The California Two Rein & Bridle - The Art and Science of the Traditional Bridle Horse

Author:  Jeff Sanders 

 
Book 2 of 2: California Vaquero Horsemanship

This is your definitive guide to understand and succeed with the Two Rein and Bridle. With six generations of California vaquero horsemanship within Sanders' family, this book preserves a living tradition while making it practical for today's riders, based on decades of study and thousands of horses.
Beyond the traditional California styles of bits and horsemanship, this book provides value regardless of what style of horsemanship you practice. Jeff Sanders offers rare insight into what truly works, what does not, and why.

List of chapters & Topics:

• What is a California bridle horse
• History and traditions (Spanish California, Mexican/Rancho period, Mexican American war, United States control, California Lancers in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, The 1980s, 1980s to Present day)
• Does the snaffle have a place in the old California tradition
• Historical context
• Riding young horses
• New never before published snaffle bit research
• True collection
• What is Collection
• The biomechanics of the horse being "on the bit" and excessive contact
• Hyperflexion
• Forward down/long and low
• Leverage and pain compliance vs signal
• How traditional California bits signal
• Understanding the mouth
• The Sacred temple
• Mouth Conformation
• Tongue
• Tongue relief
• Hyoid Apparatus
• Bars
• Hard Palate
• Lips
• Canine teeth
• Premolars
• Importance of regular dental work
• Traditional California mouthpieces
• Solid vs jointed mouthpieces
• Mouthpieces (Halfbreed, Salinas, Mona Lisa, San Joaquin, Polo mouth, Mullen mouth, Frog mouth)
• Hoods over ports
• Mouth piece materials
• Cricket
• Curb straps and curb chains
• Bit balance, weight, cheek design and horse's natural carriage
• Ratios
• Common shortcut tools
• Nose bands/cavessons
• Draw reins
• Side reins
• Gimmicks in general
• Mysteries of the spade bit
• Understanding the spade/spoon
• How to measure for proper spade fit
• Braces
• Lower set cannon
• Fitting the braces
• Wrinkles in the corner of the mouth
• Rein style and choices
• Lost art of the rein chains
• Headstalls (Single crown piece, Single sliding ear, Split ear, Double ear, Browband)
• Why all the silver
• When to start in the two rein
• The secret
• My two rein list
• Rein Handling and signaling in the two rein
• Correct use of romal reins
• Holding the two rein
• Relaxed hand, fingertips and bubbling
• Rein balance
• Neck reining
• The importance of seat and leg signals
• Why I don't ride with two hands on the bridle reins
• Introduction to the bit
• Bitting up
• First rides
• Transitioning to straight up rein handling
• Going straight up
• The Alamar knot
• Teaching new skills

About the author: Jeff Sanders was born right in the heart of Vaquero country, in Merced, California. He is one few genuinely born and raised teaching the California Vaquero style of horsemanship. Jeff's ancestors started working as a vaquero in Petaluma California a decade before the first big Texas cattle drives.
Having lived and breathed the California horsemanship traditions since childhood, Jeff brought old time Vaquero style not only on the ranch but also into the competition arena. He has worked on ranches in California, Colorado, Wyoming and Nevada.
Jeff is dedicated to spread the traditions of the California Bridle Horse throughout the world, teaching clinics not only in the US but in Europe, Australia/New Zeeland and Israel as well. He works endlessly for this proud tradition that respects the rider and honours the horse not only survive, but to flourish.

Softcover: ‎ 244 pages
Size:  ‎ 8.3 x 11.7 inches