Buckaroo John's Blog

I saw a post this morning, where someone asked the question, "mules or horses?" While this is a great question, I just wanted to focus today's blog post on mules and why they are loved by many. Mules are a cross between a male donkey and a female horse. As with all genetics, one can produce smaller mules, or larger, draft sized mules.  Mules are a hybrid, and are known for being easier to keep than a horse. They are heartier, more surefooted, and have solid hooves that generally don't require shoeing.  Mules are smart, which can be mistaken for...

"They're beginning to get on my nerves. Who are those guys?"...A quote from Butch Cassidy played by Paul Newman in the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  This is a classic quote from a movie about two "infamous" outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker (Butch Cassidy) and Harry Alonzo Longabaugh (Sundance Kid). Both were well known members of the gang "The Wild Bunch". But what of the young women we see with Butch Cassidy and Sundance? Who was she? Her name was Etta Place or maybe it was really Ethel, Eva, Rita or Ethel Bishop. There have been many theories on...

In light of the terrible fires we’ve had in California the past few years, we’ve compiled information on different identification methods available for our horses and other livestock. At times, owners are not home when a fire or other disaster starts. Horses are sometimes left on their own to figure out an escape. Sometimes friends, family and/or first responders are forced to open gates and let livestock go.  How can our horses be identified and protected 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Permanent identification methods such as traditional branding and freeze branding are excellent options for identification, when...

I recently came across the remains of an old horse trailer at an old ranch in Sonora, California. It made me think about the history of the horse trailer and the many ways horses have been transported throughout the years. The history of horse trailers is quite interesting.  Throughout history, horses were transported by ships, rail cars, and wagons pulled by horses, cars and trucks. Pictured here in 1928, is a New Mexico man transporting his horse in a trailer with wooden slat sides. In 1927, a German company named Westfalia, began building horse trailers and expanded their building to...

Happy Fourth of July, from all of us at Buckaroo Leather!