The Spanish did the first cattle and horse drive in 1598 under Juan de Onate! They started the first ranches, had the first rodeos (etc.). Why do people think the first vaqueros were Texans or Californians? They were latecomers! Read about the New Mexicans! Luciano Martinez
This was interesting. As info to many commenting, caballo is horse in Spanish. Caballero is horseman, gentleman and knight, the latter coming from the medieval period because then the horseman (of nobility, military or both) was and had to be much more than just a man riding a horse (no peasants could ride only work from the ground). Vaca is cow, so vaquero is cattle hand, ranch hand, herdsman, in short everyone who worked cattle. In Spain 99.9% of vaqueros obviously also rode and still ride horses. The conquerors (conquistadores) took their lifestyle with them.
I'm from mexico and I'm charro and we are also know as vaqueros and we know vaqueros from california as californios and tejanos vaqueros from tejas.. TEXAS..
I loved this video!!! Going to FRC college in Equine Studies.... Learning a lot of natural horsemanship but I also have a mentor back home who truly believes in the old Vaquero ways which I am loving much more from learning from him... First time I have learned about the hackamore... As all they use at my school is the Snaffle bit and I have seen horses become dull in the mouth because of it...
The California vaqueros are originally from Baja California more specifically Baja California sur. This is where they get their name California vaquero. There wasn't very many Spanish or Mexican in the California we know of today. The California vaquero originated in Baja and simply we're adopting by the Americans in California
