Friday, October 24, 2014

For Bitless Horse Riders...The Alex Mufson 3R Sidepull by Buckaroo Leather






 “A thoughtful approach to horsemanship, working with the horse’s mind to build a willing partnership”…..
Alex Mufson of Three Rivers Horse Training



This is the philosophy behind Alex Mufson Three River Horse Training. Alex's horses work in a variety of disciplines but all share a common foundation of softness, both physically and mentally.  


Alex believes to achieve this willingness involves building the horse’s confidence in both themselves and the person. In cultivating this partnership Alex emphasizes directing a horse’s thought rather than only their body. The horse is asked to take an interest in the situation and in her, working towards a relationship based on engagement instead of obedience.


“I am in love with horses and fascinated by animal behavior.  I’m so thankful to have a job where I can be inspired by horses and their people each day, and spend my time learning about an animal I love so much”…Alex 




To read more about Alex’s training philosophy click here…..


The Three Rivers Horse Training is primarily operating out of the Grey Cliffs Ranch, a 6,000 acre ranch in Three Forks, outside of Bozeman, MT. The facility includes large paddocks, an indoor and outdoor arenas and round pens, trailer storage, and miles of private riding.


Alex and her horse with the 3R Sidepull Headstall


 

Buckaroo Leather Products is proud to be working with this very talented horse trainer to create the Three Rivers Horse Training, Alex Mufson Sidepull. 

We are excited to team up with Alex to create a 3R line of quality leather horse tack. The first offering in this line is the 3R Sidepull.





$139.40

The 3R sidepull is made from the finest heavy weight Hermann Oak Harness leather or Black Latigo leather. It has that smooth, rich, "broke in" feel. This sidepull Headstall is double and sewn with a soft chap lining, and oiled for that soft supple feel. This Headstall is a Side Pull style with a width of 5/8" available in a Regular Horse size. This Headstall has a 1" wide leather noseband and is available with Nickel plate hardware. It has a Jowel strap for stability but does not have a throat latch or brow band.

Alex has requested a few modifications to the typical sidepull to make the 3R Sidepull more versatile in sizing and to prevent it from slipping into the horse’s eye.  It is also great in the cold winter, as it does not involve waiting for a frozen bit to thaw!  Thoughtful horsemanship does not require a bit, because the work is with the horse’s mind. The 3R Sidepull is an ideal headstall for those who do not want to rely on leverage and control, but want an honest examination of their relationship with their horse!

Click Here for more information and to purchase....




Please be sure to visit Alex’s brand NEW website and follow her on Facebook page. 

To see her schedule click here



Three Rivers Horse Training
Alex Mufson Trainer


Phone: 406 579 4791




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

Best of America by Horseback 1st Annual Trail Horse Challenge





Lana Bland won the Cross Trail Leather Saddle for all her hard work. Congratulations to Lana!



On June 20th-22nd 2014 at Butlerhill Equestrian Center in Burlington, Wa. Best of America by Horseback held their 1st Annual Trail Horse Challenge. This horse trail challenge was a test of the riders communication skills with their equine through a trail challenge competition.





 Participant at the Best of America by Horseback 1st Annual Trail Horse Challenge
Photo taken by Cindi Pendel



 Participant at the Best of America by Horseback 1st Annual Trail Horse Challenge
Photo taken by Cindi Pendel


Buckaroo Leather Products was proud to be able to provide/sponsor the 1st place winner a Cross Trail All Leather Saddle. The Best of America by Horseback 1st annual Trail Horse Challenge winner was Lana Bland. Lana won the Cross Trail Leather Saddle for all her hard work. Congratulations to Lana!!


 


 Participant at the Best of America by Horseback 1st Annual Trail Horse Challenge
Photo taken by Cindi Pendel



 Lana in the 1st Annual Trail Horse Challenge Course
Photo taken by Cindi Pendel


You can watch the 1st Annual Trail Horse Challenge on the Best of America by Horseback TV show on Tuesday, October 28th at 4:30 pm est. on RFD-TV. See the Schedule Here.


“I did get the opportunity to ride the saddle (a weekend long ride moving cattle) and its great. Very comfortable for long hours in the saddle. A lot of my riding is not on trails so I love that it supports a crupper when I'm descending of ridges down steep draws. 

