National Farriers Week

Flickr/Richard Walker/CC

This article is a modified version of a story that was originally published here on December 20, 2012.

Without our farriers, we riders and trainers would be up Excrement Creek without a water-displacing implement. Our horses would be lame, sore and elf-footed. From the most mundane routine care to extreme emergencies, our farriers are always there at our beck and call to take the best care of our dearest friends. While it’s common courtesy to have your horse caught, clean and ready for a farrier appointment, it’s also nice to do a little extra to show our farriers how much we appreciate all of their hard work and time spent on our horses’ hooves.

1. Gift cards are simple, basic, always needed, and do not require a trip to the mall. I suggest Starbucks, Panera, Cold Stone Creamery, Walmart, any gas station (BP, Shell, etc.), or a special favorite establishment that your farrier just loves to treat themselves to.

 2. Do not be afraid to employ the help of your practitioner’s spouses at a time like this. Ask their husbands/wives/children/apprentices what they really NEED. This can vary wildly and may take some creativity on your part. As an example, this year I went to the local farrier supply store and asked the boss man exactly what my farrier needed and he directed me to an elk horn hoof knife. My farrier swore up and down it was his favorite gift all year. Something that your practitioner can actually USE on a day to day basis is often the best choice when choosing a gift.

 3. Custom-made leather work cannot be beat for a gift that isn’t too expensive but employs a personal touch and really makes a statement about how much your appreciate your practitioner’s work.  Contact Buckaroo Leather Products and let us help you find the perfect gift for your farrier.

 4. I have found that my farrier’s children, especially if they are under the age of 10 or so, are their entire world. Sentimental gifts “for” your practitioner’s children will sometimes bring them even more joy than gifts for themselves. This can be any number of things from a longed-for stuffed pony from Build A Bear, to a miniature version of something Mommy or Daddy uses, to breeches for the budding equestrian. Again, creativity is a plus!

 5. With all of the bumps, kicks, bites, and bruises that most farriers endure on a daily basis, consider a gift certificate to a local spa for a day of pampering. Even for the male farrier, a massage can go a long way to alleviating those sore shoulders/backs/legs. Places like Massage Envy offer introductory massages for $39!

 6. All of us that are professional horsemen and horsewomen have a hard time getting any time to ourselves. Consider a gift certificate to a hotel chain or to one of those little log cabin companies in your local recreation area. These usually range in price from $50-$120 per night and have at least a year’s worth of validity. While your horse will invariable choose that weekend that your farrier is gone to pull a shoe, I promise you they will appreciate the down time.

 7. If you own or operate a business or farm, anything emblazoned with the establishment’s name and logo are both great advertising and still contain that personal touch.

 8. Speaking of attire, all farriers spend entire MONTHS of their lives out in the elements. No horses ever seem to get sick or throw shoes when it’s sunny and 60 degrees outside. So in the spirit of keeping your favorite people warm and dry, consider a very nice piece of outerwear to complement their wardrobe. For the budget minded, a good pair of gloves or socks can really do away with that winter chill. Good boots, a nice rain jacket, or a fleece pullover all are needed and appreciated as well and can even include your logo as you see fit.

 9. We all know the quickest way to a man’s (or a woman’s!) heart is through his stomach. A box of chocolates, bottle of wine, gift basket from your local bakery, or even a loaf of homemade zucchini bread is sure to bring a smile to their face and chase the rumble from their bellies.

 10. If all else fails and you cannot come up with a suitable gift for one or more of your favorite equine caretakers, a handmade gift (which can often be FREE!) that can be as simple as a framed picture or a card drawn by your own hand or even a letter expressing your gratitude for all that your farrier does for you can really mean a lot to the giftee.

Again, it’s the thought that counts and as long as you let those that keep your horses sound and healthy know how much you appreciate them this and every National Farriers Week, that is all that matters!

