The Vaquero Series

the first in the Vaquero Series, traces the story of the vaquero from Mexico to Alta California. These early vaqueros managed the large cattle herds for the Spanish California missions. These missions had to be self-sufficient in this remote and isolated landscape and cattle, raised for hide and tallow, was the only viable business. It was here, in this gentle, mild climate that the vaqueros developed their artful method of training horses. This was the land of manana, where nothing was rushed — and you could take your time training a horse — from the hackamore, to the 2-rein, to straight up in the bridle. The vaqueros so refined their skills they became known as some of the finest horseman in the world.

the second installment in the series, follows the vaqueros to Nevada and Oregon. After the Gold Rush, farmers were fencing off the land. The large California ranchers sought new grazing lands in the open range of the Great Basin. Anglos blended in with the Californio vaqueros. The word Vaquero sounded alien to their ears and they soon anglicized it to Buckaroo. In this country, the ranches were larger, and the cattle wilder. It necessitated bigger strings of horses and bigger circles to ride. Each buckaroo is responsible for a string of 10 or 12 horses, all in different stages of training. When the cowboss assigns a horse for that day’s work, the buckaroo had better be able to ride him, no matter how green the horse might be.

takes you back to 1794. Ship Captain George Vancouver had traded form some cattle in Monterey and he presented them as a gift to the King of Hawaii (Sandwich Islands) To help them multiply the king placed a taboo on killing the cattle. They grew in numbers and before long, became a problem. In 1833, the King enlisted the aid of three Monterey vaqueros. They taught the Hawaiians how to ride horses and how to catch the wild cattle. The vaqueros during that time called themselves Espanolo. But the Hawaiians have no s in the alphabet, so they modified it and called themselves Paniolo.

Houlihan takes you to Wyoming and Montana where Buckaroos and Texas Puchers came together, creating a new cowboy culture. The catalyst in the mix was winter and very wild, stout horses that had survived on the open range for centuries. The genesis of the vaquero and buckaroo came from more southerly climes, where cowboys took "as long as it takes" to get things done. In the north country, winter is king. And the byward is "winter's a comin'. Let's get 'er done."

Throughout each documentary, the filmmakers illustrate how the vaquero left his stamp on all these cultures and how it’s evident through the people who are living the life today.

And because music is integral to the cowboy culture and these films are driven by the sounds of Ian Tyson, Dave Stamey, Mike Beck, Pedro Marquez, Christina Ortega, Cowboy Celtic, masters of Hawaiian slack key guitar. And in Houlihan, the music of Jesse Ballantyne, Kevin McNiven, Dawn Davis and others punctuate the action.

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.

Four hundred years ago, the Spaniards introduced the horse to the American West. El caballo, as the Spanish called the horse, had a profound effect on this new world. The horse provided transportation for the padres, gave Native Americans mobility. And for the Vaqueros, he provided the underpinnings for the ranching culture and the foundation for the American Cowboy.

The descendants of those early settlers still live in New Mexico and many of them still speak the dialect of the Conquistadors. Descendants of those early caballos are still here, too. The foundation the Spaniards laid for ranching is still practiced on the big spreads — the Bell Ranch, Pecos Ranch and San Cristobal Ranch. It’s all part of this great Southwestern melting pot where Spanish, Indian and Anglo come together, each preserving their own traditions, but forging a colorful culture unique to Tierra Encantado — the land of enchantment. Underscored by New Mexico’s finest cowboy singers and musicians.