Cowboy
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Donald Albury
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[[Image:ARTrussellCfullsize.jpg|300px|thumb|A classic image of the American cowboy, as portrayed by [[Charles Marion Russell|C.M. Russell]].]]
A '''cowboy''' is an animal [[herder]] who tends [[cattle]] on [[ranch]]es in [[North America]], traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century became a figure of special significance and legend.<ref name="Malone1">Malone, p.1</ref> A subtype, called a [[Wrangler (profession)|wrangler]], specifically tends the [[horses]] used to work cattle. In addition to ranch work, some cowboys work for or participate in [[rodeo]]s. '''Cowgirls''', first defined as such in the late 19th century, had a less-well documented historical role, but in the modern world have established the ability to work at virtually identical tasks and obtained considerable respect for their achievements.<ref>[http://www.cowgirl.net Cowgirl Hall of Fame website]</ref> There are also cattle handlers in many other parts of the world, particularly [[South America]] and [[Australia]], who perform work similar to the cowboy in their respective nations.
The cowboy has deep historic roots tracing back to [[Spain]] and the earliest settlers of the [[Americas]]. Over the centuries, differences in terrain, climate and the influence of cattle-handling traditions from multiple cultures created several distinct styles of equipment, clothing and animal handling. As the ever-practical cowboy adapted to the modern world, the cowboy's equipment and techniques also adapted to some degree, though many classic traditions are still preserved today.
==Etymology and usage==
The English word ''cowboy'' has an origin from several earlier terms that referred to both age and to cattle or cattle-tending work.
The word "cowboy" appeared in the English language by 1725.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cowboy Definition of "cowboy"]</ref> It appears to be a direct English translation of ''vaquero'', a Spanish word for an individual who managed cattle while mounted on horseback. It was derived from ''vaca,'' meaning "cow."<ref>[http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltGUIBusUsual?LEMA=vaca Royal Spanish Academy Dictionary]</ref> This Spanish word has a long history, developed from the [[Latin]] word ''vacca.'' Another English word for a cowboy, ''buckaroo,'' is an [[Anglicisation|Anglicization]] of ''vaquero.''<ref>[http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-1283(197922)54%3A2%3C151%3ABOM%3E2.0.CO%3B2-D Cassidy, F.G., Hill, A.A. "Buckaroo Once More." ''American Speech'', Vol. 54, No. 2 (Summer, 1979), pp. 151-153 doi:10.2307/455216]</ref> At least one linguist has speculated that the word "buckaroo" derives from the Arabic word ''bakara'' or ''bakhara,'' also meaning "[[heifer]]" or "young cow", and may have entered Spanish during the centuries of Islamic rule. <ref>[http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-1283(197821)53%3A1%3C49%3AALAB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-K Cassidy, F.G. "Another Look at Buckaroo," ''American Speech,'' Vol. 53, No. 1 (Spring, 1978), pp. 49-51 doi:10.2307/455339]</ref>
Originally, the term may have been intended literally - "a boy who tends cows" - but had developed its modern sense as an adult cattle handler of the American west by 1849. Variations on the word "cowboy" appeared later. "Cowhand" appeared in 1852, and "cowpoke" in 1881, originally restricted to the individuals who prodded cattle onto railroad cars with long poles. <ref name="Etymology-cow">[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=cowboy&searchmode=nl Cow. Assorted terms. ''Online Etymology Dictionary'', accessed May 5, 2008.</ref> Names for a cowboy in American English now include ''buckaroo, cowpoke, cowhand,'' and ''cowpuncher''.<ref name=Vernam294>Vernam, p. 294</ref> "Cowboy" is a term common throughout the west and particularly in the [[Great Plains]] and [[Rocky Mountains]], "Buckaroo" is used primarily in the [[Great Basin]] and [[California]], and "cowpuncher" mostly in [[Texas]] and surrounding states.<ref>Draper, p. 121</ref>
The word cowboy also had English language roots beyond simply being a translation from Spanish. Originally, the [[English language|English]] word "cowherd" was used to describe a cattle herder, (similar to "shepherd," a sheep herder) and often referred to a preadolescent or early adolescent boy, who usually worked on foot. ([[Equestrianism]] required skills and an investment in horses and equipment rarely available to or entrusted to a child, though in some cultures boys rode a [[donkey]] while going to and from pasture) This word is very old in the English language, originating prior to the year 1000.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cowherd Definition of "Cowherd"]</ref> In [[ancient history|Antiquity]], herding of sheep, cattle and goats was often the job of [[minor]]s, and still is a task for young people in various [[third world]] cultures.
Because of the time and physical ability needed to develop necessary skills, the cowboy often did began his career as an adolescent, earning wages as soon as he had enough skill to be hired, (often as young as 12 or 13) and who, if not crippled by injury, might handle cattle or horses for the rest of his working life. In the United States, a few women also took on the tasks of ranching and learned the necessary skills, though the "cowgirl" (discussed ''below'') did not become widely recognized or acknowledged until the close of the 19th century. On western ranches today, the working cowboy is usually an adult. Responsibility for herding cattle or other livestock is no longer considered a job suitable for children or early adolescents. However, both boys and girls growing up in a [[ranch]] environment often learn to ride [[horse]]s and perform basic ranch skills as soon as they are physically able, usually under adult supervision. Such youths, by their late teens, are often given responsibilities for "cowboy" work on the ranch, and ably perform work that requires a level of maturity and levelheadedness that is not generally expected of their urban peers.
==History==
[[Image:Cowboy.jpg|thumb|220px|right|American cowboy, circa 1888]]
The [[Spanish people|Spanish]] originated what we now consider the cowboy tradition, beginning with the [[hacienda]] system of [[medieval Spain]]. This style of cattle [[ranch]]ing spread throughout much of the [[Iberian peninsula]] and later, was imported to the [[Americas]]. Both regions possessed a dry climate with sparse grass, and thus large herds of cattle required vast amounts of land in order to obtain sufficient [[forage]]. The need to cover distances greater than a person on foot could manage gave rise to the development of the horseback-mounted ''vaquero''.
During the 16th century, the [[Conquistadors]] and other Spanish settlers brought their cattle-raising traditions as well as both [[horse]]s and domesticated [[cattle]] to the [[Americas]], starting with their arrival in what today is [[Mexico]] and [[Florida]].<ref name=Vernam190>Vernam, p. 190</ref> The traditions of [[Spain]] were transformed by the geographic, environmental and cultural circumstances of [[New Spain]], which later became [[Mexico]] and the [[Southwestern United States]]. In turn, the land and people of the Americas also saw dramatic changes due to Spanish influence.
Thus, though popularly considered as a [[North America]]n [[icon]], the traditional cowboy actually began with a Hispanic tradition, which evolved further in what today is [[Mexico]] and the [[Southwestern United States]] into the ''[[vaquero]]'' of northern Mexico and the ''[[charro]]'' of the [[Jalisco]] and [[Michoacán]] regions. Most ''vaqueros'' were men of [[mestizo]] and [[indigenous people of the Americas|Native American]] origin while most of the ''hacendados'' (ranch owners) were ethnically [[Spanish people|Spanish]].<ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/08/0814_030815_cowboys.html Haeber, Jonathan."Vaqueros: The First Cowboys of the Open Range." ''National Geographic News.'' August 15, 2003. Web page accessed September 2, 2007]</ref>
The arrival of horses was particularly significant, as [[equine]]s had been [[extinct]] in the Americas since the end of the prehistoric [[ice age]]. However, horses quickly multiplied in America and became crucial to the success of the Spanish and later settlers from other nations. The earliest horses were originally of [[Andalusian horse|Andalusian]], [[Barb (horse)|Barb]] and [[Arabian horse|Arabian]] ancestry,<ref name=Denhardt20>Denhardt, p. 20</ref> but a number of uniquely American [[list of horse breeds|horse breeds]] developed in North and South America through selective breeding and by [[natural selection]] of animals that escaped to the wild. The [[Mustang (horse)|Mustang]] and other colonial horse breeds are now called "wild," but in reality are [[feral horse]]s — descendants of domesticated animals.
