Jean Pierre "Pedro" Pedrini

I was born in France in 1952, and grew up in the Swiss Alps. As I was raised around horses, my interest soon turned to western riding associations and clubs from both France and Switzerland.

In 1972, I met a Swiss leather crafter who helped me get started. However, I couldn't find anyone able to help me progress. I knew that coming to the United States would be the answer to learn about saddle making.

In 1978 I made my first trip. Certainly speaking no English didn't make things easy, but I proceeded to seek out people in the saddle making business. First I visited some shops in the southern part of the country. Then I went to Elko, NV, to visit .J.M.Capriola. After being there a few months, Jeremiah Watt and I left, visiting together many shops and ending up in Canada at Chuck Stormes. I stayed a short time and came back to the U.S, visiting as many saddle shops as I could. It was beginners luck! I spent months around some of the best craftsmen: Eddie Brooks, Cliff Ketchum, and Chester Hapes ... All of those men were full of advice and encouragement.

After a few expeditions from Europe to America and back, I decided that life in France was no longer possible. In 1984 I didn't go back. I moved around and worked in different shops and many tack-rooms; some a few days and some a fcw months or years. In 1990 I started my own shop in northern California. In 1992, I became an American citizen.

1998 brought changes: I needed to relocate and take some time off. I was soon on the road again visiting saddle makers, tree makers and silversmiths. Inspiration and learning was my goal.

In 2002, with my wife Claire and son Tony, we settled on a 30 acre horse facility near Marysville, California. Here I make custom saddles and do some silverwork .. Additionally, we raise and train horses.

In 2007 Pedro was honored to be voted in as a member of the "Traditional Cowboy Arts Association" (TCAA). Founded in 1998, the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association is a not for profit organization formed to preserve the craftsmanship of fine western gear making. It is the goal of the TCAA to establish a continuous link between the traditional gear making skills of the past and future generations of gear makers.