As he settles into a more comfortable existence high in the hills above Montecito, Bruce Sandifer is bringing back the balance, timing and enormous grace of the age-old California Vaquero style. And for his efforts he will soon be honored by the Santa Ynez Historical Society and Museum (museum) at their Gala Dinner from 7-9 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 9.
On the following day, Sandifer will present a hands-on demonstration of how classical Californio horse equipment functions, along with a brief history of the unique tack associated with Vaquero tradition. The event is open to everyone.
The earliest Vaqueros developed their unique style on the expansive cattle ranches of Central California during the Spanish/Mexican Colonial period, blending classical European horsemanship with the rough-and-tumble style born from spending days on end chasing cows on horseback.
Perhaps not his parents first choice for him, Sandifer has been a cowboy his whole life, he says. Working mostly for large outfits with herds numbering between 7-10,000 – sometimes grazing on as many as 300,000 acres – he has had the opportunity to work with many a ranch hand, finding himself drawn to those who take the job seriously.
Sandifer endeavored to learn the habits of the cowboys who followed what he now knows to be the Vaquero style. “I could see pieces of it,” he says of the skills which were once passed from father to son as both legacy and tradition. “But I could never see the whole thing.”
Sandifer is one of only about 50 craftsmen – from artisan to cowboy – still working to keep the style alive, says museum executive director, Chris Bashforth. The 28th Annual Vaquero Show and Sale Nov. 9-11 has the dual purpose of raising money and preserving the history for generations yet to come.
Along with their own unique method of horsemanship, early Vaqueros developed distinct apparel, tack and saddles, blending art with function to celebrate their cultural heritage as much as to make their lives easier. Of particular interest to Sandifer is the spade bit and its proper use.
“I do not believe that I possess any special talent other than experience,” says Sandifer, “experience gained through trial and error.” Holding up the bit, large compared to those presently popular, Sandifer acknowledges that at first blush – to the untrained eye – it can look both harsh and a bit scary.
His blue eyes twinkle as he pulls two spoons from his kitchen drawer. First he takes a teaspoon. Settling it into the palm of his hand, he demonstrates how its edges, with pressure applied, can cut much more deeply into his hand than its larger tablespoon counterpart. It’s simply a matter of physics, he explains.
In the end, what matters is not what the equipment looks like, but how it fits both into the physical makeup of the horse’s bony structure and the loving inclination of equines to please their human partners. “I just keep putting the pieces together,” he says. Blending experiences gained over a lifetime cowboying with physics and the Vaquero style of training horses, Sandifer continues to define and refine his methods.
“One nice thing about starting the journey into spade bit horses now is that there are people out there who are willing to help – something that was not available to a lot of us,” he says. Sandifer is available both to train horses and give lessons, envisioning his future as an educator more than anything else.
But it is not just the equipment that makes the Vaquero style different, Sandifer explains. Growing up he was taught to ride and train horses working off of pressure points. Now he uses something altogether different. He uses a blend of balance and timing to train his horses to be fluid with their every movement and with minimal input from the rider.
“I still make mistakes and miscalculations, that’s how we learn,” he says slipping the bridal over Moonie’s ears. The horse takes the bit without hesitation. “If you’re honest with your horses – really trying to do your best for them – they will forgive you any transgression.”
Then, as if on cue, Moonie tosses his head gently before pressing the side of his face against Sandifer’s chest. With a gentle pat in response, Sandifer gathers the reins and climbs aboard his mount. Moonie stands quietly as Sandifer continues the conversation.
So much of his life with horses has been focused on reaching a particular end result, now his focus rests in the process. “Funny thing is, that since I quit being so results-oriented, I’m getting better results than ever before,” he says. The new mindset makes life easier both for him and the animals he works with.
As Sandifer puts Moonie through his paces, the pair glide as if dancing. Moonie responds quickly and efficiently to Sandifer’s slight changes in weight from side to side. It is only when Sandifer stops to speak to onlookers that Moonie rolls the bit in his mouth and tosses his head eager to continue the journey.