Silver the Vaquero Tradition of Adorning Your Western Horse Tack

Does your western horse tack and saddle need some "shine" or "spiffing up".....how about the traditional Vaquero ornament of silver.

The Californio Vaquero's were skilled horseman who took great pride in their horsemanship and their western horse tack. Looking good was as important as riding well.


The Californio Vaquero's western Saddles and horse tack were truly works of art. While the decoration styles remained very traditional, the saddle's decoration changed by geographical location and time. The Vaquero adorned their saddles with leather lacing, leather carving or stamping and of course engraved silver work.
This silver work can still be seen on Western Saddles of today. The Western Saddles of today reflect the beauty and tradition of the old Vaquero style. This silver decoration can be subtle or extreme. Whether it is an elaborate show or parade saddles or a custom everyday saddle, they all reflect the riders pride in their horsemanship and distinct style.
Below are just some of the ways to adorn your saddle with engraved silver:

Silver trim is available in sets or as individual pieces. The most basic set includes two corner plates for the back corners of the skirts, a cantle plate, a horn cap, and 4 large and 2 small conchos. In addition to these pieces, you'll find silver trim designed for accenting stirrups and tapadaros(are covers or hoods for the front of the stirrups), fenders, swells, rigging plates, latigo holders, buckles, breast plates and breast collars.


Silver conchos and trim are not just found on saddles- remember Roy Rogers' Trigger. Trigger's famous western breast collar was adorned with silver trim.


Conchos, buckles, silver trim, engraved silver are all beautiful pieces to add to your western horse tack........capture the Vaquero spirit or your own cowboy/cowgirl personality.....

Antique Berry Conchas Engraved Silver Plate Concha

Buckaroo Leather has gorgeous silver conchas to add to your leather horse tack..........and if you have a special style or look you want to capture contact me at 530-545-0139

Buckaroo Leather is proud to manufacture your custom horse tack............



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

Denny Chapman Starts Cowboy Mounted Shooting Talk Show

Denny Chapman professional cowboy mounted shooting competitor and wild west entertainer has launched an exciting new endeavor....

Denny Chapman's Mounted Shooting Talk Radio. This show is all about cowboy mounted shooting!!! Interviews, tips and information about the fastest growing equestrian sport in the country!

You can even call in and be a part of the show - talk to the host, Denny Chapman during the show with live chat!

This is such an exciting venture, the response has been overwhelming!!!!! Denny's show has reached thousands of people already!!!!!

Buckaroo Leather has had the honor of being part of Denny's third installment of his talk show..... You can listen here to the show (see below)

Listen to internet radio with DennyChapman on Blog Talk Radio

I encourage all of you to support Denny Chapman in his new venture and listen to his show and pass along the link (see below) to the show. Be sure to sign up on the Blog Talk Radio site to stay updated with Denny’s exciting upcoming episodes.

Denny Chapman Talk Show Link- http://tinyurl.com/3jaeluo

Denny, shows are currently scheduled for Thursday evenings at 6:30pm Eastern. You can contact Denny Chapman between broadcasts via www.DennyChapman.com or connect with Denny via Facebook.


Thank you to Denny for having Buckaroo Leather apart of your show and Congrats to you for being crowned

The 2011 SASS Men's All-Around World Champion -

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

Customer Review of the Ultimate Harness Reins.......Happy Customer

Buckaroojohn is honored to meet a customer purchasing a pair of Ultimate chap lined Harness Reins

While on my travels- I stopped at the D bar M Western store to stock their supply of Buckaroo Leather quality horse tack. I happily ran into a satisfied customer......

Jim was purchasing the Ultimate chap lined harness reins-he has been a fan of the reins for years-

"They have a broke in feel from the day you pick them up off the shelf"

Learn more about these quality western reins-watch the video above and Thank you to Jim for his comments ......



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

Jo Monaghan -The Ballad of Little Joe

Josephine (Jo) Monaghan
"The Ballad of Little Joe"

In 1904, the Boise City Capital News reported the death of Jo Monaghan, "a well-known character" who had worked, ranched and ridden roundups in Idaho for more than thirty years.

Deemed like able, if a little odd, by his neighbors, Jo had never given anyone reason to suspect that he was actually a woman. He had even enjoyed such exclusively male privileges as voting and serving on juries.

Jo Monaghan arrived in Owyhee County, Ruby City, Idaho in 1867. This city was Idaho's latest center for the gold rush fever. Jo was only 5ft tall in his cowboy boots. He was slight and and had a high pitched voice. His nick name became "Little Joe".