As [[English language|English]]-speaking traders and settlers [[Territorial acquisitions of the United States|expanded westward]], English and Spanish traditions, language and culture merged to some degree. Before the [[Mexican-American War]] in 1848, [[New England]] merchants who traveled by ship to California encountered both ''hacendados'' and ''vaqueros'', trading manufactured goods for the hides and tallow produced from vast cattle [[ranch]]es. American traders along what later became known as the [[Santa Fe Trail]] had similar contacts with ''vaquero'' life. Starting with these early encounters, the lifestyle and language of the ''vaquero'' began a transformation which merged with English cultural traditions and produced what became known in American culture as the "cowboy".<ref>Malone, p. 3</ref>
With the arrival of [[railroad]]s, and an increased demand for [[beef]] in the wake of the [[American Civil War]], the iconic American cowboy evolved as the older traditions combined with the need to [[cattle drive|drive cattle]] from the ranches where they were raised to the nearest [[railhead]]s, often hundreds of miles away.<ref name="Malone1"/>
===Ethnicity of the traditional cowboy===
[[Image:Indian students branding cattle.png|300px|thumb|Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho youths learning to brand cattle at the Seger Indian School, Oklahoma Territory, ca. 1900.]]
American cowboys were drawn from multiple sources. By the late 1860s, following the [[American Civil War]] and the expansion of the cattle industry, former soldiers from both the Union and Confederacy came west, seeking work, as did large numbers of restless white men in general.<ref>Malone p. 7</ref> A significant number of [[African-American]] ex-slaves also were drawn to cowboy life, in part because there was not quite as much discrimination in the [[Western United States|west]] as in other areas of American society at the time.<ref>Malone, p. 8</ref> A significant number of Mexicans and [[American Indians in the United States|American Indian]]s already living in the region also worked as cowboys.<ref name="Malone48">Malone, p. 48</ref>
Many early ''vaqueros'' were Indian people trained to work for the Spanish missions in caring for the mission herds. Later, particularly after 1890, when American policy promoted "assimilation" of Indian people, some Indian boarding schools also taught ranching skills. Today, some Native Americans in the [[western United States]] own cattle and small ranches, and many are still employed as cowboys, especially on ranches located near [[Indian Reservation]]s. The "Indian Cowboy" also became a commonplace sight on the [[rodeo]] circuit.
Because cowboys ranked low in the [[social structure]] of the period, there are no firm figures on the actual proportion of various races. One writer states that cowboys were "… of two classes—those recruited from Texas and other States on the eastern slope; and Mexicans, from the south-western region. …"<ref>Ambulo, John. "The Cattle on a Thousand Hills" ''The Overland Monthly'' March 1887.</ref> [[Census]] records suggest that about 15% of all cowboys were of African-American ancestry—ranging from about 25% on the trail drives out of Texas, to very few in the northwest. Similarly, cowboys of Mexican descent also averaged about 15% of the total, but were more common in Texas and the southwest.
Regardless of ethnicity, most cowboys came from lower social classes and the pay was poor. The average cowboy earned approximately a dollar a day, plus food, and, when near the home ranch, a bed in the [[bunkhouse]], usually a [[barracks]]-like building with a single open room.<ref>Malone, p. 27</ref>
===Roundups===
Large numbers of [[cattle]] lived in a semi-[[feral]], or semi-wild state on the [[Rangeland|open range]] and were left to graze, mostly untended, for much of the year. In many cases, different ranchers formed "associations" and grazed their cattle together on the same range. In order to determine the ownership of individual animals, they were marked with a distinctive [[livestock branding|brand]], applied with a hot iron, usually while the cattle were still young [[calf|calves]].<ref>Malone, p. 10</ref> The primary cattle breed seen on the open range was the [[Texas longhorn (cattle)|Longhorn]], descended from the original Spanish Longhorns imported in the 16th century,<ref>Malone, p. 2</ref> though by the late 19th century, other breeds of cattle were also brought west, including the meatier [[Hereford (cattle)|Hereford]], and often were [[crossbred]] with Longhorns.<ref>Malone, p. 45</ref>
In order to find young calves for branding, and to sort out mature animals intended for sale, ranchers would hold a roundup, usually in the spring.<ref>Malone, p. 11</ref> A roundup required a number of specialized skills on the part of both cowboys and horses. Individuals who separated cattle from the herd required the highest level of skill and rode specially trained "[[cutting (sport)|cutting]]" horses, trained to follow the movements of cattle, capable of stopping and turning faster than other horses.<ref>Malone, p. 13</ref> Once cattle were sorted, most cowboys were required to rope young calves and restrain them to be branded and (in the case of most [[bull]] calves) [[castration|castrated]]. Occasionally it was also necessary to restrain older cattle for branding or other treatment.
A large number of horses were needed for a roundup. Each cowboy would require three to four fresh horses in the course of a day's work.<ref>Malone, p. 22</ref> Horses themselves were also rounded up. It was common practice in the west for young [[foal]]s to be born of tame [[mare (horse)|mares]], but allowed to grow up "wild" in a semi-feral state on the open range.<ref>Malone, p. 19</ref> There were also "wild" herds, often known as [[mustang (horse)|mustangs]]. Both types were rounded up, and the mature animals tamed, a process called [[horse breaking]], or "[[bronco]]-busting," (''var.'' "bronc busting") usually performed by cowboys who specialized in training horses.<ref>Malone, p. 18</ref> In some cases, extremely brutal methods were used to tame horses, and such animals tended to never be completely reliable. However, other cowboys became aware of the need to treat animals in a more humane fashion and modified their [[horse training]] methods,<ref>Malone, p. 21</ref> often re-learning techniques used by the ''vaqueros,'' particularly those of the ''Californio'' tradition.<ref>Connell, Ed (1952) ''Hackamore Reinsman.'' The Longhorn Press, Cisco, Texas. Fifth Printing, August, 1958.</ref> Horses trained in a gentler fashion were more reliable and useful for a wider variety of tasks.
