Pony Tracks on the Web

A list of places I've been and enjoy going back to when I have the time... And don't maybe visit too often. If you discover a broken link, a connection to inappropriate content because of a changed link or whatever problem, please, let me know. I'd like to keep these links update and about horses and horsemanship and good, clean, family style western type living.

Horseman Sites and Resources -No ranking in the order, it is all good stuff.

Pennsylvania Natural Horsemanship Association - Started in the winter of 2003, this is a growing organization that welcomes horse folks from all disciplines who share a desire to become horsemen and horsewomen worthy of the label. Currently hosting two major annual events, the Horseman's Gathering and the PNHA Horseman's Extravaganza, the group continues to look for ways to help the horse by helping owners better understand their relationship with these animals. You can join the Pennsylvania Natural Horsemanship Association discussion group (at YahooGroups) to share concerns or successes with others of like mind or to keep abreast of what is happening here in Pennsylvania with good horsemanship practices.

Patrick King - Colt Starting & Horsemanship Clinics - Co-founder of the PNHA and an energetic young man. He is "making a hand" and can help you with your horsemanship education.

Tom and Bill Dorrance - Renowned by many, and me, as truly great horsemen who understand what horses really need from us humans and who shared it willingly throughout their lives. Tom wrote "True Unity" and Bill is the inspiration for and co-author of "True Horsemanship Through Feel".

Ray Hunt Web Site - First read Ray's "Think Harmony with Horses" many moons ago. Still think of him as the trend setter for the young and coming clinicians.

Buck Brannaman - This fella can rope! A consummate horseman and really fine human. Great video series on making a bridle horse and his roping tapes have sure helped me learn some new throws.

Mike Bridges - Clinician who runs a "Bridle Horse Project" format where folks commit to long term help in developing their horses.

Peter Campbell and Willing Partners - Peter and wife Trina travel many miles yearly to help folks (like me, I had a ball at a clinic this spring) learn how to be better horsepeople for their horse's sake. Peter can sure rope too and he is just another sincere and likeable man with a heart for the horse.

Bryan Neubert - Got a tape, know folks who have ridden in his clinics, you hear enough good about a person and you reckon it is so... so, he seems like a real nice fella and sure helps a horse get along fine.

Pat Puckett - Clinician and horseman of the vaquero tradition. And he can sure rope!

Richard Caldwell - Renowned at the Californio roping contests and a purist of the traditions of the vaquero training of the stock horse. Doing clinics now and that is a good thing.

Greg Eliel - No personal knowledge of Greg but I know someone who knows him and she speaks highly of his skills.

Leslie Desmond - Collaborator with Bill Dorrance in producing the best book I have ever read (True Horsemanship Through Feel) about what being a horseman (-woman) is simply about. Lots of very informative articles and some good gear maker references.

Mark Rashid - Saw him a long time ago, a good, quiet hand with a horse. Written some fine books and makes some interesting observations about getting along with horses.

Jerry Wright Ranch and Performance Horses - In Jerry's own words -"No Gimmicks and No Psycho-babble; Just Horsemanship, Proven On The Ranch and In The Arena."

Cody Deering - Cody is keeping the traditions alive. Check out his site.

Natural Horsemanship Webring - Jump on the ring and take a tour of sites pre-screened for content about natural horsemanship in all its colors and flavors.

Eclectic Horseman - Another publication that promotes "good" horsemanship.

Sylvia Scott - Founder of the Virginia Natural Horsemanship Training Center at Whispering Way Farm in Blacksburg, VA, U.S.A. Trainer and clinician Sylvia Scott specializes in all horse problems, teaching natural horsemanship and helping horse owners to have a deeper and more productive relationship with their horses. Sylvia's website also serves as a vast clearinghouse for natural horsemanship training techniques, products and general horse resources.

GEAR SITES

Sage Saddlery - OK, just to remind you that I make quality saddles (Wade's are a specialty here), horse tack and cowboy gear. I admire greatly the Californio, vaquero/buckaroo style and specialize in that area of gear making. Good prices and faster completion on your custom order than a lot of other folks can get done.

Hitching Post Supply - Need good quality, traditional, detail oriented, using kind of gear, check out the horse jewelry and cowboy trappings at this site. If you got the bucks and can't make your own...

