Modern Vaquero Horsemanship

By JuliAnna Ávila

Published by Purdue University Press, ISBN 978-1-61249-951-2, paperback

Reviewed by Monique Noble 

Fine horses and Fair-Minded Riders – Modern Vaquero Horsemanship by JuliAnna Ávila is a love letter written to a long-standing tradition of Vaquero horsemanship, as it finds its way through the new world of easy-access information. 

A traditional form of working and living with horses passed down through centuries of oral history, many miles of riding, thousands of wet saddle blankets and thousands more cattle, the art of Vaquero horsemanship was one gained through mentors and experience. Vaqueros took pride and patience in their superbly trained bridle horses that take upwards of 10 years of training to be considered a “finished” horse. A style of “slow horsemanship” that began in Spain and endured across the centuries through wars, conquests, and necessity, each time adapting itself to the needs of the rider, first came to North America more than 500 years ago. This book describes its journey from the courts of kings to the dusty Californian cowboys who had little beyond the silver on their spurs and the horse that was their livelihood.

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Excerpts from world renowned horsemen paired with inciteful observations from the author leave you with hope for the continuation of the grand tradition of Vaquero horsemanship with its emphasis on creating quality equine athletes and harmony with our working partners. 

Legends like Tom Dorrance and contemporaries like Rodolfo Lara Sr. invite author Ávila alongside as they walk through their experiences and ponder the mysteries and the realities of their passion for quiet conversations with incredible horses. The book shares firsthand accounts of those who have studied modern Vaquero horsemanship, and also considers what the future might include as the art of the Vaquero evolves as it has done throughout history.

More available to enthusiasts across the world than ever before through digital media, Vaquero horsemanship is going through yet another renaissance, gaining attention not only for the powerful bonds created between horses and humans but also for the beauty and history of the equipment used. Ávila explores how the digital age and rampant consumerism are affecting or could affect the traditions of this living artform, its artists, and its students as it navigates a new world once again. 

Yet as people find themselves with more time, many look for something different than the rush of everyday life and gravitate toward slow horsemanship and deeper relationships with their equine partners. Like the powerful bonds created between horses and humans, Vaquero horsemanship will continue to endure as a vibrant part of horse culture.

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