Buckaroo Leather 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

Ed Bohlin Saddle Maker to Hollywood

 Eddie Bohlin

Eddie Bohlin ran away from home in Orebro, Sweden at age fifteen, hoping to find an apprenticeship as a silversmith. He was unable to find a position and instead worked his way to America on a four-masted schooner, arriving in New York in 1910. As he had been raised with horses, he headed for Montana, where he soon found his first job as a wrangler, rounding up more than nine hundred horses to be sold in Miles City, then the horse trading capital of the world.

For several years Bohlin worked as a cowboy on long cattle drives, both on horseback and as a hand on the freight trains that took cattle to the Chicago stockyards. Bohlin had an aptitude for art, this inspired him to attend the Art Institute in Minneapolis for four months. There he learned the basic concepts that later results in his artistic masterpieces.

Bohlin opened his first silver and saddle shop in Cody, Wyoming, just across the street from Buffalo Bill Cody's Irma Hotel. It was in this shop that he created his first fancy silver-mounted cowboy gear.

While in Billings, Montana, on a buying trip for his shop, an event occurred that changed his life. Billboards around town advertised a vaudeville performance with live horses on the stage, for which he purchased a ticket. Bohlin recognized one of the act's performers from one of his earlier cattle drives and was introduced by him to the show's manager. When Bohlin showed the manger some of his rope tricks that he had picked up along the way, he got hired. The vaudeville act, no matter how small-time, eventually gave Bohlin an unexpected break.

In Los Angeles, while performing at the new Pantages Theatre in 1922, Bohlin heard a loud voice call out from the audience, "Hey kid! What do you want for the coat?" The fellow had spotted Bohlin's coat of black, white and tan calfskin that he had made for himself. "Thirty-five dollars," Bohlin yelled back. When he returned the following night, the coat was gone from his dressing room and in its place was a thirty-five dollar check with Tom Mix's picture and name on it.


 

 Tom Mix

In those days the cowboy star Tom Mix (1880-1940) was one of Hollywood's most popular actors. Mix asked his friend and business associate, Pat Christman, to invite Bohlin to the studio and to bring some silver and leather goods with him. Tom Mix quickly purchased various items, including the silver decorated boots Bohlin was wearing at the time, for seventy-five dollars. Mix strongly encouraged him to stay on in Hollywood to produce silver and leather items for the studio market.

With this exciting encouragement, Bohlin immediately gave two weeks' notice to the vaudeville troupe's owner and started looking for a place to set up shop. He was fortunate enough to persuade the First Baptist Church in Hollywood to rent him part of their building on the corner of Cahuenga and Selma Avenues.

 

 Bohlin's personal show saddle (above) and bridle (below)
 both photos from Western Horseman Mag. May 1962

The rapid success of his business soon required him to move the shop to larger quarters. He occupied a series of addresses on Cahuenga and Selma Avenues, and hired many skilled leather workers and silversmiths to augment his own skills and vision.
 
Tom Mix, his first great customer and friend in Hollywood, was joined by many other film stars, who assured Bohlin of a built-in clientele. This connection with the studios quickly brought him the job of supplying the Egyptian-style chariot harnesses for Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments," in 1923, and twenty Roman-style chariot harnesses for MGM's 1925 production of "Ben Hur." Another early studio job was supplying two hundred buckskin suits for Universal's 1923 movie "The Days of Daniel Boone." This order alone came to more than four thousand dollars, a huge sum in those days.


Bohlin's relationship with Tom Mix coincided with the beginning of the era of the super fancy movie cowboy, and his skills were matched by Hollywood's demands for spectacular goods in the Western style. In addition to the early custom work he made for Tom Mix, he produced a richly mounted custom saddle, bridle and breast collar for Buck Jones, and a pair of pistols inlaid with gold and silver for William S. Hart.

picture from Western Horseman Mag. May 1962
 

Soon, every successful Western star had to have Bohlin equipment for personal appearances, parades and the movies themselves. Bohlin's movie cowboy customers over the next thirty years would include Ray "Crash" Corrigan, Ken Maynard, Rex Bell, Will Rogers, Leo Carillo, Monte Montana, Monte Hale, Gene Autry, Charles Starrett, William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy), Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Clayton Moore (the Lone Ranger), and Ronald Reagan.

