The Cowboy

Bringing the Cattle to North AmericaBringing the Cattle to North America

Cattle and Horses came from Spain on Cattle and Horses came from Spain on Columbus’ second voyage in 1494.Columbus’ second voyage in 1494.

Map of Columbus’ secondvoyage from Spain.

Livestock first came to these islands and were latertransported to Mexico.

These Cattle would produce:These Cattle would produce:

●●The Spanish Fighting BullThe Spanish Fighting Bull

●●The Texas LonghornThe Texas Longhorn

The Mexican CowboyThe Mexican Cowboy

VaqueroVaquero

– Consisted mainly of IndiansConsisted mainly of Indians

– Low-class positionLow-class position

– Predecessor to the American CowboyPredecessor to the American CowboyInfluenced cowboy dress and dialectInfluenced cowboy dress and dialect

The Texas CowboyThe Texas Cowboy

By 1830- 100,000 cattle roamed TexasBy 1830- 100,000 cattle roamed Texas By 1860- 3.5 million cattle roamed TexasBy 1860- 3.5 million cattle roamed Texas

Cowboy Days began after the Civil War.Cowboy Days began after the Civil War.

Freedmen and others moved to Texas to herd Freedmen and others moved to Texas to herd all the unbranded cattle.all the unbranded cattle.

1/3 American Cowboys were:1/3 American Cowboys were:– Native AmericanNative American– BlackBlack– MexicanMexican

Before the DriveBefore the Drive

Open RangeOpen Range– Cattle from all ranches grazed togetherCattle from all ranches grazed together

BrandingBranding– Essential to distinguish between cattleEssential to distinguish between cattle

RustlersRustlers– Tried to steal Tried to steal

unbranded cattleunbranded cattle

RoundupRoundup– Every spring, the cowboys herd all the Every spring, the cowboys herd all the

cattle together from the range and cattle together from the range and brand the new calves.brand the new calves.

Round UP

Positions of an OutfitPositions of an Outfit

Boss - ForemanBoss - Foreman– Put outfit togetherPut outfit together– Paid $125 a monthPaid $125 a month– Rode ahead of the herdRode ahead of the herd– Decided which trail to takeDecided which trail to take– Collected bills of sale for livestockCollected bills of sale for livestock

Cowboy –Cowboy –– Paid $25 - $40 a monthPaid $25 - $40 a month– Worked the herdWorked the herd– Three different positions during the driveThree different positions during the drive

SegundoSegundo- Even with the boss- Even with the boss

SwingSwing – behind the boss – behind the boss

FlankFlank – behind the swing – behind the swing

DragDrag – behind the herd (usually the least experienced) – behind the herd (usually the least experienced)

Wrangler – Wrangler –

– Youngest of an OutfitYoungest of an Outfit

– Took care of the Remuda (horse herd)Took care of the Remuda (horse herd)

– Each cowboy took three to four horses with him Each cowboy took three to four horses with him on a drive.on a drive.

The CookThe Cook– Older than the cowboysOlder than the cowboys– More experienced than the cowboysMore experienced than the cowboys– Paid more than the cowboysPaid more than the cowboys– Traveled a mile ahead of the herd with the Traveled a mile ahead of the herd with the

ChuckwagonChuckwagon– Found campFound camp– Prepared all meals (3:00 am, Noon, Evening)Prepared all meals (3:00 am, Noon, Evening)– Took on other odd jobs:Took on other odd jobs:

DoctorDoctorTailorTailorBarberBarber

The DriveThe Drive

At first they traveled about 25 miles At first they traveled about 25 miles a day.a day.

They then Traveled 10-15 miles a They then Traveled 10-15 miles a dayday– Allowed plenty of grazing time for cattle Allowed plenty of grazing time for cattle

to stay fatto stay fat

Trip took 4-6 monthsTrip took 4-6 months

Cowboy songsCowboy songs

– Entertainment for lonely daysEntertainment for lonely days

– Kept cattle calmKept cattle calm

TrailsTrails

The WesternThe Western The ChisholmThe Chisholm Goodnight-LovingGoodnight-Loving

Cow TownsCow Towns

Emerged as a result of the drives.Emerged as a result of the drives.– AbileneAbilene– Dodge CityDodge City– EllsworthEllsworth

Cowboy Apparel Cowboy Apparel

Cowboy Hat

Boots

Chaps

Shirt

Lariat

Bandana

Gun

Saddle

Cowboy HatCowboy Hat

Besides his horse, this was his most Besides his horse, this was his most prized possession. prized possession.

