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RICHARD CALDWELL Vaquero Methods of Horsemanship. Transitioning past Riding in the Hackamore. Hackamore to 2-Rein. 2-Rein to Bridle. Rein Work, Working Cattle. PURPOSE FOR THE CLINICS I feel that there is a need to preserve and bring back the true Vaquero methods of horsemanship and horse training. These clinics will focus on helping the rider make transitions from snaffle bit to hackamore, hackamore to 2-rein, 2-rein to straight up in the bridle. Riders will learn the methods I use in training my horses for rein work, working cattle, and just everyday riding. Riders will learn traditional equipment use, the reasoning for their use, and proper rider etiquette. Riders will receive a better appreciation and understanding of their horses, equipment, and themselves. There will be something to be learned for all levels of riders and horses . |
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PARTIAL LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS 2006 NRCHA World Championship snaffle bit futurity Non-Pro Finalist 2006 NSHA Non-Pro Snaffle Bit Finalist, 2006 NSHA High Point Fence Work Prelim. Champion 2006 Californio’s Big Medicine Bull Doctoring Finalist 2006 Klamath Falls Big Loop Roping Champion 2006 Montana Big Loop Invitational Roping Finalist 2006 Montana Stock Horse Champion 2006 Masten Ramsey snaffle bit Reserve Champion 2006 Cedarville Snaffle Bit cutting Reserve Champion 2006 NCRCHA Snaffle bit circuit Reserve Champion 2005 NRCHA World Championship snaffle bit futurity Non-Pro Finalist 2004 Californio’s Bridle Stock Horse Champion 2003 Californio’s Bridle Stock Horse Champion 2003 Californio’s 2-Rein Stock Horse Champion 2003 NRCHA 2-Rein Open High Rein work 2002 Californio’s 2-Rein Stock Horse Champion 2002 NRCHA Fresno Snaffle Bit Futurity Non-Pro Reserve Champion 2002 NRCHA Triple Crown Hackamore Champion 2002 Dublin Stock Horse Challenge Champion 2002 Dublin Big Loop Roping Overall Champion Has received the NRCHA Superior title on 7 horses. Has been NRCHA finalist numerous times. Has received numerous hackamore, 2-rein, and bridle championships. Only rider to have won NRCHA triple crown hackamore on a 3 year old. Has buckarooed many years on various ranches including the great MC. Training of horses using only vaquero methods. |
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I attended Richard's clinic held on Father's Day at his place near Alturas, California. Though I have ridden ranch horses since I was 16 months old (I'm told) this was my first clinic (I'm 61). My horse is fours years old and has been in my good Bill Black-built hackamores (3/4" and 5/8") since December. My goal is to follow the traditional bridle horse training methods 'til he is a finished spade bit bridle horse in two-three years. I loved the clinic!!! My horse is dramatically improved. I am dramatically improved! I recommend the clinic for anyone wanting to achieve the highest level of harmony and communication with their horse by using traditional Vaquero training techniques. Richard Caldwell is not only a master horseman, he is a master teacher!!!!! From Nancy Caldwell....check out our web site on the internet. Check Nancy and Richards website for updates from now on....congratulations Nancy!!!! This is her v ery first web site and she has done a terrific job!!! To schedule a clinic in your area please call: Richard or Nancy Caldwell HC4 Box 42009 |
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To learn more about buckaroo traditions click here
In a perfect world horses would all be trained the old traditional vaquero way which factored in the impact to young horse's bodies of too much, too soon. Years ago, horses were not started until they were 5-6 years old. Nowadays, with so much pressure to start horses at 2 years old, the old ways have been adapted so that 2 year olds are just lightly ridden to prevent damage to growing bones and joints. This is in contrast to modern training where many young show horses are started at two years old and rammed and jammed during their formative years ending up physically and emotionally ruined by five years old. Most modern horses are started in a snaffle bit, and are often ridden their entire lives that way. The old way is to start a horse in a snaffle bit or start the horse right from the gitgo in a hackamore, making sure that , especially thru the fourth year, when the horses' teeth are in transition, that the horse's sensitive mouth is protected by going bitless with the hackamore. At the beginning of the fifth year, the horse's teeth are full size and now there is a good environment for him/her to start packing a bit using a "2-rein ." Control is still with a small hackamore, but the young horse can carry the bit and get used to it for another year to year and a half before he gradually transitions to "straight up" in the bridle. Everything is done slowly during this time as a solid foundation is carefully built physically and emotionally for the horse. The ultimate goal is to put the horse into a spade "signal" bit but not many horsemen know how to do this anymore! This process, along with traditional vaquero training techniques, results in the highest level of harmony and communication with the horse that can be achieved in ranch riding. These old vaquero traditions are not seen much anymore except throughout the Great Basin!!!
After extensive research, Richard Caldwell and Mike Bridges are the two living masters of old-style vaquero horsemanship that I recommend to learn from. It is especially important to have a solid understanding of traditional gear and how it should be used and these two are sticklers for keeping and teaching the old traditions. Be sure and read the info written about and by Bridges on these two links: Bridles to the Past (about Mike Bridges) by Robert Miller Western Horseman May 1996 and Vaquero-Style Bridle Bits What they are and how they work by Mike Bridges