Informal competition arose between cowboys seeking to test their cattle and horse-handling skills against one another, and thus, from the necessary tasks of the working cowboy, the sport of [[rodeo]] developed.<ref>Malone, p. 37</ref>
===Cattle drives===
{{Main|Cattle drives in the United States}}
Prior to the mid-19th century, most ranchers primarily raised cattle for their own needs and to sell surplus meat and hides locally. There was also a limited market for hides, horns, hooves, and [[tallow]] in assorted manufacturing processes. Nationally, prior to 1865, there was little demand for beef.<ref>Malone, p. 5</ref> At the end of the [[American Civil War]], however, [[Philip Danforth Armour]] opened a meat packing plant in [[Chicago]], which became known as [[Armour and Company]], and with the expansion of the [[meat packing industry]], the demand for beef increased significantly. By 1866, cattle could be sold to northern markets for as much as $40 per head, making it potentially profitable for cattle, particularly from Texas, to be herded long distances to market.<ref>Malone, p. 6</ref>
The first large-scale effort to drive cattle from Texas to the nearest railhead for shipment to Chicago occurred in 1866, when many Texas ranchers banded together to drive their cattle to the closest point that railroad tracks reached, which at that time was in Sedalia, Missouri. However, farmers in eastern Kansas, afraid that Longhorns would transmit cattle fever to local animals as well as trample crops, formed groups that threatened to beat or shoot cattlemen found on their lands. Therefore, the 1866 drive failed to reach the railroad, and the cattle herds were sold for low prices.<ref>Malone, p. 38-39</ref> However, in 1867, a cattle shipping facility was built west of farm country around the railhead at [[Abilene, Kansas]], and became a center of cattle shipping, loading over 36,000 head of cattle that year.<ref>Malone, p 40</ref> The route from Texas to Abilene became known as the [[Chisholm Trail]], after [[Jesse Chisholm]], who marked out the route. It ran through present-day [[Oklahoma]], which then was [[Indian Territory]]. However, in spite of [[Hollywood]] portrayals of the west, there were relatively few conflicts with [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], who usually allowed cattle herds to pass through for a toll of ten cents a head. Later, other trails forked off to different railheads, including those at [[Dodge City, Kansas|Dodge City]] and [[Wichita, Kansas]].<ref>Malone, p. 42</ref> By 1877, the largest of the cattle-shipping boom towns, Dodge City, Kansas, shipped out 500,000 head of cattle.<ref>Malone, p. 70</ref>
Cattle drives had to strike a balance between speed and the weight of the cattle. While cattle could be driven as far as 25 miles in a single day, they would lose so much weight that they would be hard to sell when they reached the end of the trail. Usually they were taken shorter distances each day, allowed periods to rest and graze both at midday and at night.<ref>Malone, pp. 46-47</ref> On average, a herd could maintain a healthy weight moving about 15 miles per day. Such a pace meant that it would take as long as two months to travel from a home ranch to a railhead. The Chisholm trail, for example, was 1,000 miles long.<ref>Malone, p. 52</ref>
On average, a single herd of cattle on a drive numbered about 3,000 head. To herd the cattle, a crew of at least 10 cowboys was needed, with three horses per cowboy. Cowboys worked in shifts to watch the cattle 24 hours a day, herding them in the proper direction in the daytime and watching them at night to prevent [[stampede]]s and deter theft. The crew also included a cook, who drove a [[chuck wagon]], usually pulled by [[oxen]], and a horse [[wrangler]] to take charge of the ''[[remuda]],'' or herd of spare horses. The wrangler on a cattle drive was often a very young cowboy or one of lower social status, but the cook was a particularly well-respected member of the crew, as not only was he in charge of the food, he also was in charge of medical supplies and had a working knowledge of practical medicine.<ref>Malone, pp. 48-50</ref>
By the 1880s, the expansion of the cattle industry resulted the need for additional open range. Thus many ranchers expanded into the northwest, where there were still large tracts of unsettled grassland. Texas cattle were herded north, into the [[Rocky Mountain]] west and the Dakotas.<ref>Malone, p. 76</ref> The cowboy adapted much of his gear to the colder conditions, and westward movement of the industry also led to intermingling of numerous regional traditions from California to Texas, often with the cowboy taking the most useful elements of each.
===End of the open range===
[[Image:Chinook2.gif|thumb|left|200px|''Waiting for a Chinook,'' by [[Charles Marion Russell|C.M. Russell]]. Overgrazing and harsh winters were factors that brought an end to the age of the Open Range.]]
Barbed wire, an innovation of the 1880s, allowed cattle to be confined to designated areas to prevent [[overgrazing]] of the range. In Texas and surrounding areas, increased population required ranchers to fence off their individual lands.<ref>Malone, p. 76</ref> In the north, overgrazing stressed the open range, leading to insufficient winter [[forage]] for the cattle and starvation, particularly during the harsh winter of 1886-1887, when hundreds of thousands of cattle died across the Northwest, leading to collapse of the cattle industry.<ref name="Malone79">Malone, p. 79</ref> By the 1890s, barbed wire fencing was also standard in the northern plains, railroads had expanded to cover most of the nation, and meat packing plants were built closer to major ranching areas, making long cattle drives from Texas to the railheads in [[Kansas]] unnecessary. Hence, the age of the open range was gone and large [[Cattle drives in the United States|cattle drives]] were over.<ref name="Malone79"/> Smaller cattle drives continued at least into the 1940s, as ranchers, prior to the development of the modern [[cattle truck]], still needed to herd cattle to local railheads for transport to [[stockyard]]s and packing plants. Meanwhile, ranches multiplied all over the developing West, keeping cowboy employment high, if still low-paid, but also somewhat more settled.<ref name="Malone&Roeder">Malone, Michael P., and Richard B. Roeder. ''Montana: A History of Two Centuries''. University of Washington Press; Revised edition, 1991. ISBN-10: 0295971290, ISBN-13: 978-0295971292</ref>
===Development of the modern cowboy===
Over time, the cowboys of the [[American West]] developed a personal culture of their own, a blend of [[frontier]] and [[Victorian era|Victorian]] values that even retained vestiges of [[chivalry]]. Such hazardous work in isolated conditions also bred a tradition of self-dependence and [[individualism]], with great value put on personal honesty, exemplified in [[List of famous Cowboy songs|songs]] and [[cowboy poetry|poetry]].<ref name=CattleKings241>Atherton, Lewis ''The Cattle Kings,'' Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press 1961 ISBN0-8032-5759-7 p. 241-262</ref> These traditions were further etched into the minds of the general public with the development of [[Wild West Show]]s, which showcased and romanticized the life of both cowboys and [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].<ref>Malone, p. 82</ref>
In the 1930s and 1940s, [[Western movie]]s popularized the cowboy lifestyle but also formed persistent [[stereotype]]s. In [[pop culture]], the cowboy and the [[gunslinger]] are often associated with one another. In reality, working ranch hands had very little time for anything other than the constant, hard work involved in maintaining a ranch. Likewise, cowboys are often shown fighting with [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indians]]. However, the reality was that, while cowboys were armed against both predators and human thieves, and often used their guns to run off people of any race who attempted to steal, or ''rustle'' cattle, nearly all actual armed conflicts occurred between Indian people and [[cavalry]] units of the [[U.S. Army]].
Today, the various regional cowboy [[tradition]]s have merged to some extent, though a few regional differences in equipment and riding style still remain, and some individuals choose to deliberately preserve the more time-consuming but highly skilled techniques of the pure ''vaquero'' or "buckaroo" tradition. The popular "horse whisperer" style of [[natural horsemanship]] was originally developed by practitioners who were predominantly from California and the Northwestern states, clearly combining the attitudes and philosophy of the California vaquero with the equipment and outward look of the Texas cowboy.
==Cowgirls==
{{redirect|Cowgirl}}
[[Image:Russellrodeocowgirlonabuckinghorse.gif|thumb|left|200px|"Rodeo Cowgirl" by [[Charles Marion Russell|C.M. Russell]].]][[Image:FannieSperrySteele.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Fannie Sperry Steele, Champion Lady Bucking Horse Rider, Winnipeg Stampede, 1913]] The history of women in the west, and women who worked on cattle ranches in particular, is not as well documented as that of men. However, institutions such as the [[National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame]] have made significant efforts in recent years to gather and document the contributions of women.<ref>[http://www.cowgirl.net Cowgirl Hall of Fame website]</ref>
[[Image:Georgian Cowgirl.jpg|thumb|right|Modern western-style show attire for women, inspired by cowgirl regalia]]
There are few records mentioning girls or women working to drive cattle up the cattle trails of the Old West. However women did considerable ranch work, and in some cases (especially when the men went to war or on long cattle drives) ran them. There is little doubt that women, particularly the wives and daughters of men who owned small ranches and could not afford to hire large numbers of outside laborers, worked side by side with men and thus needed to ride horses and be able to perform related tasks. The largely undocumented contributions of women to the west were acknowledged in law; the western states led the [[United States]] in granting women the right to vote, beginning with [[Wyoming]] in 1869.<ref>[http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4363 "This Day in History 1869: Wyoming grants women the vote"]</ref> Early photographers such as [[Evelyn Cameron]] documented the life of working ranch women and cowgirls during the late 19th and early 20th century.
While impractical for everyday work, the [[sidesaddle]] was a tool that gave women the ability to ride horses in "respectable" public settings instead of being left on foot or confined to [[horse-drawn vehicle]]s. Following the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], [[Charles Goodnight]] modified the traditional English sidesaddle, creating a western-styled design. The traditional ''charras'' of [[Mexico]] preserve a similar tradition and ride sidesaddles today in ''[[charreada]]'' exhibitions on both sides of the border.
