Hello!
Gray Horse Leatherworks LLC was founded in January 2022 by one horse-crazed animal-loving leather craftswoman. Originally performing custom leather goods, has since expanded to include repair services and bit & bridle fitting consultations for equestrians.
About GHL
Bespoke leather goods for horse, hound, and human
In 2019, when one of my horses was diagnosed with a suspensory injury, my partner had encouraged me to take up another hobby during this time to help me take my mind off of the stress of rehabbing my horse when I wasn't at the barn. Being an amateur blacksmith, he encouraged me to try leather craft, as I could make ornate sheaths for his hand-forged knives. The sweet, supportive man that he is, bought me a comprehensive set of tools, made me a custom work bench, and sent me on my way to learn and create. Bless him, I don't think he ever imagined this would turn into a small business that would take up all my free time, not leaving much for knife sheath making!
I spent all my free time learning about the craft - taking lessons, watching videos, and practicing on my own (when not at the barn or working my full time job... what is free time anyway??). I became proficient enough to make collars, belts, halters, accessories, and perform repairs. Once my friends discovered my skills, I was all too easily convinced to sell my work to help pay for vet bills. The rest is history!
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The name "Gray Horse Leatherworks" came about easily, as I definitely have a type, gray horses! I have owned horses since I was 10 years old, and every single one of them has been gray!
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Photo courtesy of Impulsion Media - Copyright 2022 Haley Boothe Photography
Bit & Bridle Fitting Journey
Learning methods and techniques from Master Saddlers and Master Bridle Makers, I became more and more interested in the fit and function of tack. With the end goal of becoming a Master Bridle Maker, I started on this long journey by becoming a certified Bit and Bridle Fitter. Consultations are a service I happily offer to riders of all disciplines.
Photos courtesy of Impulsion Media - Copyright 2023 Haley Boothe Photography
Photo courtesy of Cassidy Bock - Copyright 2022 Cassidy Brooke Photography
About Lisa
Owner & Operator of Gray Horse Leatherworks LLC
Lisa is an amateur equestrian who has been completely horse-obsessed since she first laid eyes on one. She has been riding and showing horses regularly since 1998.
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Lisa currently owns two horses - the first a senior Arabian mare named Whisper who she has owned since childhood and is now living a quiet semi-retired life as a children's lesson pony in Waxhaw, NC. Lisa's second horse is a young ISH mare named Lexi. Lisa and Lexi compete in lower-level Show Jumping and Dressage and live in Mint Hill, North Carolina. They can be spotted at horse shows at Carolina Horse Park and Tryon (TIEC).
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Lisa lives in Mint Hill, NC with her partner, Mike, and two dogs - a black lab named Charlie and a lab mix named Lucy (aka "Goose"). Her animals are her children - and just so happen to be fabulous product models!
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Lisa works a full-time job as a Project Manager in the energy industry, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Her engineering mind combined with her lifelong passion for horses and extensive education relating to equine tack use, construction, fit, & care makes her a great resource for local equestrians.
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Lisa is the only LANTRA certified Bit & Bridle Fit Consultant within the state of North Carolina and has put in countless hours of coursework, research, and case study experience - and continues to educate herself. She is proud to be one of the very few certified independent bit & bridle fitters in the country, whose goal is to focus on the horse as the client and comes to each consultation un-biased without sales quotas as her motivator.
