The Early Californios Skills of the Rancho brought together horsemen and -women of all levels to practice early California bridle horse traditions and low-stress stock handling techniques in a friendly competition.
Story and photography by Jennifer Denison
The 11th-annual Early Californios Skills of the Rancho was held at the historic V6 Ranch in Parkfield, California, October 27-29. The annual event paid homage to traditional California-style horsemanship and stockmanship principles introduced by the Spanish vaqueros during the early California Mission Era (1879 to around 1833) and developed by the Californio horsemen on expansive land-grant ranchos during the colonization period. Working cowboys and buckaroos still practice many techniques, primarily in the Great Basin region.
Riders of different levels–from youth and novices to intermediate and advanced riders—were each paired with an invited professional horseman in a drawing held before the event. The pairs competed in classes designed to simulate real ranch work, including stock-horse dry work, herd work and roping classes, alley sorting and rodear roping. Stock-horse classes included divisions for hackamore, two-rein and bridle horses.
“There was no place to show horses in the California style of riding that promoted learning opportunities for novice and intermediate riders to get involved,” explains Bruce Sandifer, founder and president of the California Bridlehorse Association, which produces the event. “We want to create an environment where people can come and share what they know and learn from each other with a fiesta-style attitude.”

This riding style is more than a philosophy to the competitors; it’s a mindset and value system reflected in how the horses and cattle were handled, how the competitors conducted themselves, and how well they worked with a crew of cowboys in unison with their horses. Three judges, all well-versed in California-style horsemanship and ranching, scored the riders on how quietly, efficiently, and effectively they got the job done as if they were hiring the riders to work on their cattle on their ranches.
Riders donned traditional Western attire, including chinks or armitas, and showed their horses in a phase of the traditional bridle-horse training process, whether the hackamore, two-rein or straight up in the bridle. Competitors used a rope or reata that was at least 45 feet long, and they dallied around their saddle horns rather than tying on hard and fast, as is common on ranches in the Southwest. Their saddle horns were wrapped in smooth mule hide, allowing them to slip their dallies and run their ropes.

“We’re trying to promote a sustainable way of working cattle and horses,” says Sandifer. “We want to see people riding in a way that is the most beneficial for their horses. We want to bring longevity back into horsemanship.”
While the competition was the event’s main spectacle, there was also a trade show to peruse, with makers selling handmade trappings. On Friday evening, there was a trade party where participants spread their gear on tables and made deals in the glow of a campfire. On Saturday evening, cowboy singer-songwriter Dave Stamey performed in a free concert for the crowd.
Gracious sponsors, prize donors and dedicated volunteers support the event. The planning committee is already coordinating next year’s event, which will be held October 24-26, 2025, at the V6 Ranch. For more information, visit californiobridlehorseassociation.com. Follow the event at Early Californio Skills of the Rancho on Facebook or @earlycaliforniosskills on Instagram.

Californio Bridlehorse Association
The Californio Bridlehorse Association, founded in 2008 by horseman Bruce Sandifer of Santa Barbara, California, preserves a style of horsemanship and stockmanship developed during the mission era of early California. The techniques and equipment used by the Californios were passed down within families and so secretly guarded that they were almost lost through time. The CBA’s efforts are helping keep these traditions alive in their purest form. For more information, visit californiobridlehorseassociation.com.

Skills Pros
Andy Camacho
Dwight Hill
Heather Kornemann
Lorenzo Laurrcea
Chris Maxon
Roy Pelkey
Emme Randall
Judges: Jeff Derby, Wacey Kornemann and Jason Mercurio
Results
Stock Horse Dry Work Advanced Bridle
Jana Tindell
Glynna Hoekstra
Gill Camarillo
Stock Horse Dry Work Advanced Two-Rein
Ute Sandifer
Roberto Flores
Fallon Turner
Stock Horse Dry Work Advanced Hackamore
Julie Diffenbaugh
Stock Horse Dry Work Intermediate Bridle