It wasn't until the advent of [[Wild West Show]]s that "cowgirls" came into their own. These adult women were skilled performers, demonstrating riding, expert marksmanship, and trick roping that entertained audiences around the world. Women such as [[Annie Oakley]] became household names. By 1900, skirts split for riding astride became popular, and allowed women to compete with the men without scandalizing Victorian Era audiences by wearing men's clothing or, worse yet, [[Bloomers (clothing)|bloomers]]. In the movies that followed from the early 20th century on, cowgirls expanded their roles in the popular culture and movie designers developed attractive clothing suitable for riding Western saddles.
Independently of the entertainment industry, the growth of [[rodeo]] brought about another type of cowgirl—the rodeo cowgirl. In the early Wild West shows and rodeos, women competed in all events, sometimes against other women, sometimes with the men. Cowgirls such as [[Fannie Sperry Steele]] rode the same "rough stock" and took the same risks as the men (and all while wearing a heavy split skirt that was still more encumbering than men's trousers) and competed at major rodeos such as the [[Calgary Stampede]] and [[Cheyenne Frontier Days]].<ref>[http://www.historynet.com/culture/womens_history/3026886.html?page=1&c=y McKelvey Puhek, Lenore. "Fannie Sperry Made the Ride of Her Life"]</ref>
Rodeo competition for women changed after 1925 when Eastern promoters started staging indoor rodeos in places like Madison Square Garden. Women were generally excluded from the men's events and many of the women's events were dropped. In today's rodeos, men and women compete equally together only in the event of [[team roping]], though technically women today could enter other open events. There also are all-women rodeos where women compete in [[bronc riding]], [[bull riding]] and all other traditional rodeo events. However, in open rodeos, cowgirls primarily compete in the timed riding events such as [[barrel racing]], and most professional rodeos do not offer as many women's events as men's events.
Boys and girls are more apt to compete against one another in all events in high-school rodeos as well as [[Gymkhana (Equestrian)|O-Mok-See]] competition, where even boys can be seen in traditionally "women's" events such as [[barrel racing]]. Outside of the rodeo world, women compete equally with men in nearly all other [[equestrianism|equestrian]] events, including the [[Equestrian at the Summer Olympics|Olympics]], and [[western riding]] events such as [[cutting (sport)|cutting]], [[reining]], and [[endurance riding]].
Today's working cowgirls generally use clothing, tools and equipment indistinguishable from that of men, other than in color and design, usually preferring a flashier look in competition. Sidesaddles are only seen in exhibitions and a limited number of specialty [[horse show]] classes. A cowgirl wears jeans, close-fitting shirts, boots, hat, and when needed, chaps and gloves. If working on the ranch, they perform the same chores as cowboys and dress to suit the situation.
==Regional traditions within the United States==
Geography, climate and cultural traditions caused differences to develop in cattle-handling methods and equipment from one part of the United States to another. In the modern world, remnants of two major and distinct cowboy traditions remain, known today as the "[[Texas]]" tradition and the "Spanish", "Vaquero", or "[[California]]" tradition. Less well-known but equally distinct traditions also developed in [[Hawaii]] and [[Florida]].
====Texas tradition====
In the early 1800s, the Spanish Crown, and later, independent [[Mexico]], offered [[empresario|''empresario'' grants]] in what would later be [[Texas]] to non-citizens, such as settlers from the United States. In 1821, [[Stephen F. Austin]] and his East Coast comrades became the first Anglo-Saxon community speaking Spanish. Following [[Texas Revolution|Texas independence]] in 1836, even more Americans immigrated into the ''empresario'' ranching areas of Texas. Here the settlers were strongly influenced by the Mexican ''vaquero'' culture, borrowing [[vocabulary]] and [[attire]] from their counterparts, but also retaining some of the livestock-handling traditions and culture of the Eastern United States and [[Great Britain]]. The Texas cowboy was typically a bachelor who hired on with different outfits from season to season.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vaquero ''from'' The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company:2000. Web site accessed January 19, 2007]</ref>
Following the [[American Civil War]], vaquero [[culture]] diffused eastward and northward, combining with the cow herding traditions of the eastern United States that evolved as settlers moved west. Other influences developed out of Texas as cattle trails were created to meet up with the [[railroad]] lines of [[Kansas]] and [[Nebraska]], in addition to expanding ranching opportunities in the [[Great Plains]] and [[Rocky Mountain Front]], east of the [[Continental Divide]].<ref name=Vernam289>Vernam, p. 289</ref>
Thus, the Texas cowboy tradition arose from a combination of cultural influences, in addition to the need for adaptation to the geography and climate of west Texas and the need to conduct long [[cattle drives]] to get animals to market.
====California tradition====
The [[vaquero]], the Spanish or Mexican cowboy who worked with young, untrained horses, arrived in the 1700s and flourished in [[California]] and bordering territories during the Spanish Colonial period.<ref>[http://www.horsechannel.com/western-horse-training/vaquero-way-17722.aspx Stewart, kara L. "The Vaquero Way", web site accessed November 18, 2007]</ref> Settlers from the United States did not enter California until after the [[Mexican-American War]], and most early settlers were miners rather than livestock ranchers, leaving livestock-raising largely to the Spanish and Mexican people who chose to remain in California. The California vaquero or buckaroo, unlike the Texas cowboy, was considered a highly-skilled worker, who usually stayed on the same ranch where he was born or had grown up and raised his own family there. In addition, the geography and climate of much of California was dramatically different from that of Texas, allowing more intensive grazing with less open range, plus cattle in California were marketed primarily at a regional level, without the need (nor, until much later, even the logistical possibility) to be driven hundreds of miles to railroad lines. Thus, a horse- and livestock-handling culture remained in California and the Pacific Northwest that retained a stronger direct Spanish influence than that of Texas.
Cowboys of this tradition were dubbed ''buckaroos'' by English-speaking settlers. The term officially appeared in American English in 1889 and is believed to have originated as an anglicized version of ''vaquero,'' though there is a [[folk etymology]] that the term derived from "[[bucking]]", a behavior seen in some young or fresh horses. The words "buckaroo" and ''Vaquero'' are still used on occasion in the [[Great Basin]], parts of California and, less often, in the [[Pacific Northwest]].<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ncrhtml/crview03.html "Buckaroos: Views of a Western Way of Life", web page accesed November 18, 2007]</ref>
====Florida Cowhunter or "Cracker cowboy"====
[[Image:Remington A cracker cowboy.jpg|thumb|''A cracker cowboy''<br> artist: Frederick Remington.]]
The Florida "cowhunter" or "[[Florida cracker|cracker]] cowboy" of the 19th and early 20th centuries was distinct from the Texas and California traditions. Florida cowboys did not use [[lasso]]s to herd or capture cattle. Their primary tools were [[bullwhip]]s and dogs. Florida cattle and horses were small. The "cracker cow", also known as the "native cow", or "scrub cow" averaged about 600 pounds, had large horns and large feet.<ref>[http://origin.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/16631010.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_local Tasker, Georgia. 2007. "Rancher preserves Florida's Cracker history". ''Miami Herald''. February 06, 2007.] Web site. Retrieved [[February 21]], [[2007]]</ref>
Since the Florida cowhunter didn't need a saddle horn for anchoring a [[lariat]], many did not use [[Western saddle]]s, instead using a [[McClellan saddle]]. While some individuals wore boots that reached above the knees for protection from [[snake]]s, others wore [[Brogan#Clothing|brogans]]. They usually wore inexpensive wool or straw hats, and used [[poncho]]s for protection from rain.<ref>Tinsley, Jim Bob. 1990. ''Florida Cow Hunter''. University of Central Florida Press. ISBN 0-8130-0985-5 Pp. 42-3</ref>
Cattle and horses were introduced into Florida late in the 16th century. Throughout the 17th century, cattle [[ranch]]es owned by [[Spanish people|Spanish]] officials and [[Mission (station)|missions]] operated in northern Florida to supply the Spanish garrison in [[St. Augustine, Florida|St. Augustine]] and markets in [[Cuba]].<ref>[http://www.prairiefriends.org/aboutPrairie/cultural.html Friends of Payne's Prairie: Spanish Florida] retieved [[February 21]], [[2007]]</ref> These ranches brought in some vaqueros from Spain, but many of the workers were [[Timucua]] Indians.<ref>[http://www.florida-agriculture.com/livestock/cracker_cattle.htm Florida Cracker Cattle and Cracker Horse Program] retrieved [[February 22]], [[2007]]</ref> Diseases and Spanish suppression of rebellions severely reduced the Timucua population. By the beginning of the 18th century, raids by soldiers from the [[Province of Carolina]] and their Indian allies reduced the Timucuas to a remnant and ended the Spanish ranching era.
