La Fiesta de los Californios-Vaquero Days
To all the world, California has always been the home to a respected breed of horsemen. When the Spanish first arrived in California they came here on the back of a horse, and with them came all their gear on the backs of mules. To settle this unknown region, everything they needed for life had to come with them. The large herd of cattle was driven along by the presidio soldiers, commonly called the Soldados de Cuero, or the leather jacket soldier. As the name implies they wore a leather jacket, actually a vest of seven layers of deerskin, to protect them from the arrows of Indians. These were the horsemen of the Californios, who developed the culture that became so romanticized before the invasion of the gold rush
In October this year, in the small town of Descanso, we will pay tribute to this heritage. Music, cowboy poetry, horsemanship demonstrations, ranch roping competitions and team cattle sorting, along with people dressed in appropriate attire of the day, make the celebration as festive as we can make it. This is our 11th year and looks to be better than ever! The location is the original, in the meadow on the Merigan ranch which is in the center of the small village of Descanso. From Interstate 8 follow the signs for two miles into town. We start at 8:00 in the morning each day with the roping competition and have activities throughout each day until sunset. The admission is $10.00 and the kids are free. We have no parking fee and plenty of room for one and all.
Inside the big tents you will find many fine vendors with unusual handcrafted items for sale. Stuff for your home, horse and haberdashery will be available in time for the shopping season. It is our intent to include artisans and craftsmen of discreet excellence, not imported Pakistani plunder. If you are interested in participating as a vendor, please call Garry McClintock during the day at 619-445-3946. Space is very limited.
In the spirit of the Californio, many of the participants are true to their heritage, living a similar life style on ranches and Indian reservations in Baja California. We are pleased to present as much of the authentic peoples as we can muster up. If you are of such heritage please join us and tell your friends.
At noon each day we will have a barbeque in the spirit of early California, accompanied with musicians of unequalled excellence for your listening pleasure. Groups from all backgrounds participate throughout each day. We especially have the Los Californios, who present songs from the Spanish era. This music will bring you to the patio of a hacienda, with the courtesy of the Don and his rancho.
If your interests are improving your horsemanship skills or maybe you think you would like to become familiar with horses, be sure to arrive early. Throughout the day will be viewing presentations from such great horsemen as Leslie Desmond, Dick Schorr, Michael Barrish, R.E. Smith and Len Judd. Senor Jimmy Flores will show us more about using the hackamore in the traditional style of the Californio. As you can see we are attempting to have more than you can see in two days. We hope that you, too, will join us for a visit to what is available of early California and our Great Ranching Heritage.
Our elaboration on the name Vaquero Days, to Fiesta de los Californios, is to portray and include the multicultural aspect of the Spanish Era in pre gold rush California. Although a Mexican province after 1821, California was unique to itself, a blending of many cultures. From those who were the "first to come". They came from Spain and various countries of Europe as well as South America, China, Japan as well as Malaysia and the United States. Wherever trade ships were blown here from. California really was a melting pot of people from all parts of the world, and that is what we celebrate, humanity as it was in California prior to the gold rush, in the pasture paradise of what was called the Halcyon Days of California.
We invite you to forget about the troubles of our era for a while, and come in your best outfit, whatever that may be, and celebrate horse, home and humanity and share with each other whatever it is that you enjoy about life, and pay tribute to the one who created it all.
La Fiesta de los Californios will be held on Saturday and Sunday, December 7th and 8th from 8:00 to 5:00 in Descanso, California.
For more information visit:
McClintock Saddleworks: (619)445-3946
to register for horse events
