|
CALIFORNIA BRAIDING TRADITION
Luis Ortega braiding in his workshop behind his home in Paradise, California, 1974.
The braiding traditions of early California vaqueros survived into the 20th century because many respected horsemen on the West Coast valued the subtle characteristics of braided rawhide gear. Numerous braiders gained a reputation for the quality of their hackamores, reins and reatas. They were careful to provide a core for the braiding with just the right amount of flexibility and for building reatas with no splices or weak spots in the rawhide strands. The braiding of the bosal nosebands was beveled and smooth so as not to sore the horse. They prided themselves on reliable gear with clean, straight braiding. Few braiders, however, developed the clientele who would pay high prices for intricate and decorative braiding, which required triple or quadruple the number of hours to create. In this regard, Luis Ortega was the exception.
|
California
