12/01/2025
Californio Chronicles: Sunday Sit Down
Did you know the Californios shaped a style of horsemanship that still influences riders today? To my surprise, a lot people don’t. Most people don’t know how they lived, how they rode, or how they interacted the land and world around them.
Over the coming weeks, Sunday Sit Down will share stories, folklore, and traditions from Alta California. You’ll hear about techniques like moving a c**t from jaquima to two-rein. You’ll see how hides and tallow shaped the economy and even the horsemanship and the very horses they rode. We’ll explore the missions and presidios, the Bear Flag Revolt, and various other curious stories that spark thought. Some are history, some folklore, some lessons to ponder.
This series isn’t just facts. It’s about the feel of the people, the horses, and the way of life that built Californio horsemanship. We’ll explore it piece by piece, entry by entry, every Sunday.
Follow along. Share these posts. Keep the history alive. Honor the people who built a style of riding that endures today.
Welcome to the Californio Chronicles.
Welcome to Sunday Sit Down, Lets get started…
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Entry 1: From Myth to Map & How California Got Its Name
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Before the Spanish ever mapped the coast, California existed in story. A 1510 Spanish romance novel described Califia, a powerful queen ruling a mythical island filled with gold, warriors, and wild beasts. Her kingdom was called California, and it captured the imaginations of explorers and adventurers alike.
When Spanish expeditions began exploring the Pacific coast in the 1500s, many believed they had reached this legendary island. Early maps even marked “California” as a floating landmass. The explorers did not yet understand the truth: the land was connected to the mainland.
In 1539, Francisco de Ulloa sailed the Gulf of California and rounded the tip of the peninsula. His expedition proved that Baja California was not an island but a long stretch of land. Over the following years, explorers pushed farther north. By 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo landed in San Diego Bay, establishing the first European presence in Alta California.
The name California persisted, carried from legend into reality. What had begun as a myth transformed into land to be claimed, settled, and worked. Spain’s presence established the framework for missions, presidios, and ranchos.Horses, cattle, and the daily labor required to manage them became central to life in the territory.
Even along these first explorations, stories began to emerge. One of the most famous, the floating cross of Monterey, would mark the northern coast as a place of both mystery and significance, a tale we will explore in a future entry.
This moment marked the beginning of organized life in California. The land was claimed, the work was demanding, and the culture that shaped the Californios was emerging. Every skill, every tradition, and every horse would grow from these first acts of exploration and possession.
How many of you enjoyed this history?
Do you like the written format?
Would you prefer a video version instead?
Is this something youd like to see me continue?
Let me know in the comments!
History is something I really enjoy and would love to share however this project will take a lot of time to do on a weekly basis so any insight to interest would be extremely helpful in deciding whether to continue.
Thank you all for reading along and please, if you enjoyed this.. like, comment and share!
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