One of Bohlin's custom saddles was owned by two popular and durable Western actors. Ray "Crash" Corrigan (1902-1976) ordered a special saddle and tack from Bohlin in 1938 which he used in about forty movies. Corrigan appeared in dozens of Westerns and starred with John Wayne in twenty-four episodes of the 1930s serial "The Three Mesquiteers."

 

Although the fancy saddles Bohlin designed for cowboy stars provided him with great publicity, his stock designs sold to private horsemen were probably his greatest source of day-to-day income. The most luxurious of these made the movie saddles seem understated by comparison. One of the most spectacular of his stock saddles was the "Fiesta" model. In addition to its elaborately tooled leather, the saddle was heavily mounted with chased and engraved silver openwork plates and conchas, and further adorned with eighteen three-color gold steers' heads with ruby-colored gemstone eyes and other gold ornaments.

Understandably the "Fiesta" model was very expensive. Requiring more than six weeks of work, its list price in the 1941 catalog was $1,255. In 1941 the average cost of a new automobile was $925. (Bohlin's most expensive stock saddle in the 1941 catalog was the "P.K. Wrigley" model. With all of its matching tack, the saddle's list price was $5,750.)

picture from Western Horseman Mag. May 1962

Bohlin also designed and produced nearly ninety percent of the hundreds of silver-mounted parade saddles used in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. In all, between 1923 and 1980, the Bohlin Shop designed, produced and sold more than twelve thousand saddles, most of which were extensively adorned with sterling silver ornamentation.

Unquestionably the most spectacular and unique example of his artistry was his very own parade saddle, lovingly fabricated with gold and silver over a fourteen-year span and finally completed in 1945. The seventy-pound saddle has gold and silver relief carvings that depict in minute detail scenes of western life and game animals of the Pacific Slope. When completed it was considered the most expensive parade saddle in the world with a value in excess of $125,000. Gene Autry later purchased it for an undisclosed sum. It is now in the collection of the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles.

After more than fifty years in the trade, the old master finally semi-retired in 1972. His longtime employee, Bud Phillips, ran the shop for him. Bohlin later suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed until his death on 28 May 1980.

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 
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Horses at Disneyland

 The Disneyland Monorail 1959

“If there’s anything to this reincarnation stuff, I’d like to come back to Disneyland as a horse someday!”…this is a quote from an officer from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals who had just finished an inspection at Disneyland. (taken from the Western Horseman magazine)



While cleaning out a closet, I came across some old Western Horseman magazines and one in particular caught my eye. It was the issue from September 1957. 

There was a fascinating article about the horses at Disneyland.

 I took a few photos of some of the pictures in the article and decided to write a quick blog about them. 

The stagecoach (pictured below) was one of many ways a visitor could ride around the Rainbow Desert in Frontier Land. 

They could also choose to ride a Conestoga Wagon or the pack mule train. (below)

In 1957 Disneyland maintained about 200 head of horses. The horses and the ponies were kept in individual toe stalls. The mules and burros had their own corrals and lots. The animals at Disneyland worked no more than 4 hours a day six days a week.

Disneyland also had a full time Farrier by the name of Charles Heumphreus on hand. To oversee the horse operations, Disney hired Mr and Mrs Owen Pope. They manufactured and repaired all the harnesses and horse tack for the horses. Owen was widely known for trailers he manufactured in Ft. Worth.

This is a great photo (below) of the horses all dressed up for the Easter Parade. Disneyland ordered 10 new Easter bonnets especially made for the horses at a total cost of $150.

 
Here is a close up of the Disneyland Horse and the decorative bridle. This picture is from 1959.

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

The Nerviest Cowgirl....Fox Hastings

 

Eloise Fox Hastings…..”The nerviest cowgirl” as quoted by the announcer, Foghorn Clancy, at her first rodeo.  I suppose that is why when she was a little girl her parents sent her away to a convent school. But, being a rebel she ran away from the convent and joined the Irwin Brother’s Wild West Show. While at the Wild West Show she met Mike Hastings.

