Bobby Ingersoll and David R. Stoecklein have collaborated on a book about the California stock horse and the tradition of hackamore training. It is rapidly becoming a lost art. The book includes intricate drawings and diagrams along with Stoecklein's photographs and Ingersoll's training tips.

HACKAMORE REINSMAN by ED CONNELL, first published in 1952, is a hands-on manual of instruction that describes in detail the use of the hackamore and snaffle bit. He takes green horse and trainer from the first bosal and ground-pulling to the point that the horse will slide and whirl on the hackamore. Ed's method is pure "Californio" having descended from the Moors and then the Spaniards who brought this training to the New World, developing the hair-trigger reined horses found in California. It is the Spanish method of breaking and training a horse before it is ever bitted. The focus is on making a finished hackamore horse with an untouched mouth. It emphasizes the art of reinsmanship as practiced, developed and perfected by the Old Californios and remains the bible of all books on hackamore training. Connell's 2nd book, REINSMAN OF THE WEST -- BRIDLES & BITS, gives the WHY and HOW of making a spade bit horse out of the hackamore horse, using the methods of the Old California Vaqueros. It explains how to choose the right bit and how to use that bit to get the most from your horse. Website: www.hackamore-reinsman.com.

The Art of Hackamore Training reflects the hackamore horse’s long history with ranch and cattle work and how those skills can be transferred to Western riding’s competitive arena. The relatively recent advent of the popular ranch-horse versatility class in several associations, for example, ensures a continuing interest in the hackamore skills vaqueros honed long ago.