Adam Trenk: The Horseman, Attorney and Entrepreneur Rebuilding the Genuine Billy Cook Legacy

In the Western and equestrian worlds, credibility is difficult to manufacture. Riders tend to trust people who understand horses, the demands of competition, and the importance of equipment that performs when it matters. That is part of what makes Adam Trenk, owner and CEO of Genuine Billy Cook Saddles, an unusual business leader.

Trenk is not simply an executive who acquired a famous Western brand. He is a lifelong horseman, attorney, entrepreneur and strategic adviser whose personal connection to horses stretches back to childhood. His career has included equine law, real estate and business transactions, aviation, public service and manufacturing. Today, much of that experience has come together in his effort to preserve and rebuild one of the best-known names in American saddle making.

Who Is Adam Trenk?

Adam M. Trenk grew up in the Northeast in a family with a strong connection to horses. He began working as a stable hand in rural New Jersey while still in high school and later spent time in Montana and Idaho apprenticing with respected horse trainer Zane Davis, where he worked with young horses and learned lessons in horsemanship, patience and persistence.

His connection with Billy Cook saddles began long before he ever imagined owning the company. Trenk has explained that his grandfather purchased Genuine Billy Cook saddles for his father and uncle in 1976. Some of Trenk’s early horseback memories involved riding in those saddles.

Trenk eventually moved to Arizona, where his interests in business, real estate, law and horses began to intersect. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in real estate development from Arizona State University before entering the legal profession.

He joined Rose Law Group in 2010 and was named a partner in 2018. He founded the firm’s Equine Law Department and also became involved with its aviation practice, while handling matters involving public policy, zoning, government affairs, business transactions and strategic development.

That combination earned him a fitting nickname in the Western community: “The Law Horse.”

Trenk’s Accomplishments

Trenk’s accomplishments extend well beyond saddle manufacturing.

One of his most significant professional achievements has been establishing an equine-law practice built around firsthand knowledge of the horse industry. His work has included horse purchase and sale agreements, boarding and training arrangements, liability issues, disputes, zoning matters and development of equestrian properties. Arizona Horse Connection has described him as an attorney who combines legal experience with genuine horse-industry knowledge.

His legal career has also included major negotiations outside the horse world. Among previously reported accomplishments were work involving the contractual relationship between Arizona Bike Week and Scottsdale’s WestWorld facility and negotiations involving New York City’s helicopter air-tour industry.

Trenk has also served his community through public office and equestrian organizations. He served on the Cave Creek Town Council and later as vice mayor, where he worked on issues involving rural property and equestrian privileges. He also served with CANTER Arizona, an organization devoted to helping Thoroughbred racehorses transition into new careers after racing.

But his most visible entrepreneurial accomplishment may be what he has done with Billy Cook.

Saving Genuine Billy Cook Saddles

Following legendary saddle maker Billy Cook’s death in 2019, the company was struggling and facing an uncertain future.

Trenk decided to take a chance.

He purchased the operation in December 2019 — reportedly before even touring the facility — acquiring a historic Western company whose origins date to 1953. Trenk later explained that keeping the company’s skilled employees was an important part of his decision because he believed the combination of their craftsmanship, the Billy Cook name and a new business strategy could revive the company.

Instead of immediately concentrating on volume, Trenk focused on rebuilding the product and the reputation.

The company strengthened its online presence, slowed production so greater attention could be placed on quality control, and worked to restore the standards riders expected when they saw the Billy Cook name. By 2022 and 2023, the operation had regained significant momentum and returned to profitability, according to Trenk’s account of the turnaround.

Then came an even greater challenge.

Rebuilding After the Sulphur Tornado

In April 2024, a devastating tornado struck Sulphur, Oklahoma, destroying the Genuine Billy Cook Saddles facility along with numerous other structures in the community.

Trenk could have ended the story there.

Instead, he chose to rebuild.

A new factory was constructed outside downtown Sulphur, while employees worked through temporary production arrangements. According to a 2026 profile of the rebuilding effort, employees were working inside the new factory by May 2025.

Trenk also expanded the vision beyond manufacturing.

An arena was added to the property, eventually helping create the Sulphur Stampede, a rodeo and entertainment event designed to attract visitors and generate economic activity for a community still recovering from the tornado. The inaugural event brought thousands of visitors to the area, according to That Western Life’s account of the project.

That makes the Billy Cook turnaround more than a story about saving a saddle company. It has also become a story about preserving jobs, rebuilding a Western trade and using rodeo to help support a small Oklahoma community.

Adam Trenk’s Connection to Sports

Trenk’s sports connection begins with horses.

He has spent much of his life around ranch horses, racehorses and Western riding. His background includes starting colts, trail riding, team sorting and team roping, while his work with CANTER Arizona connected him directly with Thoroughbred racing and the effort to find new homes and careers for retired racehorses.

