full collector's set of 5 prints, $5000, Cameron, MT 406-598-0350

Buckaroo Trading (Facebook) more than 800 members, sales & trades posted daily.

Buckaroo Country, the photography and design of Mary Williams Hyde, with links to some of the masters of traditional Vaquero horsemanship & gear; jam-packed with information on present day buckarooing.

Richard Caldwell ...

Martin Black ...

El Vaquero website by Vaquero artist Ernest Morris, who has made a significant effort to preserve the California Vaquero history and tradition. Here he has a great collection of photos, articles & traditional Vaquero horsemanship information.

The Art of Making a California-Style Vaquero Bridle Horse; 185 pages, by Mike Bridges. Mike Bridges is an internationally known clinician and bridle horseman in the California Vaquero Style with more than 55 years of making his living on the back of a horse. To order email or visit the El Vaquero (above) website

Last Buckaroo by Mackey Hedges. Published in 1995, The Last Buckaroo has been out of print since 1997. We would like to express our thanks to the many friends that have helped in bringing this Classic Western Novel back to the shelf and to all those dedicated to preserving our Western Heritage. Publishers' Weekly said of Mackey, '"a buckaroo himself," he spins a colorful yarn about 20th-century cowboys reminiscent of The Rounders.' The novel stands on its own as a classic and unique story of an American way of life honoring the Western Lifestyle. Last Buckaroo has been honored as a Winner of the National Cowboy Symposium Working Cowboy Award and the Mormon Letter Fiction Award."       "Most Cowboy stories are written by 'western writers.' Less commonly you will find cowboy stories written by a literate cowboy. Big difference." ~ Baxter Black.       "And speaking of honoring…we have changed the book's cover to become a tribute to one of America's greatest Western artists and sweethearts, Joelle Smith. A few years back, Joelle left this world far too early, at the age of 47. She was a big fan of Mac and of his book and had offered the use of her gorgeous piece Riata Man as cover art in the event the book was ever reprinted. We decided to take her up on her offer and share her legacy with all those who come in contact with this book. When I contacted Joelle's mother to tell her we'd like to do this, she was touched, and mentioned that we might be interested in an additional collection of prints for use throughout the chapters."

Western States Ranch Rodeo Association (WSRRA) the "Ranch Rodeo Association for the working man" started by Marc Page, who lives in Woodbridge, CA. The WSRRA – Western States Ranch Rodeo Association started for one reason… to allow the full time and the average day working cowboy, working men and women, to have an opportunity to compete in sanctioned ranch rodeo events. In 2009 he called Mary Williams Hyde to announce this new association, and wants to get the word to all ranch rodeo participants and organizers in the Great Basin that this could be the organization for our region, the one that pulls everyone together to provide sanctioned events and a point tracking system that leads to regional championships at the end of the season. Marc has deliberately structured this organization to not only include working ranch teams but also the average "weekend" cowboy, working men and women. That makes it possible for everyone who loves ranch rodeo to have an opportunity to compete in sanctioned ranch rodeo events. That would be unlike the Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) which is strictly for full time working ranch folks he tells me. WSRRA will adhere to the same "rules" that you are used to, like no rubber on the horns, no tie-downs etc. We hope that everyone who organizes ranch rodeos will get in touch with Marc and help him shape this organization so that it really works for the region. His number is 916-296-2326 or email him. Check out the WSRRA website or visit the Facebook page.

Click on print to visit Wilcox Gallery website, home of western artist Charles Dayton. "Buckaroo on the Range" Charles Dayton Oil 9" x 12"

Les Sweeney of Payette ID, who led the effort to get Henry Harris inducted into the Cowboys of Color Hall of Fame, is searching for Twin Falls-area relatives of Harris. Relatives are invited to contact Sweeney at sweeney@fmtc.com. Sweeney is also looking for Harris' saddle, which is believed to be in the Magic Valley. The saddle was made by D.E. Walker, is a Visalia stock saddle and is probably marked with H or HH on the back. Anyone with information on the saddle is asked to contact Sweeney. Twin Falls, Idaho, January 16, 2009 (09-10)

