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	After having the first opportunity to stamp on some leather with a beginner’s leathercraft kit at the age of 11, Wolfgang Fey began learning leather crafting techniques at the age of 21.


	For about a year he spent his free time in a shop with two leather artists, learning the basics of working with leather. There he crafted his first projects, like belts, wallets, bags and purses.

Another 12 years later he started working at High Horse Saddle where he learned to build Saddles from Stefan Luchmann. In his saddle shop they not only did custom work like saddles, chaps and tack. They also developed saddles for a big company and finally set up a production line for them. This includes a lot of research in the “Reining industry”, the developing and making of special saddletrees and the producing of special hardware.

It probably was his “lucky day” when he first came to Sheridan, Wyoming in 1997. There he met, bit and spur maker, Tom Balding and his family...the beginning of a long lasting friendship - “Thank you, Tom and Juanita for your help and support through all the years”.

He also met Chester Hape, world-class saddle maker and Tom’s father-in-law. In the following years Chester became a valuable adviser with a never ending source of information. Even more, he became a teacher, mentor and friend.

With his knowledge and help, Wolfgang not only improved his saddle making skills but he also learned the Sheridan style of carving from one of the best toolers in the world.


	Tom Balding also introduced him to some of the world’s most respected saddle makers and leather artists like: Don King, Clinton Fay, Jim Jackson, Bill Gardner, Don Butler and Keith Seidel, to name a few. They all willingly shared their knowledge and more or less influenced Wolfgang’s work.


	In May 2006 the Traditional Cowboy Art Association ( TCAA ) made it possible to attend an educational saddle building clinic with Cary Schwarz in Salmon, Idaho.

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