For me, the Stockhorse competition, is where it is at. One on one. One horse, One man, One cow. Sometimes I wonder what it must have been like, in the land of the Vaqueros, The way they rode, the way they handled stock. This comes as close to that reality, as can be. This arena enables a horse to move, and open up..use their bodies, and, while nothing can compare to outside work, and the freedom that entails, here, where specators are involved, this is a big enough arena. Juan was in attendance. I saw him more then once in the half light, in the faces of the riders. In the silver they adorn their horses with. In the grit and the try of these good horses, from hackamore, to two rein, to straight up. I can hardly wait for next year. By the time that Dave and Lorenzo went, it was just about 8 in the evening...light was a challenge..lights were going on all over town, and I squeaked in a few, but did not intend to short them..xoxo, p.

Vaquero Song

by Dave Stamey
,
My name is Juan Medina
A vaquero once was I
Now I live in the air above the pepper trees
Where are all the cattle, that belonged to Captain Dana
They're blown away like ashes in the California breeze
And once I rode the foothills
And I swung a long reata
I worked the hide and tallow trade in the land I loved
I rode in wooden stirrups
And the dust raised by my ponies
Was smoke, from my alter offered up to the God above
Todavía estoy aquí I am still here
Todavía estoy aquí my soul is dancing in the moonlight
I mingle with each grain of sand in the land that is my birthright
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí
In the canyon and barrancas
And willows by the creek bank
I chased the wild cattle through the live oak trees
Cross valleys ridge and mesa
And the hills baked oh, so yellow
My ponies sleek and dancing were all a man would need
Todavía estoy aquí I am still here
Todavía estoy aquí my soul is dancing in the moonlight
I mingle with each grain of sand in the land that is my birthright
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí
In the fog of early morning,
O' the misty haze of twilight
Beyond the sagging ruins of these adobe walls
You may see me in the dust,
That shimmers in the half light
Or hear me in the whisper, of the grass so green and tall
Todavía estoy aquí I am still here
Todavía estoy aquí my soul is dancing in the moonlight
Oh I mingle with each grain of sand in the land that is my birthright
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí
My name is Juan Medina
A vaquero once was I
Now I live, in the air above of the pepper trees.....