I normally ride my Aussie when I'm traversing the mountain so this saddle works great with its design combining the best of the Western and English saddle styles together”….. 

Lana Winner of the Cross Trail All Leather Saddle at the 1st Annual Trail Horse Challenge.


 
Lana Bland won the Cross Trail Leather Saddle for all her hard work. Lana's horse with the Cross Trail Saddle



You can purchase this very versatile saddle from 
Buckaroo Leather Products. 
Just give Buckaroo John a call at 530-545-0139






Cross Trail All Leather Saddle


Price: $1146.00

All-leather trail saddle made with tunnel skirt ventilation, glove leather skirt liner, close-cut components, a high-back cantle, and padded horse bars.


The Tree is a Ralide tree with 5 year warranty. 

Gullet width is 7".
Cantle: 5".
Horn: Pleasure, 3".
In-skirt dropped C-plate rigging.
Rear-rigged for center-fire option.
Nylon felt Cinch, off billets, and tie straps included. Dark hand-oiled finish.
Approximately 22 lbs.

Available in a 15”, 16” or 17” Seat





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, October 15, 2014

Old West Ghost Stories...Tombstone, Deadwood, Virginia City










With Halloween fast approaching- I felt some good old-fashioned ghost stories were appropriate! I found some ghost stories about the cowboys, outlaws and towns of the old west, including Tombstone, Deadwood, and Jesse James.

Along the way I came across some Ghost Towns, Including Virginia City, Nevada-one the most “spirited” towns around! The old west tales of the town are lively and so are the Ghosts.
 

I have visited this town myself- and you can see and feel the history come alive!!!
 

Happy Halloween- Ride American!!!!

Tombstone







The Spirit of Marshal Fred White is reported to haunt the streets of Tombstone. Marshall White was accidentally shot by Cowboy faction leader, Curly Bill Brocius on October 28, 1880.
 

White, the first marshal of Tombstone, had gained the respect of the Clanton Gang, and in fact, had arrested "Cowboy” members on a number of occasions, rarely having any problems when doing so. In the early morning of October 28th, Curly Bill and several of his cohorts were making sport by shooting up the town.
 

When White went to disarm the gunman, a shot was accidentally fired, hitting White in the groin. Though, it was thought that he would make a full recovery, two days later he died. Today, he is said to haunt the street in front of the shooting site, which was an empty lot where the Bird Cage Theater was built a year later.



Deadwood

 


1876 saw the arrival of Seth Bullock and Sol Star to Deadwood, South Dakota. Moving their hardware store from Helena, Montana.

According to dozens of reports, Seth Bullock still continues to play host at his beloved hotel. All manner of strange occurrences have happened at the historic hotel according to both staff and guests. Reports include feelings of a strong paranormal presence inside several of the rooms and in the hallways of the second and third floors, as well as in Bully’s restaurant, and in Seth's Cellar .
 

Others have reported actually seeing the tall ghostly figure of Bullock in various areas of the hotel, including the restaurant and the basement. Apparently Seth’s ghost wants to ensure that the staff is working hard, as paranormal events tend to increase when staff members stand idle, whistle or hum a tune. Plates and glasses have been known to shake and take flight in the restaurant, lights and appliances turn on and off by themselves and items are inexplicably moved by unseen hands.





Many guests have reported hearing their name called out by a male voice when no one is present, or have been tapped on the shoulder by unseen hands. Others have heard whistling and many report the sounds of footsteps in the hallways when no one is there.
 

In both the second and third floor rooms, guests have reported a number of strange occurrences including photographs that produce strange anomalies, alarm clocks that go off, even when they are unplugged, televisions that seemingly operate with unseen hands, cloudy figures seen in rooms and hallways, and even an antique clock, that hasn't functioned in years, that chimes of its own accord.


 

Bodie, California





Legends about Bodie abound, including the Bodie Curse. Supposedly, if visitors take anything from this old ghost town – even a pebble, they will be cursed with bad luck. Misfortune and tragedy are heaped upon the victim until the stolen item is returned. 

