Buckaroo John's Blog

Eddie Bohlin ran away from home in Orebro, Sweden at age fifteen, hoping to find an apprenticeship as a silversmith. He was unable to find a position and instead worked his way to America on a four-masted schooner, arriving in New York in 1910. As he had been raised with horses, he headed for Montana, where he soon found his first job as a wrangler, rounding up more than nine hundred horses to be sold in Miles City, then the horse trading capital of the world.For several years Bohlin worked as a cowboy on long cattle drives, both on horseback...

The Indian Hackamore is a unique piece of equipment. Its popularity is growing in the bitless riding world and with natural horsemanship. This very unique and gentle bosal is called an “Indian Hackamore”. The nose is flat instead of round. The chin portion widens and narrows to fit most any size head. The action is most like riding with a halter, but with more communication and control. The ends that connect to the reins are crossed so when you pull on the right rein the pressure goes under the jaw and around to the opposite side, to bring the horse’s...

Years ago when the Brand family decided to manufacture quality western style horse tack and accessories the decision was made to begin with the best quality leather available. Our decision to choose only the finest American leather led usto engage Hermann Oak Leather to be our major supplier. Lewis Charles Hermann started tanning in St. Louis in 1881 to handle the local harness trade and to supply the wagon trains of settlers, traveling west along the Lewis and Clark trails. The tannery grew, and Fred Hermann Sr. joined the company in 1907. He proceeded to supply leather for our soldiers throughout both world...

Basques and the first Thanksgiving in America The first actual feast of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Basques on April 20, 1598 in what was to become the United States, in present day El Paso, before the Mayflower survivors held their thankful feast in 1621. The feast was led by Juan de Onate during his expedition north from San Geronimo, Mexico to colonize New Mexico.  Basques Hold the First Thanksgiving Feast in America One of our most honored annual traditions is Thanksgiving. Most Americans celebrate this holiday on the last Thursday of November. It is a continuance of the celebratory feast...

The Problem - Winter weather is no friend to leather, especially polluted rainwater. Microscopically, leather is made up of collagen fibers. During tanning, hides are soaked in chemicals to prevent its fibers and their bonds from decomposing. Natural fats and oils are tumbled with the hides to keep the protein bonds from drying out and to make the leather supple.Protein bonds must be lubricated and kept supple, this is the key to long lasting leather. If the bonds dry out completely, they shrink, become brittle and break. Once broken, they are permanently weakened. Soaking leather in oil may make it...