained momentum. A scholarship from the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association gave him the opportunity to spend a week (the first of two such opportunities) with Ernie Marsh at his workshop in Westfall, Oregon. These close-at-hand experiences opened his eyes to a higher level of craftsmanship. In 2009, Horlacher started his own business. From silver conchos to spice up a saddle, to a trophy belt buckle for a rodeo champ, Horlacher does it all in the Western line, filling orders now backed up a year.
