Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Join Buckaroo Leather on Facebook!


Buckaroo Leather has a Facebook Group page-




Learn about new products from Buckaroo Leather or chat about your favorite horse tack products!


Find out about Old West Stories and life on the ranch....


If you love all things Cowboys and the Old West join this group....

Here is a sample of what you can be apart of at Buckaroo Leather Product Facebook-


Bit and Bridle Magazine
Great read on the History of Spurs! Bit & Bridle magazine will be doing a full article. Spurs are not just a tool, but a form of art.

Spurs can be traced all the way back to the Roman Legions of Julius Caesar. The Romans developed the spurs in order to have a way to steer their horses with their legs while leaving their hands free to fight. ...

Bill Beavers You folks seriously have it goin' on-true definition of "experts". All the best.

Buckaroo Leather Products Thanks Bill. Much appreciated!

Get insider cutting Edge #horse Tack news, and great discounts! Buckaroo Monthly Newsletter SIGN up




Our family has been dedicated for 30 years in serving
the Western Horseman the safest most durable Quality
American made leather horse tack.......

Buckaroo John Brand

Buckaroo Leather, The Brand to Demand
Visit Our Unique Store Today
Buckaroo Leather Shopping Site

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

100% Alpaca Mecates-Hand made In the United States


Buckaroo Leather is proud to offer 100% Alpaca Mecates-hand made here in the United States.

Buckaroo Leather is proud to have found a family run Alpaca ranch in

South East Colorado. The Alpacas are shorn each year and the family has an integral part in the shearing process. This allows the family hands on experience with the Alpaca fiber. All the Alpaca fiber is spun in the United States under the direction of the family.

Each 100% Alpaca Mecate is hand woven and twisted by the family to ensure the quality and craftsmanship for that ultimate feel and communication of each piece...

What are the benefits of using an Alpaca Mecate?

As mentioned in our blog on 100% Alpaca Cinches,

Alpaca wool is considered as soft or softer than cashmere and lighter than sheep’s wool, and is fine and strong.

The qualities of Alpaca fiber make it a natural resource for a Mecate.
First, it is a natural organic fiber, not processed, which is better for the environment.

Second the strength and extreme durability of this fiber is a must for the mecate.
The 100% Alpaca Mecate reins are the natural choice! U.S. grown and manufactured Alpaca fiber with the hand made fine craftsmanship of traditional Vaquero of the Old West!

Ties beautiful on a bosal for a perfect hackamore rein...


100% Alpaca Mecate (pictured above)


Hand Woven 100% Alpaca Mecate Reins. The Alpaca fibers used in these Mecates in grown on a family ranch in South East Colorado. The Alpacas are shorn each year and the fibers are processed in the U.S. Each piece is hand made by these artists to ensure the quality and craftsmanship of each Mecate. These Mecates offer the Best Feel & Communication between you and your Horse....Bar None!
Available in 3 sizes-
3/8 inch x 22ft

1/2 inch x 22ft

5/8 inch x 22ft


Look for Alpaca Split reins and Alpaca roping (one piece rein) coming soon.....

Our family has been dedicated for 30 years in serving
the Western Horseman the safest most durable Quality
American made leather horse tack.......

Buckaroo John Brand

Buckaroo Leather, The Brand to Demand
Visit Our Unique Store Today
Buckaroo Leather Shopping Site

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Rawhide Horse Tack


Rawhide, a Brief History

Rawhide is the hide of an animal that has been kept it is natural state and not treated. Leather is the hide of an animal that been altered by a special "pickling" process called "tanning." After the tanning process is completed the hide is termed "tanned." The look and feel of leather is different than the look and feel of rawhide, and its strength and utility properties are different than those of rawhide.

Most rawhide originated from the skin of buffalo, deer, elk or cattle. It is prepared by removing all fur, meat and fat. The hide is then usually stretched over a frame before being dried. The resulting material is hard and translucent. It can be shaped by rewetting and forming before being allowed to thoroughly re-dry. It can be rendered more pliable by bending repeatedly in multiple directions. This happened by rubbing it over a post and even sometimes using a traditional method of chewing. It may also be oiled or greased for a degree of waterproofing.