According to Park Rangers, many who have taken things eventually return them to the park to rid themselves of this curse. Purportedly, the park maintains a logbook of pages and pages of returned items.

In the museum, you can see the letters from people who have returned items to the park. The curse is supposedly perpetuated by the ghosts of Bodie who guard against thieves and protect its treasures. Some believe that the "curse” is nothing more than a superstition perpetuated by the Park Rangers to preserve Bodie as a historic site.




Other ghostly legends have seemingly occurred in this ghost town. The J.S. Cain house is said to be haunted by the ghost of a Chinese maid. Families of Park Rangers, who have occupied the house, describe the spirit, as not liking adults, but loves children.

Adults sleeping in the house have said that they will awake in the night to find the "heavy set” Chinese woman sitting on them. Feeling suffocated, one woman fought so hard that she ended up on the floor. Others have reported seeing the bedroom door opening and closing on its own.






The Gregory House is also said to be haunted by the ghost of an old woman. Guests and staff have reported seeing her sitting in a rocking chair, knitting an afghan. At other times, the rocking chair has been seen rocking on its own accord.


Jesse James

 




It should come as no surprise that the Jesse James Farm in Kearney, Missouri is said to be haunted. Given the violent temperament of some of its inhabitants, the untimely death of Jesse James, the violence that occurred on the property, and the tragic death of Jesse’s younger half-brother Archie.

Both Jesse and Frank James were raised in this house by their mother Zerelda, who was married to three different husbands and bore eight children. It was here that Jesse James was whipped as a teenager by Union militia who strung up his stepfather and burned nearby farms.


It was also here that Zerelda watched as her son Archie was murdered by Pinkerton detectives in an attack where she lost her right hand. After Jesse was killed, he was buried here, where she could protect the grave from trespassers or souvenir hunters. Later, his body was re-interred at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kearney.


The James Family Farm has said to have been haunted for more than a century. Evidently home to a number of lingering spirits, lights are said to move about both inside and outside of the property buildings. Others report hearing the sounds of pounding hooves, muffled shots and cries that are reminiscent of the area history, dating back to events of the Civil War.


Today, wide arrays of mysterious happenings occur in the house. Reports are frequent that lights are seen inside the building long after it has been locked up for the evening and movements are often seen which are never registered on a security monitoring system. Staff reports that feelings of a presence within the home are extremely intense. Others report that on foggy mornings, hushed voices and the sounds of restless horses can be heard from the nearby woods. However, when they follow up, there are no signs of a disturbance or tracks within the trees.

 



Virginia City, Nevada

 


Old Washoe Club

The Old Washoe Club is said to be the most haunted location in Virginia City. A saloon occupies the lower level and has for many years. The second floor used to be The Millionaire's Club. The third floor was previously used as a brothel.
 

Ghosts known to haunt this location include a man dressed in black, a lady dressed in blue, and a small child. There is also the ghost known as Lena, who has been experienced all over the building. The Old Washoe Club has been featured on different TV shows including Ghosts Hunters.


Silver Queen Hotel and Casino


The story of the ghost at the Silver Queen Hotel and Casino is a sad one. A female spirit from the 1800's still lingers on there. The story goes that she was pregnant and waiting for her boyfriend to come back, but he never returned. She was so upset, that she committed suicide.







Virginia City Visitor's Center
 

The Virginia City Visitor's Center, located on C Street, across the street from the Ponderosa Saloon and Mine, was once a two story, dried goods stores. It is currently the home of the spirit of a little girl. The identity of the little girl is unknown.


The Chapin Boarding House


Originally built in 1862 by Samuel Chapin, the Chapin Boarding House was one of the finest boarding houses in all of Nevada. Today it sits vacant, for sale. People who enter the building complain of an uneasy feeling.


Gold Hill Hotel

Built in 1859, the Gold Hill Hotel is the oldest operating hotel and saloon in the state of Nevada. It is located just outside of Virginia City. Visitors arriving to Virginia City from either the Lake Tahoe or Reno areas pass by this small town en route to Virginia City. It is also a stop on the 35 minute train tour of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad tour.


