Horseman Bruce Sandifer pursued his lifelong cowboy dream early in life, working ranches and never caring what the job paid or entailed. He learned from seasoned cowboys and was willing to work horses other people couldn’t get along with. Bruce studied the early Californio vaqueros of mostly Indian blood, impressed with their sophisticated systems of handling horses. He ended up in California and started teaching the Californio method with the end goal of making a bridlehorse or “reined cowhorse”. Bruce has helped found The Californio Bridlehorse Association.
What inspired you to follow your dream to be a “cowboy” early in life?
There were always horsemen and good cowboys but there wasn’t that refined and beautiful looking horsemanship that I read about as a young man and was described in Ed Connell’s books. My lifelong search started when I decided to find and learn that kind of horsemanship and skills.
What is the Californio method of riding?
Most methods are based on getting the horse to release to pressure. The Californio method is a based on balance. It is a refinement in communication with the horse. The method is built around protecting the mouth of the horse so that communication can be acquired without pain or force but through understanding and knowledge. People can be afraid of the spade bit, but the spade bit is a mild bit when you understand how to use it. Your body is your main change of balance. When you change your balance the horse follows that change of balance. If I lift my posture, my horse comes up to me. I learn every day – it’s like being a musician, no matter how long you’ve been playing an instrument you can always advance.
What are the qualities you look for in a good bridlehorse?
I look for balance in a horse; not too long a neck or back. They need to have an athletic build. They don’t have to be a special breed but the horse should look like all its parts belong together.
Along with teaching the Californio method, you talk about skills relevant to today’s ranching. What are some examples?
Ranching has to be sustainable, cattle friendly, horse friendly and people friendly. Slow things down using thought rather than speed and action. Horses last longer, people don’t get hurt and cattle don’t lose pounds.
The Californio method allows me to rope or work a cow without getting in the horses way, which in turn allows them to work better with less effort.
You are one of the founders of The Californio Bridlehorse Association. Tell us about it?
The Californio Bridle Horse Association was created to preserve the method of horsemanship and stockmanship developed by the early Californios. The idea is to take time to build a foundation – we don’t do things today that won’t make a better tomorrow. Horses aren’t shown before they are 4 and start in a hackamore. You don’t have to use a spade bit but we would like to bring that back because it is such a lost art. Everything is done with care and each step in training is done slowly for the future. There are past mentors who are extremely good, that people will never know about. If I can keep a little of that alive, I’m humbled. For more information or to contact Bruce Sandifer www.brucesandifercbh.com
