…and on the eighth day God created the horse in perfect image, to romp, graze, gallop, play and make manure wherever it darn well pleases, in divine grace.
“The cattle are prowlin’
The coyotes are howlin’
Way out where the doggies roam,
Where spurs are a-jinglin’
and the cowboy is singin’…
…his lonesome cattle call…”
American cowboys really did exist, as did The Best Great Western Trail. A job back in the old days has come to resemble a facet of the American people, to themselves and to the world.
Life as an American cowboy in the old west was a culture unto itself. The style was first seen in Spanish California in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s.
Clothing, foods, and vernacular all appeared and evolved into what we see on the old black and white westerns from the 1960’s.
…and who doesn’t love John Wayne or Nick Barkley?
Famous movies featuring cattle drives include “Red River” in 1948, “Cattle Drive” in 1951, “The Cowboys” in 1972, “Lonesome Dove” in 1989, and “City Slickers,” in 1991.
Watching a western on tv, seeing the actors riding bomb-proof horses and running a few tame head along a flat, green prairie, makes the life look fun and easy.
When was the last time you were up in the saddle for 12 hours straight in the 90 degree heat with 3,000 head that don’t want to walk in a nice, tidy line? Try it in the mountains, or across a high river.
A lot of teamwork was involved, and everyone had to know their job.
Managing the work of trail driving in its entirety was under the over sight of the trail boss, and the “drovers” who worked under him. The “drovers” rounded up strays, herded the cows and kept them in line and moving along. Shouts and whistles could be heard above the sound of many hooves trampling over the prairie. Some of the hired hands worked as “wranglers,” tending to the “remuda,” or the extra saddle horses brought along with the trail drive, in a herd. (1)
The hired hands were cowboys, men, and some women, who were drifters or misfits, or even criminals and adventurers.
The US Civil War had many left-over young men who found themselves homeless or jobless.
Cattle drives did pay cash money and they drew in those hit by hard times or what-have-you.
Regardless of any criminal, military, or adventuring past, all rubbed shoulders out on the trail, and all were equal. (2)
Most cowboys were Caucasion, but some were freed black slaves, Native Americans, and a lot of them came up from Mexico.
Words such as “lasso,” “vaquero,” “buckaroo,” and “chaps,” have evolved into everyday household language.
Eventually over time, the cowboy, with his hat, chaps and lariat, came to symbolize America itself, in a type of logo or personification of culture.
Masculine American character traits have their roots in western cowboy culture. Qualities such as self-reliance, toughness, independence, and fairness are sought-after by modern men, even in cities. They may not know the difference between a “lasso” and a “lariat,” but they do know they enjoy being self-reliant and tough.
The difference between the “lasso” and a “lariat” is that the lariat is a braided rope and the lasso is a plain rope, but both are used to rope and catch cattle.
An informal cowboy-ethics code was developed in the old west with informal rules, something like a medieval knight’s code.
“Be peaceful,” or “Finish what you start, “ or “Keep your promises,” and “Protect a lady,” are sensible, honest words of wisdom that make for peaceful society and clean living. The cowboy culture is based on these common sense facts.
Cowboys did get into trouble, though.
After spending many weeks out on the trail, the boys had a lot of pent-up energy. They would pull into places like Dodge City, just looking for trouble.
With saloons and alcohol, gambling spots, or houses of ill-repute, many-a-cowboy got mixed-up in shootings, duels, or bar room brawls.
The Boot Hill Cemetery in Dodge City has gravestones marking where cowboys lie, along with innocent citizens and even a few town sheriffs who got mixed-up in the worst kind of trouble they’d ever seen at trail’s end. (3)
Trail life was tough. Cattle weren’t always cheerfully plodding their way along to greener fields.
One major problem was the stampede.
When a herd spooked, more than 3,000 longhorns would be wild-eyed in a panic, running crazily any-old-way. Cowboys had to ride hard to get out ahead of the herd to start to “corral” them into a large, moving circle. Running around in one big circle would let the herd calm down, tire out, and safely slow to a walk, hopefully with no major damages.
If it was 3 am and the “doggies” stampeded, a cowboy had to jump on his trusty cowhorse right quick.
A “spoiler” is a herd of cattle that stampeded early-on in the drive and who learned to stampede at the slightest small sound. A “merry-go-round in high water” is a herd of cattle that are confused, swimming around in circles at a river crossing. (4)
Naturally, cowboys did try to take precautions to prevent the cattle from spooking.
Cowboys would softly sing cattle songs to the herd, to cover any loud snaps or sharp noises. Thunderstorms were a cause for extra vigilance.
The original “Cattle Call” song by Tex Owens, that came out in 1934, is a fine example of country style singing with guitar, paying tribute to an American icon, the cowboy. Other artists copied the song, including Gene Autry and Eddie Arnold. Both Autry and Arnold sing amazing versions; log onto You Tube to hear them sing once again.
Rotary International and American historians across the country have stepped forward to mark The Great Western Trail, with cement markers every 6 to 10 miles the entire route. In Texas alone, the massive project went the entire 620 miles to the state line. Oklahomans and Texans poured water from the Red River onto the marker at Doan’s Crossing. (4)
Lots of rich American history awaits those who like adventurous, outdoor activities. Cowboy logic demands we subscribe; it sounds like a lot of fun to me, to go and trace the Trail. Think of all the sights, people, food and restaurants all along the way. There is something for tourists, historians, horse lovers, and foodies, all in one.
You’ll be talkin’ “vacquero vernacular” before you know it.
As my colleague, friend, and fellow horse-lover Lisa Houserman likes to sign off, complete with western drawl, from Lonesome Dove fame, “It ain’t dying I’m talkin’ about, it’s livin’.”
Leaving you once again with trail songs and gunfighter ballads, appropriately enough, to the immortal words of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, “Happy Trails to You.”
1,2,4: The Rotarian Magazine, December 2017, Vol. 196, No.6; “The Cowboy Life: A Saddlebag Guide for Dudes, Tenderfeet, and Cowpunchers Everywhere,” by Michele Morris
3: Internet/Wikipedia