Buckaroo John's Blog

Belle Star, the female Jesse James

Posted by John Brand on

The “female Jesse James”…the “bandit queen”…..all names associated with one person, Belle Starr. Belle began her life on February 5, 1848 as Myra Maybelle Shirley in Carthage, Missouri. Her father, John Shirley, was a successful farmer and owner/operator of the Carthage Hotel. Belle was an educated woman who attended the Carthage Female Academy. Belle’s family moved to Texas, after Belle’s brother was killed during the Civil War riding as a Southern guerrilla. Her family traveled to Texas in two Conestoga wagons. Belle, only 16 at the time drove one of those wagons. After the war, in 1866 Belle married a...

Read more →

How to Rig Latigos and Off Side Billets

Posted by John Brand on

We wanted to dust off this video back from 2008 and share with you how to rig your saddle's laitgo and off side billets. We all have a first time we've had to do this, and I'm sure each one of us has scratched our heads a time or two! Enjoy!  Head over to www.buckarooleather.com to view our selection of latigo and billets!

Read more →

When I am an Old Horsewoman

Posted by John Brand on

I'm sure we've all read this before, but some days it just needs to be shared again! This was written by Patty Barnhart and originally published in The Arabian Horse World magazine in 1992. "When I am an old horsewoman
I shall wear turquoise and diamonds,
And a straw hat that doesn’t suit me
And I shall spend my social security on
white wine and carrots,
And sit in my alleyway of my barn
And listen to my horses breathe.

I will sneak out in the middle of a summer night
And ride the old bay gelding,
Across the moonstruck meadow
If my old bones will allow
And when people come...

Read more →

The Cowboy Code of the West

Posted by John Brand on

First chronicled by the famous western writer, Zane Grey, in his 1934 novel The Code of the West, no "written" code ever actually existed. However, the hardy pioneers who lived in the west were bound by these unwritten rules that centered on hospitality, fair play, loyalty, and respect for the land. If it's not yours, don't take it. If it's not true, don't say it.If it's not right, don't do it.Cowboy's word is his sacred bondBargains sealed with handshake are more binding than legal documents Be loyalDemand square dealingsBe proud of your occupationLay down your life, if necessary, for the...

Read more →

Ropes and Lariats Used by the Vaqueros in the Old West

Posted by John Brand on

The Lassos were used by Vaquero’s to hunt wild cattle. Until the late 18th century, the Vaquero tied the lariat to the horse’s tail. But the development of heavier, more substantial saddles changed this technique. Vaquero’s began wrapping the end of the rope around the horn of their heavy saddles. This wrapping technique called “Dar la Vuelta” ("take a turn" in Spanish) passed over to the American cowboys, who corrupted the Spanish term into “dally” or “dally welter." Vaquero’s and the cowboys who copied the practice could slip the rope against the saddle horn and gain leverage against a roped...

Read more →