In the 18th century, [[Creek people|Creek]], [[Seminole]], and other Indian people moved into the former Timucua areas and started herding the cattle left from the Spanish ranches. In the 19th century, most tribes in the area were dispossessed of their land and cattle and pushed south or west by white settlers and the United States government. By the middle of the 19th century white ranchers were running large herds of cattle on the extensive open range of central and southern Florida. The hides and meat from Florida cattle became such a critical supply item for the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] during the [[American Civil War]] that a "Cow Cavalry" was organized to round up and protect the herds from [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] raiders.<ref>[http://www.explorenaples.com/raid_on_gopher_ridge.php Raid on Gopher Ridge] retrieved [[February 21]], [[2007]]</ref> After the Civil War, Florida cattle were periodically driven to ports on the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and shipped to market in [[Cuba]].<ref>Tinsley, Jim Bob. 1990. ''Florida Cow Hunter''. University of Central Florida Press. ISBN 0-8130-0985-5 Pp. 47-51</ref>
====Hawaiian Paniolo====
The [[Native Hawaiians|Hawaiian]] cowboy, the ''paniolo'', is also a direct descendant of the ''vaquero'' of California and Mexico. Experts in Hawaiian etymology believe "Paniolo" is a Hawaiianized pronunciation of ''español.'' (The [[Hawaiian language]] has no /s/ sound, and all [[syllable]]s and words must end in a vowel.) Paniolo, like cowboys on the mainland of North America, learned their skills from Mexican ''vaqueros''.
By the early 1800s, Capt. [[George Vancouver|George Vancouver's]] gift of cattle to [[Pai`ea Kamehameha]], monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, had multiplied astonishingly, and were wreaking havoc throughout the countryside. About 1812, John Parker, a sailor who had jumped ship and settled in the islands, received permission from Kamehameha to capture the wild cattle and develop a beef industry.
The Hawaiian style of ranching originally included capturing wild cattle by driving them into pits dug in the forest floor. Once tamed somewhat by hunger and thirst, they were hauled out up a steep ramp, and tied by their horns to the horns of a tame, older steer (or [[ox]]) that knew where the [[paddock]] with food and water was located. The industry grew slowly under the reign of Kamehameha's son Liholiho ([[Kamehameha II]])
Later, Liholiho's brother, Kauikeaouli ([[Kamehameha III]]), visited California, then still a part of Mexico. He was impressed with the skill of the Mexican vaqueros, and invited several to Hawai`i in 1832 to teach the Hawaiian people how to work cattle.
Even today, traditional paniolo dress, as well as certain styles of Hawaiian formal attire, reflect the Spanish heritage of the vaquero.<ref name="GenegabusPanioloWays">{{cite web |url= http://starbulletin.com/2003/03/17/features/story1.html |title= Paniolo Ways: Riding the range is a lifestyle that reaches back 170 years in Hawaii |author= Jason Genegabus. Photos by Ken Ige |work= [[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]] |date= [[17 March]][[2003]] |quote= }}</ref> The traditional Hawaiian saddle, the ''noho lio,''<ref name="KaheleCecilHanaHou">{{cite web |url= http://www.hanahou.com/pages/Magazine.asp?Action=DrawArticle&ArticleID=467&MagazineID=28 |title= Way of the Noho Lio |author= Rose Kahele. Photos by Ann Cecil |work= [[Hana Hou!]] Vol. 9, No. 3 |date= June/July 2006 |quote= }}</ref> and many other tools of the cowboy's trade have a distinctly Mexican/Spanish look and many Hawaiian ranching families still carry the names of the vaqueros who married Hawaiian women and made Hawai`i their home.
====Other====
[[Montauk, New York]], on [[Long Island]] makes a somewhat debatable claim of having the oldest cattle operation in what today is the United States, having run cattle in the area since European settlers purchased land from the [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian people]] of the area in 1643.<ref name="Newsday">[http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-hs328a,0,6827509.story Ochs, Ridgeley. "Ride 'em, Island Cowboy," ''Newsday,''. Accessed May 5, 2008</ref> Although there were substantial numbers of cattle on Long Island, as well as the need to herd them to and from common grazing lands on a seasonal basis, no consistent "cowboy" tradition developed amongst the cattle handlers of Long Island, who actually lived with their families in houses built on the pasture grounds.<ref name="Newsday"/> The only actual "cattle drives" held on Long Island consisted of one drive in 1776, when the Island's cattle were moved in a failed attempt to prevent them from being captured by the British during the [[American Revolution]], and three or four drives in the late 1930s, when area cattle were herded down Montauk Highway to pasture ground near Deep Hollow Ranch.<ref name="Newsday"/>
==Cowboys in Canada==
Ranching in Canada has traditionally been dominated by one province, [[Alberta]]. The most successful early settlers of the province were the ranchers, who found Alberta's [[foothills]] to be ideal for raising cattle. Most of Alberta's ranchers were [[English Canadian|English]] settlers, but cowboys such as [[John Ware]] — who brought the first cattle into the province in 1876 — were American.<ref>[http://www.gov.ab.ca/home/index.cfm?Page=27 Government of Alberta - About Alberta - History]</ref> American style open range dryland ranching began to dominate [[southern Alberta]] (and, to a lesser extent, southwestern [[Saskatchewan]]) by the 1880s. The nearby city of [[Calgary]] became the centre of the Canadian cattle industry, earning it the nickname "Cowtown". The cattle industry is still extremely important to Alberta, and cattle outnumber people in the province. While cattle ranches defined by barbed wire fences replaced the open range just as they did in the US, the cowboy influence lives on. Canada's first rodeo, the [[Raymond Stampede]], was established in 1902. In 1912, the [[Calgary Stampede]] began, and today it is the world’s richest cash rodeo. Each year, Calgary’s northern rival [[Edmonton]], Alberta stages the [[Canadian Finals Rodeo]], and dozens of regional rodeos are held through the province.
==Cowboys outside North America==
In addition to the original Mexican ''[[vaquero]]'', the Mexican ''[[charro]]'', the North American cowboy, and the Hawaiian ''paniolo'', the Spanish also exported their horsemanship and knowledge of cattle ranching to the ''[[gaucho]]'' of [[Argentina]], [[Uruguay]], [[Paraguay]] and (with the spelling ''gaúcho'') southern [[Brazil]],<ref name=CattleKings243>Atherton, Lewis ''The Cattle Kings'' Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press 1961 ISBN0-8032-5759-7 p. 243</ref> the ''[[chalan]]'' in [[Peru]], the ''[[llanero]]'' of [[Venezuela]], and the ''[[huaso]]'' of [[Chile]].
In [[Australia]], which has a large ranch ([[Station (Australian agriculture)|station]]) culture, cowboys are known as [[Stockman|stockmen]] and [[Drover (Australian)|drovers]]<ref name=CattleKings244>Atherton, Lewis ''The Cattle Kings'' Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press 1961 ISBN0-8032-5759-7 p. 244</ref> (with trainee stockmen referred to as ''jackaroos'' and ''jillaroos''). The Spanish tradition also influenced Australia, both via concepts adapted from the Americas, and traditions brought directly from Spain, each of which arrived along with imports of various breeds of horses, cattle, sheep and other livestock.
The idea of [[equestrianism|horseback riders]] who guard herds of cattle, sheep or horses is common wherever wide, open land for grazing exists. In the French [[Camargue]], riders called "[[gardians]]" herd cattle. In [[Hungary]], [[csikós]] guard horses and [[gulyás]] tend to cattle. The herders in the region of [[Maremma]], in [[Tuscany]] ([[Italy]]) are called [[buttero]]s. The [[Asturian]] pastoral population is referred to as ''[[Vaqueiros de alzada]].''
