Buckaroo John's Blog

The Great Basin buckaroos have many customs handed down throughout the years, and one such custom is the "war knot." The war knot is also called the mustache knot. It is practical, in that it's purpose is to keep the tail out of the way during brandings, where it could easily get caught up in the rope, and also to keep the tail out of the mud or from getting tangled in brush. I know I'm not the only one that has looked back to see a large tumbleweed dragging from my horse's tail! The knot should always be taken...

A popular type of saddle is a rough-out leather saddle. These saddles are popular for many reasons, including functionality for working cowboys. Let’s talk leather…Leather saddles are made from heavy hides known as saddle skirting. Skirting comes in different weights, or thickness, and grades, which is the quality. The thickest skirting is used for the heavy wear areas such as the fenders, stirrup leathers and seats. Skirting has two distinct sides – the grain side, which is smooth, and the flesh side, which is rough. A saddle can be made with either side facing out as the finished side. Most...

Saddle strings are actually a very useful piece of your saddle, and anytime I have ridden in a saddle without saddle strings, I seem to have a need for them.  Saddle strings are the long pieces of leather that hang off a saddle, typically from the back of the saddle. They are used tie up items such as jackets, saddlebags, lariats and other types of gear. They are usually attached to the saddle by slotted conchos, a D-ring or an O-ring using a slit braid.  As with all things exposed to the elements, saddle strings can become worn. Buckaroo Leather has...

The hackamore was used by the Vaquero's in the beginning for horse training.  The Vaquero's quickly learned that this piece of horse tack was a must for every day riding too. Today, the hackamore is wildly popular among natural horseman and women and horse riders still true to the Vaquero ways.The unique part of the hackamore is that it does not have a bit. It uses a braided noseband called a bosal. The bosal is a special type of noseband that works on pressure points on the horse's face, nose, and chin.  The mecate is the rein portion of the hackamore.The mecate is a...

What is a mecate? The mecate is the rein portion of a hackamore, which is a type of headgear for the horse.  The unique part of the hackamore is that it does not have a bit, but uses a braided rawhide noseband called a bosal.  The bosal works on pressure points on the horse's face, nose, and chin. The mecate is a rope made from horse hair or soft feeling rope that serves as reins and lead rope, should one need. The Persians in 500 BC were one of the first to use a thick plaited noseband which was called...