Thinking about buying this U-finish horse bow and making it look pretty (a poor mans Saluki), do you guys think I'd be able to add a handle onto it with an shelf if I laminate another piece of wood over the top.
http://attilasarchery.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=25
Dunno, you might. These bows were meant to be shot without a shelf using just a glove. The hunting bow on this site is the first 'horse' bow that I've seen that has a shelf.
The bow already has a handle, I wouldn't add another one.
Like Loneviking says, the horsebows are meant to be shot off the hand. If you want that type of bow it would make sense to learn how to use it as it was meant to be.
If you really couldn't do without a shelf you could glue a small piece of laminated leather to one side of the handle when you do the leather grip.
Guy