Rawhide was one of the most useful products of the pioneer cattleman. From it he made ropes, hobbles, clotheslines, bedsprings, seats for chairs, overcoats, trousers, and shirts. It patched saddles and shoes, strips of it bound loose wagon tires or lashed together pieces of broken wagon tongue, as well as substituting for nails and many other things. Indians made drum heads, and shield covers. It was so tough it became known as Mexican iron. The Vaqueros used this "Mexican Iron" for their horse tack because of its durability.

The Vaqueros used many types of fancy braided rawhide horse equipment during their daily activities. It was common to see vaqueros using braided rawhide headstalls, bridle reins with , Romals, riatas, hobbles, Quirts, hackamores and bosals, and other types of horse gear. The vaquero took special pride in having good quality braided rawhide equipment and a well-trained horse.


Buckaroo Leather carries the traditional Vaquero Rawhide Romals,


Rawhide Romal Rein (pictured right)

These are the finest 12 plait Braiding we have found! Hand Braided in the Old Traditional California Style Buttons. Each Natural Rawhide strand is beveled on both sides for a smooth, comfortable feel on the reins and romal. The popper is hand basket stamped and braided. The rein portion is the traditional full 52" long.



Rawhide Romel Rein w/rein chains  (pictured right)


These are the finest 12 plait Braiding we have found! Hand Braided in the Old Traditional California Style Buttons. Each Natural Rawhide strand is beveled on both sides for a smooth, comfortable feel on the reins and romal. The popper is hand basket stamped and braided. The rein portion is 42" long with rein chain making them the traditional 52" long. The Traditional rein chains are so slobber and water will not ruin the bit ends.



Our family has been dedicated for 30 years in serving
the Western Horseman the safest most durable Quality
American made leather horse tack.......

Buckaroo John Brand

Buckaroo Leather, The Brand to Demand
Visit Our Unique Store Today
Buckaroo Leather Shopping Site

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Rawhide Riatas




The Riatas' History

The reata (or riata) was a long braided rawhide rope used by the early Mexican Vaqueros and was no doubt first introduced into Mexico by the Spanish conquerors.

Reata is from the Spanish word reatar, meaning to retie or a rope which ties one animal to another.

Though the word reata is often used to refer to any rope, the genuine Vaquero reata was and is a special item. It was usually 40 to 80 feet long and made from twisted strands of rawhide. The finest riatas used rawhide strands, cut by experts, from the primest part of several young heifer hides. The hides were well chosen and properly cured.

The Riatas are braided in 4, 6, or 8 strands. The 8 strand, if made by a top reatero, is a beautiful article and superb for light roping. For the average hard work on large stock, the 4 strand is the best. Diameters vary according to individual preference, but the 3/8 inch riata is the one most used.

A riata can be different stiffness's (called in roping circles: lays) depending on what type of rawhide is used. For instance, bull hide makes a very stiff rope for heel roping.

The Reateros (Spanish for "rope maker") were masters at the craft of braiding reatas and all other vaquero rawhide tools. Many of these tools were truly works of art. The braiding of the riatas was not only an art form but the braids had uniformity and even tension. This was to insure durable working tool for the Vaquero.

The riata was the most useful tool of the Californio Vaquero and he was highly proficient in handling it. The dexterity displayed by the Vaquero ropers impressed the early Americans cowhands and the riata was quickly adopted by them as were other items of equipment used by the vaquero. The riata can be thrown farther, with the use of less energy and retaining a more perfect loop, than any other type of rope on the market.

The Mexican way to treat a riata, to keep it supple, is to tie it between two trees. Then rub it first with lemon juice (cut a fresh lemon in two and rub the fruit along the length) and then rub it with beef fat (suet). This keeps the leather from drying out or becoming stiff. Using artificial products will make the reata too limber.



Old West Cowhands "Rope Talk"


Here is a brief list of some general rope terms used by the Old West Cowhands:

Lariat is an Americanization of la reata, Spanish for the rope

Lasso is the lazo, meaning in Spanish a noose or snare.

Lazo reata is a Spanish term meaning snare rope.

