Luis Ortega’s Rawhide Artistry: Braiding in the California Tradition

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Introduction

Luis Ortega, 1897-1995

The Ortega Family of California Tools of the Vaquero California Braiding Tradition Rawhide as Art The Horse Show Arena Heirloom Quality Braiding

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The Artistry of Luis Ortega Festival of the Horse

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Ortega Activity Guide What are these?

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LUIS ORTEGA, 1897-1995

Luis Ortega, 1934

Growing up on the Spade S Ranch near Santa Barbara, Luis Ortega was a living connection to the golden era of California ranching. He was taught to braid rawhide as a child by a 104-year-old Chumash vaquero, Fernando Librado, who had worked cattle at the Spanish California missions in the 1830s. Ortega continued to braid rawhide gear as a young vaquero on West Coast ranches. At 36, he pursued his rawhide braiding full time. In 1938, he married Rose Smith, and settled in Santa Barbara. Well-known for his ability to gentle and train horses with the California-style hackamore, Ortega also wrote magazine articles and books that inspired horse enthusiasts throughout America. These methods of horsemanship and style of equipment, a legacy of the 19th century California vaqueros, are still in evidence today.

Luis Ortega’s Rawhide Artistry: Braiding in the California Tradition is organized by
the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.