The Git Down Rope
Posted by John Brand on
Many working cowboy ranches embrace the traditions of the Old West Vaqueros.
These cowboy ranches use traditional Vaquero horse tack and teach the Vaquero ways of horse training and horsemanship. In keeping with this traditional Vaquero style, the git down rope, or "the get down rope," has become popular with not only the working cowboy ranches, but the casual riders following the Vaquero style as well.
The git down rope is also very popular in the competitive ranch classes at rodeos and horse shows. These horse competitions demand the use of this rope as well as the bosalito. Traditional cowboys used the git down rope to keep their horse standing still while they “git” down to shut the gate, pick up something or have a few biscuits by the campfire.
Today, the git down rope is used in the same way, especially in training young horses to stand still. The git down rope is mostly used under a bridle bit set up. It is never desirable to lead with reins. When you have a git down rope, you have a lead rope, however it is not designed to tie up with.
The Get Down Rope consists of a Bosalito or Caveson, a light Bosal hanger, and a 16-18" Get Down Rope. Ropes are made out of alpaca, horse hair or marine yacht rope. Buckaroo Leather has just the Get Down Rope in several colors, or the rope with the Bosal and hanger.
Get Down Rope and 3/8" Pencil Bosalito with 1/2" harness leather hanger headstall (complete set as pictured). The Get Down Rope is 18' long with leather popper, made of 3/8" nylon marine yacht braid with beautiful, natural rawhide button with tassel. Also available in 1/2" cotton with natural rawhide button and cotton tassel. To be used in place of a halter and lead rope with a pencil Bosal and hanger, under a bridle for leading. When you "get down" you have a lead. Pencil Bosalito is 3/8" and 12 plait beautiful, all natural rawhide braid w/rawhide core.