The Bedroll Cowboy According to J. Evetts Haley, author of the book Charles Goodnight: Cowman and Plainsman, among Charles Goodnight’s contribution to trail equipment was not only the chuckbox, but also the discovery and modification of the bed tarp, which became the cowboy bedroll as we know it today. Cowboys on the Four Sixes Ranch […]
"Insights, Lore, & History"
Bringing 1986 Back
Bringing 1986 Back In 1986 J.M. Capriola was commissioned to build a few trophy saddles. Often times trophy saddles are put on a stand and observed as a “trophy” and left to be seen and not ridden. After 31 years we received a call on one of these “trophy” saddles, to see if we could […]
10 Things Every Horse-Crazy Girl Knows
Q: What does a horse-crazy girl grow up to be? A: A horse-crazy woman. Duh. Unlike some afflictions, an extreme interest in horses isn’t curable. In fact, it’s actually contagious, and girls that care more about horses than boys usually hang out together during recess and discuss their favorite mane and tail colors. […]
El Freno- A Horseman’s Treasure
The relentless flow of invention and modernization over the ages has left very few things in the world remaining as valued or relevant as they were centuries ago. One exception is a true bridle horse– a horseman’s treasure from the time of the early California Spanish land grants to the era of modern cattle ranches […]
Elko’s Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum
Ensuring the legacy of the cowboy legend lives on for future generations By Jennifer Whiteley The Nevada Rancher Elko, Nev-Paula Bear Wright had aspirations of creating a cowboy art and gear museum to preserve the cowboy and vaquero heritage for generations to come. Her son John Wright and daughter in-law Susan are helping to see […]
Los Dos Riendas
A piece of the vaquero horsemanship puzzle but also an art in and of itself, the use of the two-rein in is the penultimate phase in the creation of the bridle horse. In a loose comparison, this transitional method might be likened to training wheels on a bicycle. Whether a horse was first started in […]
La Jaquima
The jaquima, or hackamore, could be called the signature piece of traditional vaquero horsemanship because of its unique role in the progression of a “green” colt to a finished bridle horse. Over the years, the use of a hackamore has shifted from an essential training tool toward more of an instrument of art, practiced […]
A Nevada Legacy
Watch a short video produced by Travel Nevada! John Wright, owner of J.M. Capriola Co., explains the importance of guarding tradition, building custom saddles, and why he chooses Elko, Nevada to call home. Visit Travel Nevada for more information on our great state.
Mecate Tricks
Of all the things cowboys might be famous for, the least well-known might be their ingenuity and talent for improvising. From cow-camp toothache remedies to temporary baling twine tack repair, working cowboys seem to have a certain knack for “making do” that’s born of necessity. The proverbial bag of cowboy tricks is deep and […]
The Snaffle Bit
Look in any trainer’s tack room or working cowboy’s warbag, and you are virtually guaranteed to find at least one snaffle bit. In its various forms, the snaffle is common to nearly every riding discipline, and has been a fundamental horseman’s tool for literally thousands of years. The function of a snaffle bit is simple: […]
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