Mike Hastings was a bulldogger (steer wrestler) for the Irwin Brother’s Wild West Show. Mike taught Fox how to bulldog and the basics of the rodeo competition. At the age of 16 Fox married Mike Hastings and began her bulldogging and rodeo career.

At the start of her career with Irwin Brother’s Wild West Show, Fox performed trick, bronc riding, and relay racing. But, in 1924 at the Forth Worth Texas Rodeo Fox debuted her bulldogging talents. The announcer of the Rodeo and Fox’s manger, Foghorn Clancy, described the condition of the arena “as muddy as a hog wallow”. Fox set a record time that day of 17 seconds.

This was just the beginning of her famous bulldogging career. Fox broke records wherever she went and her charisma and athletic ability brought her praise throughout her career. In Houston, at the Cattlemen’s Convention Fox was named the most outstanding act of the entire Texas Rodeo. Fox continued to compete in rodeos and perform in the Wild West Shows for about 10 years. 

That little girl with the rebel spirit who was sent to a convent was known as the redheaded feminine daredevil of the arena. Fox’s cowgirl spirit, enthusiasm for bulldogging and her love of the competition made Fox the perfect candidate for the Rodeo Hall of Fame. Eloise Fox Hastings was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1987.

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

Disneyland The happiest Place on Earth…Even for the Horses

“If there’s anything to this reincarnation stuff, I’d like to come back to Disneyland as a horse someday!”…this is a quote from an officer from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals who had just finished an inspection at Disneyland. (taken from the Western Horseman magazine)

While cleaning out a closet, I came across some old Western Horseman magazines and one in particular caught my eye. It was the issue from September 1957. There was a fascinating article about the horses at Disneyland.

I took a few photos of some of the pictures in the article and decided to write a quick blog about them. The stagecoach (pictured below) was one of many ways a visitor could ride around the Rainbow Desert in Frontier Land. 

camera shot of the picture in the Western Horseman Magazine

They could also choose to ride a Conestoga Wagon or the pack mule train. (below)

camera shot of the picture in the Western Horseman Magazine

In 1957 Disneyland maintained about 200 head of horses. The horses and the ponies were kept in individual toe stalls. The mules and burros had their own corrals and lots. The animals at Disneyland worked no more than 4 hours a day six days a week.

 Walt Disney and Horse on Main Street, 1957

Disneyland also had a full time Farrier by the name of Charles Heumphreus on hand. To oversee the horse operations, Disney hired Mr and Mrs Owen Pope. They manufactured and repaired all the harnesses and horse tack for the horses. Owen was widely known for trailers he manufactured in Ft. Worth.

This is a great photo (below) of the horses all dressed up for the Easter Parade. Disneyland ordered 10 new Easter bonnets especially made for the horses at a total cost of $150.

camera shot of the photo in the Western Horseman

In this photo (below) Guy Williams can be seen riding his horse near the entrance to Frontier Land. How exciting to see Zorro at Disneyland!!!

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

How to tie a Mecate on your Hackamore Rawhide Bosal

How to tie a cotton mecate on your rawhide bosal hackamore.

 
Watch this video and learn how to tie a mecate on your rawhide bosal just like the Vaqueros (cowboys) of the old west. This particular "rig" was the favorite of the Californio Vaqueros when starting young horses for head set and control, before they were moved in to the bridle.

In this video you can watch Buckaroo John from Buckaroo Leather Products walk you thru how to tie the mecate to suit your needs and size.

Buckaroo John starts with a basic rawhide bosal and the cowboy harness leather hanger headstall. This headstall does not have hardware, just a basic wrap around tie in a cowboy knot for adjustment.

Buckaroo John is using a 23' cotton mecate to tie around the bosal. You can use a cotton, nylon, horsehair, alpaca and yacht rope mecate. The most common type of mecate used by the natural horseman is the cotton/nylon mecate. The Traditional style of mecate is the horsehair, it was used by the Vaqueros of the old west.