Jo Monaghan lived in Ruby City, in a little shack for 10 years. He tried his skill at mining
(but was unsuccessful) and sheep herding. He also raised chickens and hogs, and made money by keeping a cow and selling the milk to the miners.

He took a job as a sheepherder and spent 3 years, alone with just his horse and dog watching over the sheep. Jo fended off wolves through the long snowy winters.

Jo also worked on cattle drives or wrangling and shearing sheep for local ranchers. He never bathed or bunked with the other cow hands and laid his bedroll outside. He also had no interest in bars and dance halls.
Little Joe had only one close friend, an older mine superintendent. He entrusted him with all his hard earned money for safe keeping. The superintendent disappeared one day with all of Joe's savings, 2 decades worth. Joe and his neighbors formed a posse and chased after the thief, but never found him or the money.

Little Joe was a natural on horseback He took to breaking wild horses for a living-he became known throughout the Owyhee's as a superior horseman.

In early 1880's little Joe moved to Rockville, along the Idaho and Oregon border, and started a homestead. 21 citizens lived in Rockville-Joe loved the little city. He was well liked by all there and before long he had a dozen head of his own cattle and horses.

Joe continued to take jobs on other ranches. Through these ranchers- it was suggested that Little Joe try out for a Wild West Show. The other ranchers arranged a meeting between Little Joe and Andrew Whaylen. Andrew Whaylen was a former member of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show who was starting his own show.

Whaylen's Wild West Show hired Little Joe and featured him as "Cowboy Joe" and offered $25 to any man who could bring in a bronc that Joe could not ride. Little Joe was able to ride any bucking horse with ease and even horses that had thrown all the other local riders.
Whaylen saw an article for Vitagraph Film Co. They touted themselves as the next big thing-"moving pictures". Whaylen wrote to the film co. and suggested they film his Wild West Show.

Albert Smith of Vitagraph eagerly accepted-it would be the first Western movie to be filmed west of the Mississippi. The shows star performance was Cowboy Joe Monaghan. He was filmed on a bucking bronc.



After the Wild West show closed for the season, Joe returned home to his ranch. In 1903 Joe was driving his cattle to pasture near the Boise river, when he took ill. He was taken to the Malloy Ranch for care. He died there on January 1904.


During the burial preparations, Joe's long held secret was revealed. Joe was actually a woman. There was further evidence found in Joe's home. The neighbors were going through Joe's things and found letters written by Joe's sister.

The letters told about a debutante from Buffalo New York, Josephine Monaghan, who had a child out of wedlock. She was disowned by her wealthy family. Her son's name was Laddie. She was a desperate mother trying to make a living by working as a waitress at a restaurant in New York City. Laddie was born in 1866 and her and the child were abandoned by the father. At one point Joe was forced to put, Laddie in an asylum. All this became to much for Josephine (Joe) and she left her child with her sister.

Laddie eventually graduated from Columbia Law School and entered the New York State Bar Association.

Josephine (Jo) Monaghan's amazing story was made into a movie called "The Ballad of Little Joe".


Information for this story came from the books-
"Cowgirls" by candace savage
"More Than Petticoats:Remarkable Idaho Women" by Lynn E Bragg



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

Bridleless Rein Tack Collar.....Relief from the Bit!!

The Buckaroo Bridleless Rein Tack Collar allows you to train your horse to ride without a bridle.

Buckaroo Leather has been working on this popular quality leather horse training tool with input from our customers.......

The Collar has become very popular for relief from the bit!

If you have ever had a horse that is uncomfortable in a bit, carries his head too high, or fights with his bridle, than the buckaroo Bridleless Rein Tack Collar is a great choice.


Horses do require extensive training before the Buckaroo Bridleless Rein Tack Collar should be used alone. To use this collar it takes not only skill but total trust and a strong bond of communication between horse and rider

Buckaroo Bridleless Rein Tack Collar

This collar is made from premium quality Hermann Oak Harness leather for a smooth, rich, "broke in" feel. The rein upper hand part is 5/8" wide and bottom neck part is 1 1/4" wide with just the correct weight. It is adjustable to fit most any horse.

Choice of Plain working leather or a leather collar with engraved antique silver conchas.

The collar has studs on the inside that kindly encourage your horse to neck rein, turn and stop. The studs are not severe at all....this training tool is as good or as bad as the person using it!!!

The studs are made out of soft blunt copper, that are about 1/8" in diameter. There are 3 lengths available.......

Short 1/4 in
Standard 3/8 in
Long 1/2 in



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