In a horse world full of fast-paced competitive events, it’s sometimes refreshing to slow things down. The traditional Californio-style gear and horsemanship philosophies that have been handed down through generations of masterful horsemen deserve appreciation. One of the best events to experience the Californio culture as a competitor or spectator is the Early Californios Skills of the Rancho, commonly called “the Skills.”
The Skills is produced by the International Association for the Preservation of Early Californio Bridlehorses and Stockmanship (operating as the Californio Bridlehorse Association), a nonprofit organization formed in 2010 to preserve Californio traditions. The 12th annual Skills will be held October 24-26 at the historic V6 Ranch rodeo grounds in Parkfield, Calif., where the 19th-century Californios rode among the golden hillsides.
The event celebrates and showcases horsemanship and stockmanship methods influenced by Spanish vaqueros and Native Americans during the Alta California Mission Era (1769 to 1834), later refined by the Californios on vast ranchos during California’s colonization, and spread throughout the Great Basin and modified by the modern buckaroos.
This unique riding style focuses on the traditional vaquero practice of taking a horse from jaquima (hackamore) to freno (bridle). This training progression aims to protect a young horse’s mouth as he sheds his baby teeth and grows permanent teeth. This develops softness and responsiveness to subtle signals before introducing a bit.
“We are about promoting a sustainable way of working cattle and creating longevity in our horses,” says Bruce Sandifer, CBA founder and president. He is based in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sandifer spent years as a working cowboy, always searching for better ways to train horses and reduce stress on cattle. Influenced by old-time California vaqueros and his horses’ responses, Sandifer continues to hone his horsemanship and stockmanship and teaches his unique approach at workshops throughout the United States and Europe.
As Sandifer’s workshops developed a following, his students sought a venue to show their horses’ skills in friendly competition, learn, and create camaraderie. The first Skills event was held in Santa Ynez, Calif. Over the past decade, the event has changed locations and formats, but it continues to be a place where riders can learn and grow their horsemanship with the help of some of the best Californio-style horsemen and be part of a community dedicated to similar goals.
Showing Off Skills
At the Skills, horses are ridden in traditional gear, including rawhide-braided hackamores with twisted horsehair mecates or rawhide reins with romals and spade bits. Contestants carry ropes at least 45 feet long, and advanced ropers often opt to use a rawhide reata. Saddle horns are wrapped in mule hide or similar material rather than rubber, which allows them to dally their ropes and lengthen and shorten their slack when the cow is on the end of the line.
In most classes, a professional horseman is paired with a youth or amateur to help them safely and methodically sort and rope designated cattle. There is also a stock-horse class that requires riders to guide their horses in a ranch riding-inspired pattern. While classes have a generous time limit, the judges’ scoring system emphasizes quality of horsemanship and stockmanship.
“We select pros who exemplify the values of our event and culture,” says Sandifer. “Not only are they good ropers, but they’re conscientious horsemen and stockmen. The judges score the contestants as though they’re hiring them to work on a ranch and how they’d want them to handle their cattle. It’s more about how smoothly and quietly you get the job done than how fast you can do it.”
While the Skills might seem slow compared to other forms of competitive roping. Once you learn about what makes it unique, you’ll discover why the Californio style of riding and bridle horse training are considered an art.
Learn more about the 12th Annual Early Californios Skills of the Rancho.
This article about the Early Californios Skills of the Rancho appeared in the August 2024 issue of Western Life Today magazine. Click here to subscribe!
