Some chuckles with Chuck.

Last night, Himself spent the evening in Starbucks with saddlemaker friend Chuck Stormes catching up on life in the foothills round Millarville.

We got to talking about the origins of horseback riding - and Chuck told me how, some years ago, he once tried to correct a university professor's theorizing on when the first horse was ridden - a theory built around Ukrainian fossils of horse skulls whose teeth were worn by bits. Chuck left a message on the scholar's answering machine - but the learned man never did return the call.

WHAT ONE KID DID FOR KICKS

The theory is pretty obviously silly when you think about it, so I won't bother to explain, but what was interesting was Chuck telling me how he used to break horses for a living when he was fourteen. He made a loose horse collar which was half leather and half smooth chain and attached the bridle to that. When the reins were tightened, the horse felt the metal on its neck and responded accordingly - no bit involved. He told me of one difficult mare that he gentled in three weeks, never using a bit.

Between you, me and the hitching post, Chuck Stormes is probably the best creator of traditional western saddles in North America. His saddles - which combine comfort and functional excellence with style and decorative flair - have been exhibited at every major North American exhibition of western crafts and are a favourite with collectors.

NO ONE COULD LOOK LESS LIKE A MUSEUM CURATOR

In 1998, Chuck was the first recipient of the City of Calgary's Silver Spur Award for his work in preserving western culture. The same year, he received the Will Rogers Award from the Academy of Western Artists in Fort Worth, Texas. And in 2005, he was granted the honourary title of Associate Curator by Calgary's Glenbow Museum.

You can learn about him on his website at chuckstormes.com. These days, Chuck is kept busy also by his support for the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association, a non-profit organization intended to preserve and promote fine western craftsmanship.