_The_ WESTERN COWBOY
and
ARABIANS IN THE ROCKIES
PRICE $1.00
Copyright 1948, Trinidad Bean & Elevator Co.
Denver, Colorado
_The_ WESTERN COWBOY
Call him _bronco buster_, _cowpuncher_, _cattleman_, or just plain
_ranch hand_ ... the western cowboy to those who know him best, has
always been “just a plain, everyday upstandin’ man!” He is courageous
and fearless ... loyal to his outfit and to his friends, and does his
best to live up to the code of his colorful calling.
An oldtimer might tell you that the cowboy’s code calls for “courage and
loyalty, uncomplaining cheerfulness, laughter at danger and hardships,
lack of curiosity regarding another’s past, and respect for womanhood.”
The cowboy may change with the times, but so long as the West raises
cattle he’ll be with us ... riding the range, testing his skill at the
rodeo ... “doin’ his job” as he upholds the proud traditions of the West
and one of its greatest industries ... the cattle business.
[Illustration: ON THE MOVE]
[Illustration: Cowboy and lariat]
The cowboy and the horse he rides are the result of a way of life. The
man and the animal have developed together, adapting themselves to a
type of life and work unfamiliar to millions of our present generation.
The dime-novel, two-gun characters of fiction, the movies built around
these stories, and the occasional rodeo performance, are the basis for
the average person’s impressions about the Western cowboy. Overlooked
are the real life and the important daily tasks of these men on
horseback who provide the meat for the nation’s tables.
The cowboy knows no hours. From sunup to sundown, in blizzard, rain and
sunshine, he watches and cares for his herd.
The pioneers who built the cattle business into a tremendous industry
used the saddle for making history. The modern cowboy following in their
path is still using a saddle for a throne from which he upholds a
tradition ... and never will he forsake that saddle for a jalopy to help
him over the rough places.
[Illustration: ON GUARD]
Probably no other American spends a greater part of his time outdoors
than the Western cowboy. Certainly no other form of activity is so
dependent upon the whims of Nature and animals. A calf may stray among
jagged rocks, and a horse break a leg in recovering him. Rider and horse
are always flirting with danger! Sickness in a herd or among the horses
calls for expert knowledge and kindness. Broken fences, storms, mountain
lions and the elements themselves present problems which to many of us
would seem insurmountable. Gopher holes lurk in hidden places to throw
both horse and rider; turbulent streams with their slippery boulders
must be forded; high ledges and snowy precipices must be traversed under
varying conditions.
Yes, it’s a rugged life and one which calls for strong men with clear
eyes and steady hands. Under these men must be sturdy, sure-footed
horses.
This combination of man and horse has contributed greatly to the
romantic history of America; and, even today, typifies a way of life
unlike any other.
[Illustration: Boots and spurs]
It’s no wonder that this Western life has developed a strange and
flavorful language of its own ... distinctly different from that used in
other walks of life. It’s natural, too, that special clothing should be
worn. Above all, it is essential that the cowboy’s greatest asset, the
horse, should be specially bred and trained.
There are many of the words of the trail and cow camp in these pages.
You’ll become familiar with the type of clothing worn by the Western
cowboy. Most of all, you’ll see and learn about the magnificent horses
that he rides. At work, at play and in the show ring ... the horse is
dominant!
[Illustration: HIGH PLACE]
[Illustration: “A RANCH IS NO BETTER THAN ITS HORSES”]
FRIEND AND SERVANT
A good cow horse must possess strength and intelligence, and be well
trained to use both. He has a natural instinct for sensing direction and
detecting danger, both by day and by night. He is game and brave and
will drop dead in the performance of his work, if need be. He is well
adapted to his place ... tough and inured to the hardships of his life.
His lightness of foot and quickness of motion fit him better for this
work than any other type of horse.
[Illustration: Saddle]
He must have good feet, good limbs, a strong heart and strong lungs to
meet the demands of his work. The cow horse soon learns to know his
rider as they work together, and his good sense is his outstanding
characteristic.
[Illustration: CLOTHES ARE WORN FOR A PURPOSE]