Begin by:

Taking the tassel end of the mecate through the "v" part of the bosal, making sure it is facing away from your hanger headstall.

Wrap your mecate around the "v" portion of  the bosal 3 times

Push the mecate down sung

Reach from underneath and pull down the mecate to form your reins in the length you need.

Push down the mecate inside the "v" portion of your bosal.

Pull the popper end of the mecate and continue wrapping the mecate around 2 times above your reins.

You can adjust the number of wraps to accommodate the size of the opening in the bosal. The less wraps you have the larger the bosal opening to accommodate a larger nose.

The more wraps of the mecate on the bosal the smaller the bosal opening to accommodate a smaller nose.

Take the popper end and put it back down in between your last 2 wraps. If you have done it correctly the popper will come across your reins.

The popper end is used as a light lead when you are off your horse. Or you can be like the Vaqueros of old and use the popper in the western style by tucking the popper in your belt while riding.

 Rawhide Bosal

Cotton Mecate

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

Join Buckaroo Leather at the Light Hands Horsemanship

 

Light Hands Horsemanship

May 30th - June 2nd 2013

Santa Ynez. Ca

 

Light Hands Horsemanship is the brain child of these great horsemen, Dr. Robert M Miller, Eitan Beth-Halachmy (Cowboy Dressage), Lester Buckley, and Jon Ensign. This innovative concept and format in the teaching of horsemanship was born from horsemen and women asking these clinicians... “Ok, you have shown us how to start a young horse, now what?” or “This is great to see such an advanced horse but how do we get there?

Always listening to the needs of their horse public the four of them decided to form a group of horseman in a clinic setting that will take you from “Birth to the Advanced Horse.”

Each of these clinicians are unique and committed to their particular field of teaching and training.   One of the things that they all have in common and will stress in their presentations, is the use and development of “LIGHTNESS.”

“LIGHTNESS” is their cornerstone, it is what all 9 clinicians strive for from their “first touch thru advanced training”. You will see “lightness” from the hand held touch of a lead line to the hand and rein communication of the advanced horse and rider.


Values:
Listen before speaking.
Observe before acting.


Empathize before judging.

Lead by example.

Look inward for answers.
Commit to lifelong learning and self-improvement.

From Dr. Robert Miller

....."The horse is one of the most perceptive , most reactive, most responsive, most aware, and fastest learners of all creatures. Why then has it been the subject of so much severity, the recipient of so much pain, the victim of overuse of tools such as the whip, the spur, and the bit?

If we learn the principles of teaching and scientifically correct means of communication with another species, then we can train horses with the LIGHTEST of stimuli, produced with our hands, our voice, our seat, our legs."

Along with the cornerstone clinicians this event will have our good friend horse trainers Richard Winters and Sarah Winters.  Richard and Sarah will be presenting a colt starting demonstration with a beautiful young Andalusian. Sarah will be teaming up with legendary horseman Jack Brainard for an advanced horsemanship demonstration you won't want to miss.

Also in attendance will be trainers Jack Brainard, Sheila Varian, Mary Ann Kennedy, and Rick Lamb will be the MC.

This event is sponsored by Spalding Laboratory and is in its seventh year. This event always sells outs, if you are interested in this event I encourage you to visit the Light Hands Horsemanship website. You can check clinic schedules, clinic topics, learn more about the trainers and more. This event will also have good old fashioned camp fire stories, a Santa Maria Barbecue and vendors, like Buckaroo Leather.

Buckaroo Leather will be there all through out the event with our quality leather horse tack on display to touch, smell and see the quality craftsmanship up close. We look forward to being apart of this event and look forward to see you all there!






 
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

Exciting News.....Buckaroo Mobile App

 

Buckaroo Leather is excited to announce the 

Buckaroo Leather Mobile App.....

You can now Buckaroo on Horseback!!!

