Western Stirrups, Styles and Use

An informative video by Buckaroo John on popular Western Stirrups. Buckaroo John Brand, of Buckaroo Leather, details the differences of the three most popular Western Style Stirrups. Oxbow Stirrups, Visalia (Halfbreed) Stirrups and the classic Bell Stirrup.


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

Traditional Old Vaquero Style Cinchas.....Woven with 100% Mohair

In true old Vaquero tradition, Buckaroo Leather offers new artisan handmade vaquero style cinchas.

The cinch (girth) has been in use for nearly 3000 years. The cinch didn’t make an appearance until around 700 B.C. in the Middle East when Assyrian warriors added straps to their decorative saddle cloths.

In western riding, the girth is referred to as a cinch. The cinch (girth) is a piece of horse tack used to keep the western saddle in place on the horse. The cinch passes under the barrel of the horse. It attaches to the western saddle by a single wide leather strap on each side, called a Latigo or Billet.



The latigo or Billet is a wide, flexible leather strap. The latigo is attached to the off (right) side of the western saddle at the saddle's cinch ring or "dee ring", doubled in thickness and knotted or buckled to the cinch, usually kept attached to both cinch and saddle at all times, except to make fitting adjustments.

Click Here to Learn More About Latigo, Cinch Straps and Billets

The latigo on the near (left) side is attached to the saddle at all times, but the loose end is used to secure the saddle for riding by running it through the left cinch ring one or more times,back through the saddle's dee ring, and then finally buckled or knotted when tight. It is loosened and removed from the cinch to take off the saddle.


Cinchas, today are made from all kinds of materials. Including nylon, rayon, felt, cotton, and neoprene. The main objective of the cinch is to transfer sweat away from the horse's body and allow for evaporation. The above materials are strong, but do not absorb the sweat.

The old cowboys and traditional Vaqueros weaved their cinchas from horse hair. It was effective and strong. In much the same vane of the old Vaqueros, mohair is used in today's cinch weaving.


Mohair is a natural animal fiber and is grown by the Angora goat. The long silky hair is carded, spun and corded. The mohair is strong, flexible, and durable. The mohair is absorbent and comfortable for the horse because it is breathable.


The cinchas come in a variety of styles. They are either braided or woven and have different widths and include either brass or silver buckles or d-rings (dee rings).

The traditional vaquero cinch is a 19 strand style. The traditional cowboy and Vaquero woven designs are diamond shapes and have the influence of Native American symbols.


Buckaroo Leather carries these traditional Vaquero cinchas made from mohair and alpaca. These natural fiber cinchas are handmade with a custom design and a traditional cowboy look.

These vaquero style cinchas also have a traditional shufly hair tassel to keep the flies away!






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

New Traditional Vaquero Mecates...Horse Mane, Handmade, Top notch,

Buckaroo Leather has found a true Vaquero Mecate............

This is our newest most unique find yet. These new mecates are top notch!!! They are made by 4th generation Mecate Makers from the Idaho Owyhee desert.

They make all of their Mecates by hand from horse mane hair only. They do not believe in using cores of any kind in the center. They have used their Grandmother's traditions from the early 1900's. They believe horse mane is the best for their ropes because it is soft, and easy to work with.

All of their ropes are one of a kind! No two mecates are exactly alike.

They have kept the family art of Mecate making going by making these traditional Vaquero type Mecates with a little "twist"................

with these stylish Sheekaroo colors............

Mecate Sheekaroo Mane Hair-
Color Hippy Chick Sheekaroo

(pictured here)

Mecate Sheekaroo Mane Hair- Color Midnight Black w/Lavender/Purple.

(pictured here)

Mecate Sheekaroo Mane Hair-
Color Aqua, Midnight Black with Star bright Sheekaroo.

(pictured here)

Mecate Sheekaroo Mane Hair-Color Denim, Midnight Black with Oatmeal Sheekaroo.