Rancho Californio Preserving the Horse of the Conquest ~ Horse of the Vaquero ~ Californio Horse ~ Imported from Spain in the 1500 & 1600’s, Colonial-era Spanish Horses played a vital role in the exploration and colonization of the Americas. They thrived in California, nurtured by careful Rancho breeding programs. The War Horse of the Conquistadors became the Cow Horse of the Vaqueros, trained to manage millions of fiercely unruly cattle that roamed New Spain. photo from website

The Spanish Horse, compiled by Donald Chavez Y Gilbert, "There are many conservators of the Spanish Barb horses and in an effort to include the families who have dedicated their entire lives to this preservation effort we have included an article written by the recognized authority Dr. Phillip Sponenberg and the list of nationally recognized groups who are also preserving this rare breed."

Hancock Horse Breeders Group. Central website for Hancock Horses, w/ breeder directory, old photos, articles, and information about this historical foundation bloodline. Hancock horses are the kind that cowboys rode yesterday, and still ride today when they have work to do; they are tall, tough, ranch & desert horses; big circle horses with a big foot and bone, speed, cow and catty athleticism. The good Hancocks are intelligent, no-bottom horses with big work ethic & easy going attitudes.

Center for Cowboy Ethics & Leadership "is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the belief that everyone needs a code... a creed to live by. Inspired by the working cowboy's core principles of honesty, loyalty, and courage, we aim to bring the simple, timeless values embodied in the Code of the West back to the fore of American life. Founded in 2006 by Jim Owen, the Center is registered as a non-profit corporation in New Mexico."

Vaqueros, Cowboys, and Buckaroos by Lawrence Clayton, Jim Hoy, and Jerald Underwood; 2001. . 296 pp., 163 b&w photos, paperback. Jerald Underwood, of Uvalde, Texas, is a published authority on the vaquero.      "Herding cattle from horseback has been a tradition in northern Mexico and the American West since the Spanish colonial era. The first mounted herders were the Mexican vaqueros, expert horsemen who developed the skills to work cattle in the brush country and deserts of the Southwestern borderlands. From them, Texas cowboys learned the trade, evolving their own unique culture that spread across the Southwest and Great Plains. The buckaroos of the Great Basin west of the Rockies trace their origin to the vaqueros, with influence along the way from the cowboys, though they, too, have ways and customs distinctly their own.      In this book, three long-time students of the American West describe the history, working practices, and folk culture of vaqueros, cowboys, and buckaroos. They draw on historical records, contemporary interviews, and numerous photographs to show what makes each group of mounted herders distinctive in terms of working methods, gear, dress, customs, and speech. They also highlight the many common traits of all three groups." As you can see, understanding, theories & opinions vary among descriptions having to do with the origins, history & definition of the Buckaroo. The basics are well covered in this book however, offered on this webpage by the University of Texas Press. But you should be able to find it from several sources.