Bluestem Cinchas - Real nice handmade mohair and mane hair cinchas.

Lost Bucakroo - an Internet horseman's supply site that also carries a lot of real nice gear at real affordable prices. Dependable and prompt and Carlos is a real helpful fellow.

Big Bend Saddlery - Some nice stuff and a good source for XXX -soft, nylon catchropes sold by the foot.

Spanish Spade - Home of the Marsh Bros. website along with a couple other fine gear makers.

Ranch2Arena.com - Home of Jeremiah Watt custom saddles and Watt Bors. Stock Saddles. Sells custom leather maker's tools and saddlery hardware too, though you'll need to break open your piggy bank cause they are spendy. Excellent quality and craftmanship.

California Classics - Lots of buckaroo geegaws but you will need to take out a second mortgage on your third born child for some of it. Good gear here.

Custom Rawhide by Steve Guitron - A family tradition of braiding rawhide horse gear. Really fine stuff with a price tag to match.

Californio/Vaquero Informational Resources

The Californios - A ranch roping and stock horse competition held annually in Red Bluff, CA. It is original and the anchor for the resurgence of interest in thhis type of good horsemanship.

Odds and Ends of Great Basin Ranch Photography - Mary Williams Hyde has traveled the ION and California buckaroo lands capturing the images of the modern buckaroo culture. This is a real good site and she has all her pics up for sale. Look for her first coffee table book to come out soon, we hope!

Californio Ranch Horse Association - If you live there, enjoy the vaquero horsemanship culture, then you ought to belong.

Northern Range Ranch Roping Series - A website that serves as the information site for this ranch roping series. The series has grown the last few years and this site will keep you on to what's happening with them. Also has the "Shootin' the Breeze" bulletin board where folks can share info, ask questions, sell gear and stuff like that.

North Pine Farm - Scott and Shelley Hagen raise horses and are very interested in ranch roping and good stockmanship.

Ed Connell - Ed wrote two books on the Old Californio bridle horse traditions; "Hackamore Reinsman" & "Reinsman of the West - Bridles and Bits". Here is one place you can for sure find them.

Ernest Morris - Vaquero horseman, artist, braider and author, Mr. Morris has written some classic books on the Californio traditions and the people who lived this horseman's lifestyle. Look for fine ranch roping videos here, all in one place.

Jo Mora - My apologies to anyone who followed the previous link and ended up at an inappropriate site. I just checked on this link 9/29/05 and found that it no longer went to its former content. This is a new link and works to give you bio info on Jo Mora. He is a respected writer on the vaqueros. He chronicled the Californios through many books and works of art. He is also renowned as an illustrator, creator of many fine posters that are, some, once again in print.

Buckaroos in Paradise - An American Folk Life Center collection in the Library of Congress about the ranching life of Northern Nevada.

Cowboy Showcase - A site about the buckaroo lifestyle, including a number of makers of fine gear in this tradition.

Diversions

Farriers Helping Horse Owners Bulletin Boards - Got a question about hoof care (well, ask me first) then this is the place to go for a wide variety of farrier opinion on the equine podia.

Cowboy Songs - Whoopee-ti-yi-yo! OK, it's not horse stuff exactly but it is real Western music about real Westerners and real Western type stuff...

More Cowboy Songs - Do I need to say more?

Cowboy Songs & Poems - Night herder lamentations to keep the herd bedded down.

The Poets - Some cowboy poets and their page links from the folks who bring you the original Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

Baxter Black - Just plain funny guy.

Riders in the Sky - Heard 'em - need I say more. Haven't heard 'em, well, you oughta... they are one of a kind.

Dave Stamey - Buckaroo music indeed.

Wylie Gustafson & the Wild West - western swing and can he sing

Ian Tyson - of Ian & Sylvia folk music days but his heart is in the Western music.

Western Folk Life Center - Website and home to the original "Cowboy Poetry Gathering" held annually in Elko, Nevada.

Cowboy Poetry - Some good cowboy poetry and stories.

Xenophon on the Art of Horsemanship - Treatise about the horse by an original "Natural Horseman" from ancient Greece. Good thing it is in English. Downloadable in a variety of e-text formats. Also a link to the text is available on this site.