It was based off the Sombrero used It was based off the Sombrero used by vaquerosby vaqueros

The ShirtThe Shirt

Usually made of cotton. No pockets. Usually made of cotton. No pockets. If a cowboy wanted pockets, he wore If a cowboy wanted pockets, he wore a vest. a vest.

The SaddleThe Saddle

Could weigh up to 40 poundsCould weigh up to 40 pounds

A cowboy wasn’t afraid to spend a A cowboy wasn’t afraid to spend a months wages on a nice one. months wages on a nice one.

At the end of a drive, a cowboy might At the end of a drive, a cowboy might sell his horse, but never his saddle.sell his horse, but never his saddle.

The Bandana

A Bandana was used to keep the dust out of a cowboy’s face, or it was worn underneath the cowboy hat.

ChapsChaps

Chaps are like Chaps are like

seatless trousers.seatless trousers.

They protect a cowboy They protect a cowboy

From the elements,From the elements,

brush, and rope burns.brush, and rope burns.

The GunThe Gun A cowboy hardly ever carried a gun. It was too much A cowboy hardly ever carried a gun. It was too much

gear for a hard days work.gear for a hard days work. If they did carry a gun however, it was the famous, If they did carry a gun however, it was the famous,

Colt .45 Revolver.Colt .45 Revolver. It shoots six times before having to reload.It shoots six times before having to reload. Generally used for hunting meals rather than fighting Generally used for hunting meals rather than fighting

Indians. Indians.

Boots and SpursBoots and Spurs

Boots had high heels to Boots had high heels to keep the foot in the stirrup.keep the foot in the stirrup.

Spurs were attached to the Spurs were attached to the boot and used to encourage boot and used to encourage the horse to move. the horse to move.

The LariatThe Lariat Lariat comes from the Spanish word Lariat comes from the Spanish word

“ la reata.”“ la reata.” Made of twisted grass or raw hide.Made of twisted grass or raw hide. Unlike a gun, a cowboy was never Unlike a gun, a cowboy was never

seen without his lariat.seen without his lariat.

The Horse…The Horse…

A cowboy’s horse was “wild” for its A cowboy’s horse was “wild” for its first couple years. first couple years.

After being caught, a “After being caught, a “bronco busterbronco buster” ” was appointed to tame the animal.was appointed to tame the animal.

This tradition paved the way to the This tradition paved the way to the

rodeo. rodeo.

The Bronco Buster…The Bronco Buster…

Difficulties to the JobDifficulties to the Job

Animals try to break lose and head Animals try to break lose and head back to the homelandback to the homeland

Lack of waterLack of water The elements: dust, rain, wind, stormThe elements: dust, rain, wind, storm Lack of sleepLack of sleep Other animals: snakes, coyotes, etc...Other animals: snakes, coyotes, etc...

But the biggest danger was a But the biggest danger was a STAMPEDE. It could mean:STAMPEDE. It could mean:– Loss of cattleLoss of cattle– DeathDeath

And then there was the matter of And then there was the matter of crossing through…crossing through…

Indian TerritoryIndian Territory

Indians did not like cowboys crossing Indians did not like cowboys crossing over their land.over their land.

These conflicts, however, rarely These conflicts, however, rarely ended in gunfights.ended in gunfights.

Most of the time cowboys just paid a Most of the time cowboys just paid a toll for every cow that crossed the toll for every cow that crossed the land.land.

End of the Cowboy DaysEnd of the Cowboy Days

What brought the cowboy days to a What brought the cowboy days to a halt?halt?– Harsh winter of 1886-1887Harsh winter of 1886-1887– Expansion of the RailroadsExpansion of the Railroads– Sheep herders move eastSheep herders move east– Barbed WireBarbed Wire