The American West, a landscape often romanticized in lore and legend, has undergone profound transformations over the years. For veteran horseman Jack Brainard, these changes are not mere historical footnotes but lived experiences. From the days of nickel sodas bought for his father’s friends who witnessed the Battle of Wounded Knee, to his own pioneering work in modern horsemanship, Brainard’s life mirrors the evolution of the cowboy and the horse itself. His journey, deeply intertwined with the development of the Quarter Horse and advancements in training techniques, offers a unique perspective on the enduring spirit of the West.
From Childhood Dreams to Cowboy Reality
Brainard’s fascination with horses began in his early childhood in South Dakota. A formative encounter with Gus Hauser, a scout for General Crook and a contemporary of Red Cloud, ignited a lifelong passion. Hauser’s imposing boots, adorned with a distinctive “H,” cemented a young Brainard’s ambition: “no other endeavor interested me other than being a cowboy.” By the age of three, he was riding, and his first mount, a Shetland pony named Peggy, was his reliable transport to school until he was seven. However, his true calling lay with larger horses, a passion that only intensified as he grew. The allure of the open range and the freedom it represented were palpable. At nine years old, Brainard famously snuck out before dawn to chase wild horses with a friend, an escapade his mother deemed impossible but which offered an unparalleled adventure, far surpassing any rodeo. This early exposure to the untamed spirit of horses and the vastness of the West shaped his destiny.
The Rise of the Modern Cowboy and the Quarter Horse
Brainard recalls the late 1930s and early 1940s as a pivotal era, marking the decline of the “wide-open Old West” and the dawn of a more refined approach to horsemanship. This period saw the burgeoning of rodeos, with figures like Bob Crosby leading the charge, and the emergence of what Brainard considers the “modern cowboy.” Crucially, this era also witnessed the rise of the Quarter Horse. Though the term was circulating in the 1930s, referring to horses faster over a quarter mile, it wasn’t until the mid-1940s that the breed truly gained prominence. The turning point, according to Brainard, was the 1945 Fort Worth Stock Show, where a horse named Buckskin Joe was named Grand Champion Quarter Horse and sold for an astounding $25,000. This landmark sale catapulted the Quarter Horse industry into the spotlight.
Following his service in World War II, Brainard, newly discharged from the Army, embraced the burgeoning Quarter Horse scene. Donning the quintessential cowboy attire—custom boots and a Stetson hat—he traveled to the Goodrich Ranch in Lampasas, Texas. It was here, surrounded by a fine collection of Quarter Horse mares, that Brainard honed his skills, absorbing knowledge that he considers more valuable than any other period in his life. Though a return to the family farm in Iowa temporarily interrupted his Texas sojourn, Brainard harbored a strong conviction that he would eventually return to the state renowned for its exceptional horses.
A Return to Texas and Advancements in Training
After years spent training horses and judging in Wisconsin and Minnesota, including judging at every major show in America at least twice, Brainard’s heart pulled him back to Texas in 1976. He was drawn by the unparalleled quality of horses and the evolving landscape of horsemanship. The 1970s marked a significant shift, with trainers like Tom Dorrance gaining recognition for advocating quieter, less forceful methods. Brainard immersed himself in this new paradigm, learning from the best trainers in the business. He highlights the effectiveness of modern round-pen techniques, which allow trainers to achieve in hours what once took months. This era of innovation, focused on understanding the horse’s psychology and communication, represented a profound departure from the harsher methods of the past.
Horses’ Improved Welfare and the Future of Horsemanship
Brainard asserts that horses today enjoy a significantly better quality of life compared to a century ago. He contrasts the advanced horsemanship seen in Europe in the late 1800s with the rudimentary skills of Civil War veterans driving cattle, noting the comparatively short historical span of the “working cowboy.” While acknowledging the continued necessity of horseback riding for cattle gathering in rugged terrain, Brainard observes the increasing prevalence of motorcycles and four-wheelers on ranches. He posits that many contemporary cowboys, much like their rodeo counterparts, function more as “arena athletes” and may lack the deep-seated knowledge of traditional range cowboys, such as the ability to identify specific cattle within a large herd or to manage calves effectively after long drives.
Looking ahead, Brainard remains optimistic, though he leaves the future of cowboys and horsemanship to conjecture. He emphasizes that, overall, the changes have been for the better. His own current training program, involving colts performing piaffe and executing lead changes every other stride, represents a level of skill he “never dreamed of as a young man.” The pursuit of excellence in horsemanship continues to be a source of immense enjoyment and fulfillment in his life.
