Elmer Wyland's "Plastic" Show Tack, written by Elmer E. Wyland
“In my early days of recreational horsemanship, I was appalled at the drab and almost dirty appearance of most western riders and clubs. I felt that this created a bad image and feel that the more dressed-up way of our Westernaires did much to stimulate other clubs to accent a new look.”
“I sensed a need, in my own case, for a more dressy and unusual look for Mrs. Wyland and myself as well our mounts. This was the day where the maximum was a silver-mounted saddle and a sequined jacket. I decided to do something. Plastics were then new. I found a man in Nebraska who had spent considerable money to have plastic 1/4" sheets extruded for saddles and quantities of strap-type plastic for bridles, all in blue, red, and white. He had developed a method of heat molding the plastic saddles. He had built some 12 saddles for movie celebrities such as Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, etc. This was the end of his sales and he went bankrupt. I was able to buy a quantity of his surplus at a bargain price.
“I had previously built the first plastic show chaps for the Westernaires in the early 50s with plastic seat cover material. I spent one noon hour down at Stoll’s Seat Cover Shop on Speer Boulevard. We cut out the prototype pair and had them sew the sample. It was some 10 years later that the first commercial plastic chaps showed up and were shown at National Western.
“Before I could work the plastic I had to design a heated blade to weld the plastic. I then created and owned the first 36 bridles and breast collars used by our Big Red Team. I designed pipe racks that I could set up in my garage, hang the outfits on hooks and Mrs. Wyland and I would issue the sets as as each rider drove over. Then later the process was reversed and the equipment was stored in trunks until needed again. The plastic equipment was beautiful, but in cold weather it would become brittle and break.
“I then made and owned a complete set of bridles and breast collars for the Precisionettes.
“In order to further enhance the team appearance, I ran down the South African Feather Co. (with a distributor in Philly). We still buy and use these feather head plumes.”
Westernaires volunteer Bob Massengale readies the saddle for special display in one of the Fort Westernaire classrooms.
Wyland's show saddle, on display at Mountain Bell Telephone Company's library, 1955.
“I was in need of a parade show saddle. I heat-molded it from 1/4 inch white and red plastic. It was a real challenge but in a total work time of about two weeks, the job was done. I then had a seamstress design a red and white uniform for me. I also had a fancy show serape made from plastic and fringe. I’m sure that you have seen pictures of this outfit with me up on my palomino parade and show horse "Sunny Bob." This saddle and outfit will be on display in our Westernaire museum, if and when we can find room to display it.”