(pictured here)

Mecate Sheekaroo Mane Hair-
Color Sorrel w/Bright Turquoise Sheekaroo.

(pictured here)

Watch our How-to-Videos on How to Tie a Mecate Rein to a Rawhide Bosal



How to Tie the Mecate to a Snaffle Bit Bridle with Slobber straps. Buckaroo John Brand demonstrates the proper way to tie a Mecate to a Snaffle Bit Bridle with Leather Slobber straps. This combination has won the favor of many Western Horsemen.



Buckaroo Leather has horse hair mecates, mane hair mecates, alpaca and mohair mecates.

Mecates have evolved to be a popular piece of horse gear and art for cowboys and buckaroos all over the world. Mecates are used for lead ropes or tie ropes. Some cowboys call them get down lines, snaffle bit reins and leads. Also two-reins, bosal reins, and western hackamore reins.

To use your snaffle bit with the mecate rope you will need slobber straps. Slobber straps connect to the snaffle bits and the mecate is attached to the slobber strap. Slobber straps for mecates have one large hole in each end to allow the mecate to be pushed through and tied.






Buckaroo Leather Slobber straps are made from quality leather. There are plain leather with a buckle or beautiful hand tooled and carved straps, with an acorn or rose design. (pictured here)









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

Cleaning Your Leather Horse Tack......

Spring Is Here!!!
Time for a Check of your Leather Horse Tack!

Buckaroo Leather likes to re-visit this post on cleaning your leather horse tack, because it is such a vital and important piece to maintaining your quality leather horse tack...........Ride American

The clocks have been turned ahead, the sun is out longer, Spring is Here! It is time to do a "spring check" on all your quality leather western horse tack and saddles. Before you start your spring horse rides, a serious inspection of your western horse equipment, cleaning, oiling and conditioning of your horse tack is necessary.


First-
Take everything apart and inspect all your horse tack, including your saddle for wear. Especially at all areas ("picture 1") were your tack folds around the bits, buckles and saddle riggings. This is where there will be the most wear and stress. You need to replace any parts cracked or stretched. Chancing it is not worth the safety risk. Take your time; your piece of mind is worth it.





Secondly -
Clean all your leather horse tack and saddle with lots of water and glycerin saddle soap. Don't be afraid to get your tack wet. You have to get all the dirt and sweat out.







Third -
Hang it all to dry. Before it is completely dry, oil with a good quality neatsfoot oil. The drying process will help suck the oil into the leather.



This "spring check" is a great habit to get into, not only for adults, but for children too. Teaching your children the importance of good quality AMERICAN MADE leather tack and proper care will insure the safety of both your child and horse.

It will also give you a sense of pride and confidence in your saddle and horse equipment....

This springtime check is essential to keep your leather horse tack in good working order for the safety of both rider and horse. Not to mention increasing the longevity of the leather. Cleaning is important but checking the durability of your horse tack is vital.

One of the ways to stop the wear on your saddles billets,
are the Wear Leathers!

One of Buckaroo Leather's innovations is the Wear Leathers (pictured below) on all our offside billets. The wear leathers stops your saddle rigging dee rings from wear into the billets, which can cause a stress point!!


Off Billet Wear Leather LG1

Another Buckaroo innovation comes on all our off billets to keep your saddle rigging ring from wearing into the billet causing a weak spot. NOW you can purchase separately!! Buckaroo always puts safety first! Can be added to any billet. Slides on very easily!

To find out more about the Off Billet Wear Leather
watch our How -to-Video!

Buckaroo Leather prides itself on the AMERICAN MADE quality leather we use from Hermann Oak Leather to manufacture all of our western leather horse tack.

Proper maintenance of your horse tack is important , but making sure you have a good quality leather horse tack to start with is Number one! Unlike imported tack that has no integrity, a quality leather horse tack will be more durable and much less likely to crack making it safer!



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