Now you can use your mobile device to visit the Buckaroo Leather website and order your 

quality leather horse tack made here in America!!! 

www.buckarooleather.mobi

Use this mobile App to do all your shopping on the Buckaroo Leather website with a touch of a button. 

You can even visit our How-to-Videos on the proper use and fit of your horse tack while you are in the stable with your horse.

 

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

For the Love of Horses......

For the Love of Horses................

posted by Shenyse M.

Horse owners all have their different reasons for why they love their horse. Horses make them laugh, lifts their spirits on bad days, teach them important life lessons and give their love unconditionally.

On Buckaroo Leather Facebook Fan page we often receive photos from our fans/horse owners of just these moments.

I have picked out just a few of the photos to share here........the photo below was posted by Amanda C. W. her horse Banner.

Buckaroo Leather appreciates all the horse owners who have posted these photos and we encourage you to post your horse photos.............click here

Remember too that Buckaroo Leather is having a contest where you could win a $250 gift certificate to Buckaroo Leather. Here is the contest information and prizes.

Exciting contest to let our fans help us grow our page to 10,000 fan milestone.

-We are asking YOU to post a comment on the Buckaroo Leather fan page wall about what YOU feel the strengths of Buckaroo Leather.

-Then ask YOUR HORSE friends to come to the Buckaroo Leather Facebook Fan page, "LIKE IT" and leave a comment on YOUR POST on the fan page wall.

Of course that NEW friend can also leave a post and ask their friends to comment and on and on......

We will choose three of our loyal FANS with the most NEW friends commenting on their post as our Winners.

Prizes:
All amounts are for a Buckaroo Leather Gift Certificate
1st Place $250.00
2nd Place $150.00
3rd Place $75.00

Any questions on the details of the contest or any other horse tack questions please call me at 530-545-0139

Pictures from left to right-

first picture posted by Angela R. her horse Sassafrass

second posted by Caren M. her horse Journey

third posted by Eva B.

fourth this is Ket Chup!!!!!

fifth posted by Rae C.

sixth posted by Shannan M.W. her horse Lots Olena Playboy



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

How to Tie a Mecate Rein

John Brand of Buckaroo leather shows you how to tie a Soft Cotton Mecate Rein to a quality Rawhide Bosal

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

Trainer Denny Chapman Talks About Buckaroo Leather's Reins

Denny Chapman, Specialty Trainer and a National Champion of mounted shooting, talks about his mounted shooting horse equipment from Buckaroo Leather. His competition leather horse reins have braided rawhide that helps reinforce the neck reining..... Watch the video to hear more about Buckaroo Leather's American Made Leather Tack!

Thank you to Denny for this video!......Ride American!

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

An Indian Hackamore-a Unique Piece of Horse Tack for Bitless Riding

The Indian Hackamore is a unique piece of Horse Equipment. Its popularity is growing in the bitless riding world and with natural horsemanship.

Indian Hackamore RW318

This very unique bosal is called an “Indian Hackamore”. It is gentler than a bosal. The nose is flat instead of round. The chin portion widens and narrows to fit most any size head. The action is most like riding with a halter but with more communication and control. The ends that connect to the reins are crossed so when you pull on say the right rein the pressure goes under the jaw and around to the opposite side to bring their head around to the right. There is a breaking in period for the area under the chin to soften up and shape to your horses head. This unique diamond braid Butter nylon with rawhide nose in Brown accents is softer than all rawhide and is already broken in. Great For Bitless Riding!!


The Indian Bosal is a unique piece of equipment found in a tack room. It is a simple and often unknown solution to the many problems that bits may cause. It is a simple design, consisting only of yacht rope or rawhide much like today’s rope halters. The Indian Bosal may be attached to any type of headstall, either Western or English in style. Much like the rope halter and The Bitless Bridle, the Indian Bosal works through pressure. The ropes of the Indian Bosal criss-cross under the horse’s jaw. Your direct rein tells your horse which way to go as it would with either a snaffle bit or side-pull.

