Baru Forell Spiller was raised on the rural plains of northwest Kansas with a life long passion for good horses. She started competing at age nine and tallied some regional, state and national barrel racing championships, trained horses for the public, and hazed for her dad in steer wrestling. In the1980's she founded and directed the Oakley Stampede Rodeo and was secretary of the Kansas State Rodeo Association.

After moving to Texas in 1987, Baru served five years as a communications analyst and linguist in U.S. Army Intelligence during the Gulf War and Bosnian conflict.

Baru starts her own colts, and manages the Spiller Ranch breeding program. She does ranch photography, free lance writing & silver engraving. Her articles have appeared in AQHJ, Pacific Coast Journal, Cowboy Magazine, Horseman's News & Lone Star Horse Report. They include the indepth story of Blue Valentine. Her ranch photography has been featured in several equine periodicals and in the annual 'Trappings of Texas' exhibit at the Museum of the Big Bend, Alpine, Texas.

Born in Paducah, Texas, Joe Spiller grew up on ranches all over West Texas but considers his roots in Dickens County. He has been involved in the livestock industry his entire life. His experience includes hosting riding clinics & bit clinics, training horses for the public, roping, horseback hunting trips, ranch foreman and day work for various outfits in Texas and New Mexico.

After a six-year stint in the U.S. Air Force took Joe to New Mexico, he remained there sixteen years. Relying on his cowboy experience, in the mid-1980's, Joe began making spurs, bits, stirrups, and buckles. Trademarks of his work are attractive appeal and quality workmanship; he realizes the importance of correct balance and function in his products and nothing leaves his shop that is not 'cowboy ready'. As a testimony to his talent and accomplishments, Joe has been recognized as one of the Top Ten Spur Makers by the Academy of Western Artist. Go to Spiller Spurs & Bits.