==Modern working cowboys==
{{seealso|Ranch}}
[[Image:Cattle round up.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Cattle drive in [[New Mexico]], USA]]
On the ranch, the cowboy is responsible for feeding the livestock, [[livestock branding|branding]] and earmarking cattle (horses also are branded on many ranches), plus tending to animal injuries and other needs. The working cowboy usually is in charge of a small group or "string" of horses <!--plug in a number range if you want--> and is required to routinely patrol the rangeland in all weather conditions checking for damaged fences, evidence of [[predator|predation]], water problems, and any other issue of concern.
They also move the livestock to different pasture locations, or herd them into corrals and onto trucks for transport. In addition, cowboys may do many other jobs, depending on the size of the "outfit" or [[ranch]], the [[terrain]], and the number of livestock. On a smaller ranch with fewer cowboys—often just family members, cowboys are generalists who perform many all-around tasks; they repair fences, maintain ranch equipment, and perform other odd jobs. On a very large ranch (a "big outfit"), with many employees, cowboys are able to specialize on tasks solely related to cattle and horses. Cowboys who [[horse training|train horses]] often specialize in this task only, and some may [[horse breaking|"Break"]] or train young horses for more than one ranch.
The [[Bureau of Labor Statistics|United States Bureau of Labor Statistic]]s collects no figures for cowboys, so the exact number of working cowboys is unknown. Cowboys are included in the 2003 category, ''Support activities for animal production'', which totals 9,730 workers averaging $19,340 per annum. In addition to cowboys working on ranches, in [[stockyard]]s, and as staff or competitors at [[rodeo]]s, the category includes farmhands working with other types of livestock ([[sheep]], [[goat]]s, [[Pig|hog]]s, [[chicken]]s, etc.). Of those 9,730 workers, 3,290 are listed in the subcategory of ''Spectator sports'' which includes rodeos, [[circus]]es, and theaters needing livestock handlers.
===Attire===
Most cowboy attire, sometimes termed ''[[Western wear]]'', grew out of practical need and the environment in which the cowboy worked. Most items were adapted from the Mexican ''vaqueros'', though sources from other cultures, including [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] and [[Mountain Men]] contributed.<ref name="Rickey">Rickey, Don, Jr. ''$10 Horse, $40 Saddle: Cowboy Clothing, Arms, Tools and Horse Gear of the 1880's'' The Old Army Press, First printing, 1976. LC no. 76-9411</ref>
*[[Cowboy hat]]; a hat with a wide brim to protect from sun, overhanging brush, and the elements; there are many styles, initially influenced by John B. [[Stetson]]'s "Boss of the Plains", a design blending elements of the Mexican [[sombrero]] and both Union and Confederate [[Cavalry]] hats of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] period.
*[[Bandanna]]; a large cotton [[neckerchief]] that had a myriad of uses from mopping up sweat to masking the face from dust storms. In modern times, is now more likely to be a silk neckscarf for decoration and warmth.
*[[Cowboy boot]]s; a boot with a high top to protect the lower legs, pointed toes to help guide the foot into the [[stirrup]], and high heels to keep the foot from slipping through the stirrup while working in the saddle; with or without detachable [[spur]]s.
*[[Chaps]] (usually pronounced "shaps"<ref>Cassidy, Frederic G., ed. [[Dictionary of American Regional English]], vol. I. Cambridge/London:Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1985 ISBN 0-674-20511-1 (vol I)</ref>) or [[chaps|chinks]] protect the rider's legs while on horseback, especially riding through heavy brush or during rough work with livestock.
*[[Jeans]] or other sturdy, close-fitting trousers made of canvas or denim, designed to protect the legs and prevent the trouser legs from snagging on brush, equipment or other hazards. Properly made cowboy jeans also have a smooth inside seam to prevent blistering the inner thigh and knee while on horseback.
*[[Gloves]], usually of deerskin or other leather that is soft and flexible for working purposes, yet provides protection when handling barbed wire, assorted tools or clearing native brush and vegetation.
Many of these items show marked regional variations. Parameters such as hat brim width, or chap length and material were adjusted to accommodate the various environmental conditions encountered by working cowboys.
===Tools===
[[Image:Texascowboys2.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Modern Texas cowboys. Note that their clothes are similar to those of the 19th century cowboy above]]
*[[Lasso|Lariat]]; from the Spanish "la riata," meaning "the rope," sometimes called a ''lasso'', especially in the East, or simply, a "rope". This is a tightly twisted stiff rope, originally of rawhide or leather, now often of nylon, made with a small loop at one end called a "hondo." When the rope is run through the hondo, it creates a loop that slides easily, tightens quickly and can be thrown to catch animals.<ref name=Vernam297>Vernam, p. 297</ref>
*[[Spur]]s; metal devices attached to the heel of the boot, featuring a small metal shank, usually with a small serrated wheel attached, used to allow the rider to provide a stronger (or sometimes, more precise) leg cue to the horse.
*Firearms: Modern cowboys often have access to a [[rifle]], used to protect the livestock from predation by wild animals, more often carried inside a [[pickup truck]] than on horseback, though rifle [[scabbard]]s are manufactured, and allow a rifle to be carried on a [[saddle]]. A [[pistol]] is more often carried when on horseback. The modern ranch hand often uses a .22 caliber "varmit" rifle for modern ranch hazards, such as [[rattlesnake]]s, [[coyote]]s, and [[rabies|rabid]] [[skunk]]s. In areas near [[wilderness]], a ranch cowboy may carry a higher-caliber rifle to fend off larger predators such as [[mountain lion]]s. In contrast, the cowboy of the 1880s usually carried a heavy caliber revolver such as the single action [[.44-40 Winchester|.44-40]] or [[.45 Colt]] Peacemaker (the civilian version of the 1872 [[Single Action Army]]).<ref name="Rickey">Rickey, Don, Jr. ''$10 Horse, $40 Saddle: Cowboy Clothing, Arms, Tools and Horse Gear of the 1880's'' The Old Army Press, First printing, 1976. LC no. 76-9411</ref><!--p. 67--> The working cowboy of the 1880s rarely carried a long arm, as they could get in the way when working cattle, plus they added extra weight. However, many cowboys owned rifles, and often used them for market hunting in the off season. <ref name="Rickey"/><!--pp. 80-81--> Though many models were used, Cowboys who were part-time market hunters preferred rifles that could take the widely available .45-70 "Government" ammunition, such as certain Sharps, Remington, Springfield models, as well as the Winchester 1876.<ref name="Rickey"/><!--pp 81-86--> However, by far the single most popular long arms were the lever-action repeating Winchesters, particularly lighter models such as the Model 1873 chambered for the same .44/40 ammunition as the Colt, allowing the cowboy to carry only one kind of ammunition.<ref name="Rickey"/><!--pp. 85-86-->
*[[Knife]]; cowboys have traditionally favored some form of [[pocket knife]], specifically the folding cattle knife or stock knife. The knife has multiple blades, usually including a leather punch and a "sheepsfoot" blade.
*Other weapons; while the modern American cowboy came to existence after the invention of [[gunpowder]], cattle herders of earlier times were sometimes equipped with heavy polearms, [[bow (weapon)|bow]]s or [[lance]]s.
===Horses===
The traditional means of transport for the cowboy, even in the modern era, is by [[equestrianism|horseback]]. [[Horse]]s can travel over terrain that vehicles cannot access. Horses, along with [[mule]]s and [[burro]]s, also serve as [[packhorse|pack animals]]. The most important horse on the ranch is the everyday working ranch horse that can perform a wide variety of tasks; horses trained to specialize exclusively in one set of skills such as [[calf roping|roping]] or [[cutting (sport)|cutting]] are very rarely used on ranches. Because the rider often needs to keep one hand free while working cattle, the horse must [[neck rein]] and have good ''cow sense''—it must instinctively know how to anticipate and react to cattle.
