Connor Garwood

Connor Garwood has spent most of his life cowboying on ranches from where he grew up in Nebraska to Wyoming, Nevada, and now Arizona where he’s currently a colt starter and cowboy on the ORO Ranch. When he’s not horseback, the craftsman is working on his next bit or pair of spurs. Connor became interested in making bits and spurs as a teenager after watching a Bruce Cheaney spur making video. He was 16 when he built his first pair of spurs at his grandpa’s shop with the help of his grandpa. He’d read about and admired the work of bit and spur maker Gary Wiggins who his mom got in contact with and, just before his 18^th birthday, he traveled to Brewster, Kansas, and built his eighth set of spurs in Wiggins’ shop. He returned five more times and built his first curb, snaffle, and spade bit and also learned how to engrave. Still early in his craftsmanship, he says his favorite thing to hear is how good his spurs fit or how a bridle rides. When asked about his deep steel engraving style he replies: “I guess it’s the one plus to my mule headedness.”