J & S Productions offers a series of DVDs about the Vaquero. The most common critique from buckaroos watching these films is that they don't include enough footage on real tradition & technique - roping and horsemanship - to satisfy, and being filmed and edited by outsiders, instead opt to show a lot of scenery, music and off-subject matter. TAPADERO - "California’s vaqueros are considered some of the finest horseman in the world. Mild weather and isolation gave the vaqueros plenty of time to train their horses. The skills they developed were handed down from generation to generation. Tapadero gives an overview of this history, goes into the fine details of the vaquero way (the use of the hackamore, the spade bit and reata roping) and provides the viewer a colorful look at the vaquero — his dress, his gear, and the fine artisans who produce it. The viewer also gets a taste of the ranch life and the awe-inspiring California scenery. 82 minutes." THE REMUDA - "The evolution of the buckaroo has a fascinating history. It began in Alta California over 200 years ago with the Californio Vaquero, then moved northward into the Great Basin when the California ranchos were fenced out. The Remuda takes us from the rolling hills of California to the sagebrush sea of Nevada and Oregon, where everything is bigger and wilder, an environment that is aptly named, America’s Outback. 92 minutes." HOLO HOLO PANIOLO - "Holo holo in Hawaiian, means to get around and that's what this documentary is all about. Filmed on five Hawaiian islands, it takes you to the large spreads like Parker Ranch, and to some of the smaller homesteads of the native Hawaiians. It all started in 1833 when King Kamehameha recruited 3 vaqueros from Alta California to train the Hawaiians how to ride, rope and catch the wild cattle. 98 minutes." HOULIHAN - "Houlihan traces the journey of the vaqueros and buckaroos to the Northern Range, where they met up with the Texas Punchers. Horses in this country were wild, tough and mean enough to eat you alive. So it's no wonder this country turns out the best bronc riders. To make a hand here, you have to be able to ride anything with hair on it. That, coupled with the rigors of winter make the Northern Range Cowboy a breed of its own. The Cowboy vs Vaquero Way... In Montana, two cultures met and out of it came the Northern Range cowboy. John Moore, Wally & Brett Badgett offer their laid back and hilarious observations about these two cowboy breeds who do the same job, but with different philosophies. 96 minutes." LOS PRIMEROS - THE FIRST VAQUEROS - Fifteen Centuries. Three Continents. The making of the Californio Vaquero was a long journey from the Moors, to Spain, to Mexico, culminating in Alta California... "The vaquero and his horse move as one. Perfectly in tune as they read each other’s minds and souls. He shakes out his reata. Builds his loop. And tosses a perfect “del viento.” laying the calf down like a babe in a manger. Who is this man who sits his horse like a king on a throne? He is the horseman whose skills were honed in Alta California a couple of centuries ago. The best of these proud Vaqueros earned the title of “Californio.” With his gentle hands and lightning-fast spade bit horse, he was the best of all reinsmen in the West. And his lingo, albeit Americanized now, hints at his beginnings. The Spanish “dar la vuelta” (take a turn around the horn) became “dally.” “Jaquima” became “hackamore” and “la reata” became “lariat.” And while he adjusted to life in this new land, his beginnings on the other side of the ocean would always be a part of him. It had been a long journey — 15 centuries — back to the Moors of North Africa and their nimble Barb horses. It was in Spain, where the blending of Moorish and Spanish horse cultures laid the groundwork for the bridle horse that was the hallmark of these superb reinsmen. And in Mexico, the underpinnings for roping and handling cattle on the open range would evolve. But it was in California that it all came together. Where the secrets of training horses through centuries of practice came full flower. And the hackamore, romal reins and spade bit were refined. These were the Californios. The best horsemen in the world. Los Primeros. Filmed in Spain, Mexico and throughout the American West."

"Buckaroo Legends of the Great Basin" Volume 1 was introduced at the Buckaroo Hall of Fame ceremony 09-03-11. It is a nice hard cover 8"x10", 240 page book with a dust jacket, containing 82 inductees from 1990 through 2011 with photos and history. We are taking orders for this book: it would make a great gift. Cost is $110 (which includes S&H). Email Carl to order.   "A Long Dust On The Desert", another buckaroo book written by 2011 inductee Ed Hanks & his wife Ella, is available exclusively through the Buckaroo Hall of Fame; it is a soft cover, and is $18 (which includes S&H). It is a very nice book with (true) turn of the 20th Century buckaroo stories from Ed's exciting life as one of the early Nevada buckaroos.

THANK YOU for your interest and support in Buckaroo bulletin board / Buckaroo Hall of Fame classifieds. At this time, all ads of interest to Buckaroos are free. Email weblackey to submit an ad.

study of buckaroos by C M Russell... Charles M. Russell (1864-1926) Bronco Busting. Driving In. Cow Puncher., ca. 1889, oil on canvas. "This early, somewhat monochromatic painting depicts three separate subjects depicting the life of an open-range cowboy that served as illustrations for a book titled Studies in Western Life, which appeared in 1890." - Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas

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