Buckaroo John's Blog

In the world of horses there are seemingly endless opinions on how to do almost anything and everything, including (but not limited to!) riding with a bit versus riding bitless. Knowing this, we at Buckaroo Leather we strive to provide our customers with options, which is why we carry bridles, hackamores and our bitless sidepull.      There are some benefits to riding without a bit, and we would like to discuss some of those benefits. Some horses may have anxiety with a bit for a number of reasons, such as poor prior handling or maybe because the horse is naturally...

The ponies are starting to get fuzzy, nights are getting downright chilly, and the days are getting shorter. When you have livestock, your life is effected by the seasons. Coming into fall and winter could mean colic and frozen water troughs. Here are some things we thought about to prepare for the upcoming months. You horse should be starting to grow his winter coat. Some grow much more impressive coats than others, and some can withstand the elements much better than others. Do your research on the pros and cons of blanketing. Even though I personally don't blanket, I have...

There are four key points to look for when purchasing leather tack that we would like to share with you! We believe in producing gear, and we view your tack purchase as an investment into the longevity of your gear and safety of your ride. Start with the feel of the leather: Is the leather soft and supple? You want to avoid purchasing tack that feels dry because the quality will be subpar. If you bend the leather and you see it starting to crack it is useless and may become very dangerous when riding. It should be bendable, soft...

Whether you are a cowgirl of today or a cowgirl from the Old West, making a fashion statement has always been apart of the cowgirl style. A traditional cowgirl outfit from the old west consisted of a pair of gauntlets, a short skirt, tall lace up boots, and a red scarf. The sash was probably a style adopted from Charlie Russell who, inspired by the vaquero costume, always wore a red sash. One famous cowgirl, Prairie Rose Henderson wore ostrich plumes over her bloomers and a blouse covered with bright sequins.     The cowgirl riding gauntlets came in a wide variety...

Alright folks, time for the million dollar question...who knows what these are for? If you ride a western saddle, there is most likely one of each side of your pommel. Some endurance saddles will have them as well.  These pieces of leather are called latigo keepers, off side cinch holders, and also flank cinch holders. The piece of the horse and rider's left hand side is used to hold the extra latigo after cinching up, like below. Now, the off side, or flank cinch holder isn't as commonly used. Nothing irks me more than to pull a saddle off the...