Doug Groves Video: Rawhider Twister & Braider (Ranch Handcraft) 

Great guy, great video. It's an old one, glad it popped up again.

Boy o boy. That folk life center must be terrific. I remember when I was six, I got a bike my dad bought from Japan. Too heavy. But where we moved to in Charleston SC our street was rough gravel, not River run. And kids could really lasso. First thing my bike garnered attention and I was asked if I was a Yankee or a Rebel. I didn't know what they were talking about, so that made me really stupid. Where was I born, they asked. Newport Rhode Island I said. Let me tell you, I was lassoed with two different lassos and pulled down and left with my hand and legs pierced by that gravel. Now I never ran home crying, but you know I had some healing to do. I told my father about it. And he said that next time I saw them to tell them I was from Roanoke Island and for them to look it up on a map and figure it out for themselves if they could. So all naval officers of the line are world class diplomats. At least my dad was.

I was raised by vaqueros who only make rawhide reatas from a steer or bull that had been born under a full moon! They did a beautiful figure 8; not only around the head and front feet, but just the front feet! This was actually started by the sheepherders; they were always alone so they had to develop an easy way to handle the sheep. I saw a sheepherder who doubled as a vaquero when he came down from the mountains with the sheep. All the hacendados would use him to rope the wildest cattle using a figure 8 on the front feet! Best roper I ever saw. This was 68 years ago! He did it completely different from what they're doing in CA! He was an artist with a 120 ft. maquey also! I've seen Juan Colorado from MX do that now but not as fancy as Valentin Apodaca!

Awesome! So pleased true leather artistry is alive and well!

As a Rawhide braider myself I know how much work goes into this good job thanks for sharing. Cindy Hoagland,

Outstanding

Absolutely excellent it's very good to see this & they don't waste anything great

Great video, I really enjoyed what the narrator's thoughts on the traditions.

"I sure enjoy it, doggone it's a lot of fun", what a way to end the vid and he's right people nowadays are just too impatient, Hell they're lucky if they can even sign their own name on a piece of paper anymore. It's good to see some old fashion technology at work here, I sure admire anyone that can build or make things these days, they're far ahead of most city folks in my book.

Thanks for keeping the "art" alive. Wasn't quite sure what else to refer to it as, but I'm sure you understand what I am saying

Mr. Groves,I,am a novice paracord tier at best searching the web all the time looking for inspiration on tying and I stumbled across to your video and decided to check it out.Wow it is so cool how you take the hide and go from the cow to the braid or rope.I like that there are still people like you around I can imagine it is becoming a lost art?Thanks for sharing Scot

Really great video...as a mohair cinch maker I sure appreciate the craftsmanship

thanks for this video, excellent workmanship

great, very interesting and entertaining. thank you

this made me smile

Fascinating!

Wow that was great.

Thank you for sharing!! I would love to do this!! A fine art, talent, and a huge part of history!

Very interesting realy good I like this

hello I like the laso that you do and the tools that you have

Excelent

Wd like to know if there is any mechanical Drying equipment of Sisal Fiber etc after de-cortication

Fine.

How do you splice the eyes in a braided rein of eight

So is the core of the bosal the same three strand raw hide

yea...but the panels in your barn are manufactured.

3:24 cows are thinking "time for the funeral yet?"