The mission of Deseret Saddlery is to make quality working stock saddles that are historically accurate at a reasonable price. These saddles can be used by historical re-enactors, Single Action Shooters and Cowboy Mounted Shooters and motion pictures with the utmost confidence in their historical integrity and accuracy. Our philosophy is that there were many frontier saddlemakers in the Old West who are not represented by the Old West style saddlemakers of today, and that they need to be represented in today’s market.

HISTORY:

      The name Deseret comes from the original name of Utah in 1847 while it was still part of Mexico, before it officially became part of the united States of America. Deseret Saddlery originated in Provo, Utah and is an 1800s style saddle making company which was started in 1999 by the sole owner, Roger Blomquist. The company was formed when he was working with American West professor, Dr. Fred Gowans on Roger’s master’s thesis on the evolution of the Wyoming stock saddles between the years 1860 and 1930. Both Dr. Gowans and Roger worked together to learn how to build these historical saddles, while Roger did the field research from museum to museum. Once Roger had completed his thesis and masters degree, he began to build saddles for sale and profit, starting with the first one being donated to the Manitou Springs Candle-lighters organization in Colorado for children with terminal cancer. Roger also works in the motion picture industry providing saddles and other props for western films, as well as riding for the camera. This spurred the interest and desire to be able to provide accurate information and saddles for films that are presently using saddles that are not of the time period. Roger has built saddles that have been used in documentaries, motion pictures and TV shows.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM DESERET SADDLERY:

     Re-enactors and mounted cowboy shooters demand the utmost in historical accuracy in their equipment. More and more, motion pictures are demanding this same authenticity, and it is to these people that we will cater to. We will use the best quality materials on the market to make an affordable high quality product for those who want to represent themselves correctly at their various events.

     Thanks to countless hours of research and the kindness of many Wyoming museums, Roger has been able to combine his re-enacting experiences with samples of the time period to join with other period saddlemakers to continue producing the old-time saddles.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

     Roger has worked on many motion pictures and television shows that gave him a unique understanding and perspective on historical events that most professors and teachers never have the opportunity to obtain. Because of this, he wished to be able to teach history and pass this first hand knowledge on to his students, to let them know what history sounded, tasted, smelt, felt as well as looked like. But in order to do this he had to go back to college and obtain an Associates of Arts, Bachelors, Masters as well as a Ph. D. degree, leading him on a decade long journey through school. His undergraduate and masters work was done at Brigham Young University in the heart of the Old West and he then transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he is currently finishing his Ph.D. in history in the area where the West begins near the confluence of the Platte and Missouri River. He plans to stay involved in the motion picture industry as both a consultant as well as wrangler and is involved in several film projects currently in the making and planning stages. One of his great fortunes was being able to take a Lewis and Clark class from Dr. Gary Moulton, Indian classes from Dr. Victoria Smith and classes on colonialism on the frontier from Dr. John Wunder while he studied in Nebraska. He has traveled the routes of the old saddle makers, such as the Collins Brothers who made saddles in both Omaha, Nebraska and Cheyenne, Wyoming as well as many of the cowboys, buffalo hunters and cavalry soldiers of the Old West.

     Roger's wife, Angela Blomquist, has taken on the role of Business Manager for Deseret Saddlery. She has her Associate's in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing/Management and she is currently continuing her education in Business. With her many years in Customer Service and education, she will make sure that each customer of Deseret will receive, not only the best quality saddle, but also the best quality of service.

     Angela has over twenty-three years of experience in the horse industry, showing Quarter horses and Paints. It is this experience that enhances Roger's knowledge and God given talent, and together they have been able to bring Deseret Saddlery to life.

They both look forward to building you, your very own Deseret Saddle!