Under Trenk, Genuine Billy Cook’s relationship with competitive Western sports has grown considerably.

In 2026, the company identifies itself as the Official Saddle of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, NFR Open and Cinch Playoffs, placing the Billy Cook name alongside some of professional rodeo’s most important events. The Official NFR Experience also lists Billy Cook Saddles among its 2026 partners.

That association represents an important milestone for a brand that only a few years earlier was struggling for survival.

For Trenk, professional rodeo provides both a business platform and a natural extension of the company’s identity. Saddles are athletic equipment. They affect the rider’s position, communication with the horse, comfort and security. Having the Billy Cook name connected to the highest levels of rodeo provides meaningful validation for the rebuilt brand.

Trenk’s Companies and Business Interests

Trenk’s professional life operates across several areas.

He is the principal of AMT Ventures, LLC, through which he works as an entrepreneur and strategic adviser. His business interests include Billy Cook AMT, LLC, doing business as Genuine Billy Cook Saddles, where he serves as proprietor and CEO.

At the same time, Trenk remains a partner at Rose Law Group, where his work has included equine law, aviation, land use and zoning, government affairs, administrative law and business matters.

The common thread is strategic problem-solving. Whether dealing with a horse-business contract, development project, corporate challenge or saddle-manufacturing operation, Trenk’s career has repeatedly combined law, entrepreneurship and industry knowledge.

What Are People Saying About Genuine Billy Cook?

The strongest praise surrounding Genuine Billy Cook centers on three things: craftsmanship, comfort and authenticity.

The company’s current website carries a customer testimonial praising the craftsmanship and the saddle’s fit for both horse and rider, and numerous saddle models on the site carry dozens of customer reviews. Genuine Billy Cook’s Facebook presence has also displayed a 92 percent recommendation figure.

Western riders have discussed Billy Cook saddles for years, frequently pointing to comfort and versatility across different horses. Those discussions predate Trenk’s acquisition, but they illustrate the reputation he inherited — and the reputation his rebuilding strategy has attempted to protect.

Perhaps an even stronger endorsement is the company’s emergence onto professional rodeo’s national stage. Becoming associated with the NFR and PRCA world is significant because equipment used around elite Western competition has to earn credibility with an audience that understands saddles.

Why Should You Buy From Genuine Billy Cook Saddles?

There are plenty of Western saddle manufacturers, and no single saddle is perfect for every horse or rider. But Genuine Billy Cook has several compelling advantages for buyers who value traditional American craftsmanship.

First is heritage. Billy Cook began making saddles in the 1950s, giving the brand more than seven decades of history.

Second is manufacturing. Genuine Billy Cook says its authentic saddles are constructed start-to-finish in its Sulphur operation, and the company offers customization involving seat size, tooling, leather color, rigging and other specifications.

Third is product variety. The current line includes saddles for barrel racing, roping, ranch work, trail riding and other disciplines, along with tack, belts, wallets, apparel and Western lifestyle products.

Fourth is service beyond the initial sale. The company offers saddle authentication assistance, trade-ins and custom-order options, which can be especially valuable when making a purchase that may cost several thousand dollars.

And finally, purchasing from Genuine Billy Cook supports something increasingly rare: an American saddle-making operation attempting to preserve traditional leatherworking and manufacturing skills while keeping them relevant to a new generation of riders.

A Billy Cook saddle is not a small purchase, so buyers should always consider fit, riding discipline and budget before choosing a model. But for riders seeking an Oklahoma-made Western saddle connected to generations of horsemanship and modern professional rodeo, Genuine Billy Cook deserves serious consideration.

Conclusion

Adam Trenk’s story is difficult to place into one category.

He is an attorney, but he is also a horseman. He is an entrepreneur, but he is also the caretaker of a Western brand whose history began decades before he owned it. And while he is the CEO of Genuine Billy Cook Saddles, his greatest accomplishment with the company may not simply be increasing sales.

It may be keeping the name alive.

Trenk purchased a struggling heritage brand in 2019, worked to rebuild its quality and reputation, watched its Oklahoma factory get destroyed by a tornado in 2024, and then chose to build it again. That second rebuild produced not only a new manufacturing facility but an arena, the Sulphur Stampede and a stronger connection between Billy Cook and professional rodeo.

Today, Genuine Billy Cook Saddles is connected with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo while continuing to manufacture saddles in Oklahoma.

For riders, ranchers and Western-sports fans, that makes Adam Trenk’s story bigger than a conventional business turnaround. It is about craftsmanship, competition, resilience and preserving a piece of Western culture for another generation.

And for Genuine Billy Cook Saddles, the ride appears to be far from over.