Catch rope, throw rope, saddle rope, grass rope, twine, whale line, hard twist, lass rope, and rope are all used to designate a catch rope.

Reata is from the Spanish reata, meaning rope, but the American cowhands use it to designate a rawhide rope.

Reata men are hands who use a rawhide rope and they sometimes refer to this rope as a lass rope.

Roping terms used by the cowhand are, rope, meaning to throw a rope, roped, meaning to have caught something with the rope, roping the act of catching and looped meaning caught.


Our family has been dedicated for 30 years in serving
the Western Horseman the safest most durable Quality
American made leather horse tack.......

Buckaroo John Brand

Buckaroo Leather, The Brand to Demand
Visit Our Unique Store Today
Buckaroo Leather Shopping Site

Monday, September 14, 2009

Rawhide Romels & Quirts




Vaquero Tradition- The Romal


In the Vaquero tradition, a quirt with a long handle, known as a romal, was attached to the end of a closed set of reins.In Spanish the word is spelled "ramal" .

In Spanish, "El ramal" means literally a branch road, a division, or a ramification. Thus attached as it is by the loop to the bridle reins, the romal becomes but a ramification of the rein, a handy addition that may be used as a quirt and dropped from the hand without fear of its getting lost.

The Romal was not to be used to strike a horse, but rather was a tool used to assist in moving cattle.

A romal is usually made of leather or rawhide, is about four to five feet long, flexible and somewhat heavy, to prevent excess swinging and to aid control.
The Romal is historically associated with the Californios and the vaquero tradition of western riding. The romal was primarily used as a noisemaker to slap or goad cattle. (The handle made it too slow and of the wrong length for use on the horse.)

This combination of romal and closed reins, today referred to as romal reins, or romal-style reins, is seen primarily in the horse shows for certain horse breeds that are shown in the "Californio style" of western riding, or in other western events in the United States.


The 1st Picture above is the Rawhide Romal Rein RW327 from Buckaroo Leather. This Romal has the finest 12 plait Braiding! It is hand Braided in the Old Traditional California Style Buttons. Each Natural Rawhide strand is beveled on both sides for a smooth, comfortable feel on the reins and romal. The popper is hand basket stamped and braided. The rein portion is the traditional full 52" long.







The Quirt
The word Quirt is derived from the Spanish cuarta de cordon, meaning whip of cord.

The Quirt is a cowboy's woven leather forked type of stock whip. The Quirt usually has two falls at the end that are made of leather, buffalo, or cow hide. The core of the quirt is usually a leather bag filled with lead shot, the main part including the handle is often made from braided rawhide, leather or kangaroo hide and is usually somewhat stiff but flexible.

The Quirt was another tool of the old time cowboy. It was introduced to the cowboys by the Vaqueros. The quirt, due to its slow action, was not a useful riding aid for horses. Rather, it is an effective tool to slap or goad cattle from horseback.

The old style horse quirt is still carried by some Western horsemen, and can be seen in the early Western cowboy films.

Our family has been dedicated for 30 years in serving
the Western Horseman the safest most durable Quality
American made leather horse tack.......

Buckaroo John Brand

Buckaroo Leather, The Brand to Demand
Visit Our Unique Store Today
Buckaroo Leather Shopping Site

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Leather Dog Collar & Leash-New from Buckaroo Leather




Buckaroo Leather has taken their fashionable yet quality leather to the DOGS!


Buckaroo Leather now has newly designed Western Dog Collars. You love the quality and beautiful conchas for your horses-now you can create a one of a kind collar and leash for your dog.


You choice of beautiful scalloped Hermann Oak leather in Black Latigo, Burgundy Latigo, or Medium oil Golden Brown.

The leash and collar are made with heavy weight supple Leather and are 3/4" wide.

Your choice of 3 different styled hand engraved Silver Conchas. Or, if you prefer, special order any of our other conchas.


Our family has been dedicated for 30 years in serving
the Western Horseman the safest most durable Quality
American made leather horse tack.......

Buckaroo John Brand

Buckaroo Leather, The Brand to Demand
Visit Our Unique Store Today
Buckaroo Leather Shopping Site