At least two ghosts are said to reside here. First, there is William, a firefighter who died in the Yellow Jacket fire. Guests at the hotel have been known to smell his pipe tobacco. He particularly hangs out in room # 5 and has repeatedly awakened guests at 3:00 o'clock in the morning by shaking the bed.


There is also the ghost of Rosie. Rosie is believed to be a previous housekeeper who enjoys moving guests' keys around. A visitor can know when Rosie is present by the smell of old fashioned rose petals.







More Haunted Locations in Virginia City

There are many additional haunted locations in Virginia City such as The Red Dog Saloon, the Mackay Mansion, and Piper's Opera House. In fact, it seems like just about all of the old, historical buildings have a ghost or two, which is why Virginia City is considered the most haunted city in Nevada. The Dunlop House, Virginia City, and employees stand in front of the building, approximately 1890.




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, October 2, 2014

The Chuck Wagon - Traveling Dinner Table of the Old West










The Chuck Wagon of the old west was a home, the dinner table, "the water cooler" and a traveling store. 
The Chuck Wagon on a cattle drive or roundup served all these requirements.

On the cattle drives the cook or "cookie" as he was called was second in rank to the trail boss. The cookie and the chuck wagon had to outpace the drovers and have the cowboys meals ready on time.



The chuck wagon was usually a converted army wagon with iron axles tough enough to withstand miles of rough western trails. There was a canvas cover that stretched over bentwood bows to keep out the rain and the midday sun.

There was also a tail gate. It served as a table and had drawers and shelves that carried food like corn meal, flour, potatoes etc. Under the tail gate was the "boot" where cooking pots and utensils were stored.






(this picture is from the book "Cowboys" by Martin Chandler)

Stuffed into corners of the tail gate were assorted items such as plugs of tobacco, bandages, needles and thread, a razor and strop and a bottle of whiskey used for medicinal purposes.

The chuck wagon also had a barrel on one side that contained 2 day supply of water and on the other side of the wagon, to counter balance, was a toolbox. It held branding irons, horseshoes and nails. And of course you could find the cooks staple- a dutch oven

 




The wagon bed itself carried bedrolls, war bags, corral ropes, guns, ammunition, lanterns, kerosene, and slickers. If a cowboy or lame calf was injured they would ride in the back of the wagon.

 The Studebaker Company was one of the major companies manufacturing the chuck wagons. They sold for $75-$200. A chuck wagon weighed 1600 lb empty. It could haul 3 tons. The chuck wagon was a virtual store on wheels-it carried everything from eggs to long guns and ammunition.
 

Here is a list of some of the items you could find in the chuck wagon-
bedding
salt pork
beef
bread
500lbs of dried beans
200lbs of green coffee beans
20 sacks of flour
10 sack of sugar (considered a luxury on the trails)
potatoes
onions
500lbs of bacon
2 sacks of corn meal
500 apples
6 boxes of dried prunes
15 boxes of canned corn
10 boxes of tomatoes
30lbs of raisins
100lbs of rice







 


(the picture is from the book "Cowboys" by Martin Chandler)


there was also spices such as cinnamon, salt, all spice, pepper, ginger, and of course syrup.

an extra wheel (to prevent iron rims from coming off the wooden wheels in hot and dry climates, it was best to find a shallow stream and soak the wheels until they swelled)

The Chuck Wagon of the old west could have been considered the "water cooler" of its day. Cowboys met there after a roundup or other event. They laid down by the chuck wagon at night to sleep and sat around it for every meal.

 At the center of this chuck wagon was the "cookie". He cooked the food, helped the injured and would always have a story of joke to tell.





The cook prepared the food over brush or buffalo chips. A typical meal plan of the cowboy while on a cattle drive was-

A breakfast consisted of eggs and salt pork. The cowboys preferred sourdough biscuits to those made with buttermilk or baking powder. This is where the dutch oven was so useful-to make the biscuits.


A cowboy's lunch consisted of some dried beef, dried fruit, some sourdough biscuits and perhaps a cup of coffee, if he had a saddle bag.




While on the trail canned tomatoes helped to quench a cowboys thirst. The acid in the tomato juice also helped to counter act the alkali dust inhaled by the cowboys on the trail.

 Dinner was the same as lunch with more meat and of course plenty of coffee!!!











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