[[Image:Brauner.JPG|thumb|left|A stock type horse suitable for cattle work]]
A good [[stock horse]] is on the small side, generally under 15.2 [[hand (length)|hands]] (62 inches) tall at the [[withers]] and often under 1000 pounds, with a short back, sturdy legs and strong muscling, particularly in the hindquarters. While a [[team roping|steer roping]] horse may need to be larger and weigh more in order to hold a heavy adult [[cow]], [[cattle|bull]] or [[steer]] on a rope, a smaller, quick horse is needed for herding activities such as [[cutting (sport)|cutting]] or [[calf roping]]. The horse has to be intelligent, calm under pressure and have a certain degree of 'cow sense" -- the ability to anticipate the movement and behavior of cattle.
Many breeds of horse make good stock horses, but the most common today in North America is the [[American Quarter Horse]], which is a [[list of horse breeds|horse breed]] developed primarily in [[Texas]] from a combination of [[Thoroughbred]] bloodstock crossed on horses of [[Mustang (horse)|Mustang]] and other [[Iberian horse]] ancestry, with influences from the [[Arabian horse]] and horses developed on the east coast, such as the [[Morgan horse]] and now-[[extinct]] breeds such as the Chickasaw and Virginia Quarter-Miler.
===Horse equipment or tack===
{{Main|Horse tack}}
[[Image:WesternSaddle2.jpg|thumb|A western saddle]]
Equipment used to ride a horse is referred to as ''[[horse tack|tack]]'' and includes:
*[[Western saddle]]; a saddle specially designed to allow horse and [[equestrianism|rider]] to work for many hours and to provide security to the rider in rough terrain or when moving quickly in response to the behavior of the livestock being herded. A western saddle has a deep seat with high [[saddle|pommel]] and [[saddle|cantle]] that provides a secure seat. Deep, wide [[stirrup]]s provide comfort and security for the foot. A strong, wide [[saddle|saddle tree]] of wood, covered in rawhide (or made of a modern synthetic material) distributes the weight of the rider across a greater area of the horse's back, reducing the pounds carried per square inch and allowing the horse to be ridden longer without harm. A [[Western saddle|horn]] sits low in front of the rider, to which a [[lariat]] can be snubbed, and assorted dee rings and leather "saddle strings" allow additional equipment to be tied to the saddle.<ref name=Vernam298>Vernam, p. 298-299</ref>
*[[Saddle blanket]]; a blanket or pad is required under the Western saddle to provide comfort and protection for the horse.
* Saddle bags (leather or nylon) can be mounted to the saddle, behind the cantle, to carry various sundry items and extra supplies. Additional bags may be attached to the front or the saddle.
*[[Bridle]]; a Western bridle usually has a [[curb bit]] and long split [[rein]]s to control the horse in many different situations. Generally the bridle is open-faced, without a [[noseband]], unless the horse is ridden with a [[martingale|tiedown]]. Young ranch horses learning basic tasks usually are ridden in a jointed, loose-ring [[snaffle]] bit, often with a [[martingale|running martingale]]. In some areas, especially where the "California" style of the ''vaquero'' or ''buckaroo'' tradition is still strong, young horses are often seen in a ''[[bosal]]'' style [[hackamore]].
* [[Martingale]]s of various are seen on horses that are in training or have behavior problems.
===Vehicles===
The most common motorized vehicle driven in modern ranch work is the [[pickup truck]]. Sturdy and roomy, with a high ground clearance, and often [[four-wheel drive]] capability, it has an open box, called a "bed," and can haul supplies from town or over rough trails on the ranch. It is used to pull stock trailers transporting cattle and livestock from one area to another and to market. With a [[horse trailer]] attached, it carries horses to distant areas where they may be needed. Motorcycles are sometimes used instead of horses for some tasks, but the most common smaller vehicle is the [[All-terrain vehicle|four-wheeler]]. It will carry a single cowboy quickly around the ranch for small chores. In areas with heavy snowfall, [[snowmobile]]s are also common. However, in spite of modern mechanization, there remain jobs, particularly those involving working cattle in rough terrain or in close quarters, that are best done by cowboys on horseback.
==Rodeo cowboys==
{{main|Rodeo}}
[[Image:Broncobuster3.jpg|thumb|left|A rodeo cowboy in [[saddle bronc]] competition]]
The word ''rodeo'' is from the Spanish ''rodear'' (to turn), which means ''roundup''. In the beginning there was no difference between the working cowboy and the [[rodeo]] cowboy, and in fact, the term ''working cowboy'' did not come into use until the 1950s. Prior to that it was assumed that all cowboys were working cowboys. Early cowboys both worked on ranches and displayed their skills at the roundups.<ref name=Vernam395>Vernam, p. 394-395</ref>
The advent of professional rodeos allowed cowboys, like many [[Sportsperson|athlete]]s, to earn a living by performing their skills before an audience. Rodeos also provided [[employment]] for many working cowboys who were needed to handle livestock. Many rodeo cowboys are also working cowboys and most have working cowboy experience.
The dress of the rodeo cowboy is not very different from that of the working cowboy on his way to town. Snaps, used in lieu of buttons on the cowboy's shirt, allowed the cowboy to escape from a shirt snagged by the horns of [[steer]] or [[Cattle|bull]]. Styles were often adapted from the early movie industry for the rodeo. Some rodeo competitors, particularly women, add sequins, colors, silver and long fringes to their clothing in both a nod to tradition and showmanship. Modern riders in "rough stock" events such as [[saddle bronc]] or [[bull riding]] may add safety equipment such as [[kevlar]] vests or a neck brace, but use of [[equestrian helmet|safety helmets]] in lieu of the [[cowboy hat]] is yet to be accepted, in spite of constant risk of injury.
==Popular culture==
As the frontier ended, the cowboy life came to be highly romanticized. Exhibitions such as those of [[Buffalo Bill Cody]]'s Wild West Show helped to popularize the image of the cowboy as an idealized representative of the tradition of [[chivalry]].
In today's society, there is little understanding of the daily realities of actual agricultural life. Cowboys are more often associated with (mostly fictitious) Indian-fighting than with their actual life of [[ranch]] work and cattle-tending. Actors such as [[John Wayne]] are thought of as exemplifying a cowboy ideal, even though [[Western (genre)|western movies]] seldom bear much resemblance to real cowboy life. Arguably, the modern [[rodeo]] competitor is much closer to being an actual cowboy, as many were actually raised on ranches and around livestock, and the rest have needed to learn livestock-handling skills on the job.
However, in the United States and the Canadian West, as well as [[Australia]], [[guest ranch]]es offer people the opportunity to ride horses and get a taste of the western life--albeit in far greater comfort. Some ranches also offer vacationers the opportunity to actually perform cowboy tasks by participating in cattle drives or accompanying [[wagon train]]s. This type of [[vacation]] was popularized by the 1991 movie ''[[City Slickers]],'' starring [[Billy Crystal]].
The cowboy is also portrayed as a masculine ideal via images ranging from the [[Marlboro Man]] to the [[Village People]].
===Symbolism===
The long history of the West in popular culture tends to define those clothed in Western clothing as cowboys or cowgirls whether they have ever been on a horse or not. This is especially true when applied to entertainers and those in the public arena who wear [[western wear]] as part of their persona.
However, many people, particularly in the West, wear elements of Western clothing, particularly [[cowboy boot]]s or hats, as a matter of form even though they have other jobs, up to and including lawyers, bankers, and other [[white collar]] professionals. Conversely, some people raised on ranches do not necessarily define themselves cowboys or cowgirls unless they feel their primary job is to work with livestock or if they compete in rodeos.
Actual cowboys in general tend to value personal honesty and have derisive expressions for individuals who adopt cowboy mannerisms as a fashion pose without any actual understanding of the culture. For example, a "drugstore cowboy" means someone who wears the clothing but cannot actually ride anything but the stool of the [[drugstore]] [[soda fountain]]--or, in modern times, a [[bar stool]]. The phrase, "all hat and no cattle," is used to describe someone (usually male) who boasts about himself, far in excess of any actual accomplishments. The word "dude" (or the now-archaic term "greenhorn") indicates an individual unfamiliar with cowboy culture, especially one who is trying to pretend otherwise.