The Indian Bosal has many advantages to its use in training. The Indian Bosal can be used on young horses or old horses, despite their level of training. They work best on a horse that knows how to respond properly to pressure. If the horse has received adequate ground training in a rope halter, he should respond well to the Indian Bosal. The bosal also aids in neck reining training as the feel the pressure on the same side as they feel the rein. The horse will learn and correspond to the pressures.

The Indian Bosal will aid in curing many of the problems associated with bits and mechanical hackamores. These devices cause problems such as head shaking, bit chewing, resisting the bit and more. Many horses that will not accept the bit will often toss and throw their heads, making a dangerous situation for both horse and rider. The use of the bosal will help solve many of these problems.

The Indian Bosal is a great tool for a horse that just doesn’t like a bit and resists having a bridle put on. It will be a welcome relief to the horse when you go to put on his bridle and there is not bit going in his mouth. This makes for a happier situation for both horse and rider and will get you in the saddle sooner. The horse will not shake his head and try to get the pressure off of his nose as the rope is fairly thin and is not heavy. The horse will also be more attentive to your desires instead of playing with a bit or trying to avoid your cues.

There is little history to be found about the Indian Bosal, but as its name suggests Native Americans once used it in riding their horses. The versions found today are probably somewhat different but the concept the same. They were introduced to the cowboy’s by Native American cowpunchers that braided them out of rawhide.

If used properly, the Indian Bosal is a great alternative to bits and great for natural horsemanship.



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

Buckaroo Leather is Proud to have the Endorsement of National Mounted Shooting Champion, Denny Chapman!

Buckaroo Leather is proud and excited to have Denny Chapman, a national champion of mounted shooting and a world famous specialty trainer, endorse Buckaroo Leather's quality leather horse tack! Denny now uses our Quality American made tack on his performance horses and at his training school.

"I am proud to use and endorse Buckaroo Leather Products. The highest quality American made leather products on the market.....Can't wait to use it on my competition/performance horses and on my client's horses here in training.
Thanks, Buckaroo Leather!!!"-Denny Chapman

Denny Chapman is a professional announcer and equine entertainer, trainer and clinician with more than 20 years in the industry.

A member of the famed Old Timers Rodeo and Wild West Performers Club and the prestigious former Wild West Arts Club in Las Vegas, Denny has served as a mounted shooting, trick horse and trick riding clinician and performer for many major equine events including Equine Affaire in Columbus OH and the Can-Am Equine Emporium in Ontario, Canada. He has entertained at professional sporting events and has also served as the featured performer as the "Singing Cowboy" in the famous Kentucky Horse Park's "Best of the West" show.

Denny also stared in the TV Show "Top Shot" by The History Channel.

He is one of the most recognized figures in the sport of Mounted Shooting as a competitor, announcer and clinician and recently won the title of 2009 Florida State SASS Rifle and Open Class Extreme Mounted Shooting Champion. Denny has also competed within the ranks of the American Quarter Horse Association, the National Reining Horse Association, the World Foundation Quarter Horse Association, the United States Team Roping Championships, and is one of the few certified male side saddle instructors in the country.


Denny is one of the most versatile equine entertainers and clinicians in North America. Having worked with more than 40 breeds of horses, He has experience in Mounted Shooting, English and Western Horsemanship, Dressage, Tandem Riding and Driving, Roman Riding, Liberty Horses, Trick Horses, Trick Riding, Fire Jumping, Dressage and High-School Horses, Mounted Trick Roping and Whip Cracking.

Denny is available on a limited basis for private/group lessons and specialty clinics. He teaches Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Horsemanship as well as the following specialties:

*Mounted Shooting

*Sidesaddle Equitation and Horsemanship

*Trick and Roman Riding

*Trick and Liberty Horse Training


Denny specializes in trick, liberty and behavioral training as well as preparing horses and competitors for the sport of cowboy mounted shooting

I encourage all you buckaroo and buckarettes to visit Denny’s website, DennyChapman.com, follow him on facebook and sign up for his blog. His website has some videos of his performances and more information on his classes and clinics.



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