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Honestly? My idea of cowboys is definitely what I have seen on movies and television. The television series "Wild, Wild West," John Wayne movie "High Noon" and the ad for a popular cigarette brand said it all for me when it comes to cowboys.
Hollywood depicted cowboys as a bunch of men who were gun toting, skillful horse riders, bar room brawlers and usually were the ladies objects of affection. But in reality, they were laborers, who were overworked, underpaid and very much under appreciated, who spent more time with their horses than with the ladies.
The history of cowboys dated back after the Civil War ended. The ranch owners hired these homeless soldiers for some ranch work in the west, thus the beginning of the way of the cowboys.
Their main tasks were herding the cattle from one watering place to the next, guard against predators, watch out for straying cattle and stampedes at night. Once they reached the central location, they branded newborn calves, castrated and de-horned older cattle and chose cattle to be taken to the market.
Much of the cowboy’s equipments, attire and skills for cattle ranching were very much influence by the vaqueros of Mexico, who originally got their influence from Old Spain dating as far back as the 1500’s.
The need for cowboys or ranch hands declined when the barbed wire was invented (meaning the cattle were fenced in with private landholdings) and the growth of railroads (which is a faster option for transporting the cattle).
About 3.5 million cattle were driven in herds from Southern Texas to towns in Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming. This event is considered the first gold to come from the west not from the Gold rush.
The era of the old-fashioned cowboy was brief but incredible, spanning only about thirty years but the central folklore, the true grit, admirable character and free spirit of the cowboy still lives on.
Today, rodeo shows and events are held every year for the ranching industry and cowboys at heart. The events showcase the cattle handling skills of these ranchmen, such as lasso and roping, tying steers and bull riding.
Approximately forty thousand people flock to these events annually to participate in rodeo and go shopping for cowboy and ranching related items such as saddles, Stetson hats, Rocketbuster boots, sterling in laid spurs and silver, gold carved belt buckles. Not to mention the attendance of cowboy auction shows. The cowboy industry definitely is bucking for revenues.
Western art has now become a prestigious sector of the American Art. Some western oil paintings fetched in up to seven figures in sales. Then there’s western music industry, which is a multi-million dollar business today.
I’m sure you have your own personal favorite country singers Anything related to famous cowboys whether true-to-life or not like Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy etc. would indeed be collectible.
The cowboy lifestyle is more than just the wide brimming hat, the levi’s jeans, the chuck wagon, the gun slinging etc. Despite the intrigue and notoriety, the cowboy is an icon. He represents hard work, trust and standing up for what’s right.