Outside of the United States, the cowboy became an archetypal symbol of American individualism. In the late 1950s, a [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congolese]] youth subculture calling themselves the [[Bills]] based their style and outlook on [[Hollywood]]'s depiction of cowboys in movies. Something similar occurred with the term "[[Apache]]," which in early twentieth century [[Paris]]ian society was a slang term for an outlaw.
===Negative associations===
The word "cowboy" has also been used in a derogatory sense, most notably in the boomtowns of Kansas, at the end of the trail for long cattle drives, where cowboys developed a reputation for violence due to the inevitable impact of large numbers of cowboys, mostly single men, arriving at the same time of year and receiving their pay in large lump sums.<ref>Malone, p. 58</ref>
"Cowboy" as an adjective for "reckless" developed in the 1920s.<ref name="Etymology-cow"/>"Cowboy" is sometimes used today in a derogatory sense to describe someone who is reckless or ignores potential risks, irresponsible or who heedlessly handles a sensitive or dangerous task.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cowboy cowboy]. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004 and Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. Accessed: May 04, 2008</ref> For example, [[TIME Magazine]] had a cover article referring to President [[George W. Bush]]'s foreign policy as "[[Cowboy Diplomacy]],"<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1211578,00.html Allen, Mike and Romesh Ratnesar. "The End of Cowboy Diplomacy: Why George W. Bush's Grand Strategy for Remaking the World Had to Change"] ''Time'', [[July 9]], [[2006]]. Accessed May 4, 2008</ref> and Bush has been described in the press, particularly in Europe, as a "cowboy".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1387617.stm "Mr Bush goes to Europe,"] European Press Review, ''BBC Online'' [[14 June]], [[2001]]<br>[http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,547723,00.html Schwabe, Alexander. "The Cowboy and the Shepherd."] ''Speigel'', April 16, 2008. Online International edition, accessed May 4 2008.<br>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2968176.stm Westcott, Kathryn. "Bush revels in cowboy speak"] ''BBC Online'' Accessed May 4, 2008.</ref>
In the [[British Islands]], [[Ireland]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]], "cowboy" is used as an adjective when applied to [[tradesman|tradesmen]] whose work is of shoddy and questionable value, e.g., "a cowboy [[plumber]]". Similar usage is seen in the United States to describe someone in the skilled trades who operates without proper training or licenses. In the eastern United States, "cowboy" as a noun is sometimes used to describe a fast or careless driver on the highway.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cowboy cowboy]. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. Accessed: May 04, 2008</ref>
==Other uses==
<!--Please note that footnote has been reformatted so it is correct, and weaponry in this context is irrelevant, otherwise, mostly kept new material-->
An apparently unrelated use of the term "cowboy" developed during the [[American Revolution]]. An outlaw identified with the [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalist]] cause, [[Claudius Smith]], was referred to as the "Cow-boy of the Ramapos" due to his penchant for stealing oxen, cattle and horses from colonists and giving them to the British.<ref>[http://www.northjerseyhistory.org/history/smith/claudius.htm North Jersey Highlands Historical Society.] Web page accessed May 5, 2008.</ref> In the same period, a number of [[Guerrilla warfare|guerilla]] bands operated in [[Westchester County]], which marked the dividing line between the British and American forces. These groups were made up of local farmhands who would ambush convoys and carry out raids on both sides. There were two separate groups: the "skinners" fought for the pro-independence side; the "cowboys" supported the British.<ref name=HoranSann>Horan, James D, and Paul Sann. ''Pictorial History of the Wild West'' ISBN-10:0600031039, ISBN-13:978-0600031031</ref> <ref>definition of ''cowboy'' from Answers.com [http://www.answers.com/topic/cowboy]</ref>
==In art and culture==
*Fashion: [[Western wear]], [[Rhinestone Cowboy]]
*Film: [[Western movie|Western]], [[List of Western movies]]
*Fine art: [[Frederic Remington]], [[Charles Russell]], [[Earl W. Bascom]], [[Cowboy Artists of America]]
*Literature: [[Western fiction]], [[List of Western fiction authors]], [[Cowboy poetry]]
*Music: [[Western Music (North America)|Western Music]], [[Western swing]], [[List of famous Cowboy songs]]
*Television: [[TV Western]]
*Sports: [[Cowboy action shooting]], [[Rodeo]], [[Indian rodeo]], [[Charreada]].
==See also==
*[[Ranch]]
**[[Livestock branding]]
**[[Agricultural fencing]]
*[[Station (Australian agriculture)]]
*[[Rodeo]]
**[[Charreada]]
*[[Cowboy church]]
*[[American West]]
*[[American Old West]]
*[[Audition (performing arts)]] also known as a "Cattle Call."
*[[List of cowboys and cowgirls]]
*[[List of Ranches and Stations]]
*[[Herding]]
**[[Goatherd]]
**[[Shepherd]]
*[[Transhumance]]
==Footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}
==References==
*Denhardt, Robert M. ''The Horse of the Americas'' Norman: University of Oklahoma Press 1947
*Draper, Robert. "21st -Century Cowboys: Why the Spirit Endures." ''National Geographic,'' December 2007, pp. 114-135
*Malone, John William. ''An Album of the American Cowboy.'' New York: Franklin Watts, Inc., 1971. SBN: 531-01512-2
*Malone, Michael P., and Richard B. Roeder. ''Montana: A History of Two Centuries''. University of Washington Press; Revised edition, 1991. ISBN-10: 0295971290, ISBN-13: 978-0295971292
*Vernam, Glenn R. ''Man on Horseback'' New York: Harper & Row 1964
==Further reading==
*Beck, Warren A., Haase, Ynez D.; ''Historical Atlas of the American West''. University of Oklahoma Press, Oklahoma, 1989. ISBN 0-8061-2193-9
*Jordan, Teresa; ''Cowgirls: Women of the American West''. University of Nebraska Press, 1992. ISBN 0-8032-7575-7
*Nicholson, Jon. ''Cowboys: A Vanishing World''. Macmillan, 2001. ISBN 0-333-90208-4
*Phillips, Charles; Axlerod, Alan; editor. ''The Encyclopedia of the American West''. Simon & Schuster, New York, 1996. ISBN 0028974956
*Roach, Joyce Gibson; ''The Cowgirls ''. University of North Texas Press, 1990. ISBN 0-929398-15-7
*Slatta, Richard W. ''The Cowboy Encyclopedia''. ABC-CLIO, California, 1994. ISBN 0-87436-738-7
*Ward, Fay E.; ''The Cowboy at Work: All About His Job and How He Does It''. University of Oklahoma Press, Oklahoma, 1987. ISBN 0-8061-2051-7
==External links==
*[http://www.truecowboy.com/ American Cowboy Information] – History, facts, and current trends.
*[http://www.kaahelehawaii.com/pages/culture_paniola.htm ''Na Paniola Pipi'' – The Hawaiian Cowboy]
*[http://www.jimwegryn.com/Names/Cowboys.htm A list of famous cowboy names.]
*[http://www.mysabah.com/2005_tamu-besar/horsemen/ The Cowboys of Borneo]
*[http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/index.html National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]
*[http://www.cowgirl.net National Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum - Ft. Worth, Texas]
*[http://www.wrca.org/ Working Ranch Cowboys Association]
*[http://www.thethomasranch.com/thomas_ranch_037.htm "Cowboy Myths and realities"]
*[http://www.blackamericanwest.org/ Black American West Museum Denver, Colorado]
*[http://www.kshs.org/publicat/khq/1939/39_1_hull.htm Collection of cowboy ballads with sheet music from the Kansas State Historical Society]
[[Category:American cattlemen]]
[[Category:Pastoralists]]
[[Category:Equestrianism]]
[[Category:Western-style riding]]
[[Category:Horse history and evolution]]
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