REAL Cowboys

[oosik]

How many of us have ever met a real cowboy? I'm surrounded by ranchers. They raise cattle and do all those necessary things. Down south of me - very near the old town of Ewan - is a family with two daughters. Both are around 45. They can throw down a spring calf for branding like you and I could handle a large teddy bear. They get up in the morning, saddle up a horse and ride out - to work. And the way these women can ride - would make John Wayne blush. I've only met the both of them a couple times. They are current in the social graces but seldom have time for chit-chat or other non-productive activities. For them the day starts/ends with all business and it's most usually riding a horse. This is a life they have chosen - it can be a hard life but apparently they enjoy it. I have a great deal of respect for these two women.

 

[Bearsixty7]

My Dad is pretty darn close to a real cowboy if he isn't one. He wears a cowboy hat and boots almost everyday still at 86. He still works around the house now that he's finally "retired" for the most part. He retired from the USPS decades ago and retired from ranching/farming several after that ago. He did handy man/contractor work/yard mowing for several people for many years until just a few years ago.
When I was growing up, we raised beef cattle, hogs, a few horses and hay, lots of hay!
As for cowboying, He could open a wire gap gate while on Chap, a Missouri Fox Trotter. Him and Chap could round up any cow there was. He didn't rope, at least that I ever saw. I did see Chap covered in white foam one day rounding up a friends cattle, they were pure wild. We were a little worried if Chap was over worked and was going to be ok but he was.

 

[Citydude]

Growing up in Wyoming, it was hard not to know a real cowboy.

My grandfather's best friend and his wife come to mind. They worked their cattle ranch off of horses. Jaw dropping just watching them ride.

 

[Peter 315]

No cowboys around here just truckers wearing cowboy boots...

 

[Egon]

John Wayne didn’t like horses!

 

[cqaigy2]

When i was a child living in Walla Walla, they used to run cattle across the street from us. Cowboys up on horses how cool is that! Used to hire out to a rancher outside of Wenatchee, when i was youngster. Riding horses and camping outside, it was fantastic. Get up first thing in the morning, check horses over, feed and water eat breakfast. Then go looking for spring calves. In the fall, camping outside riding horses looking for cattle to bring down out of the mountains to lower pastures. Branding is a stinky cow poopy experience for the person holding the calf, but probably not as uncomfortable as the calf.

 

[oosik]

I've heard of a new branding technique. An injected micro chip and hand held chip reader. No idea how close you would have to be to the cow. Spring branding should be an experience all city folks get to watch. They would have to provide their own "barf buckets".

 

[Avenger]

I dont know if I'd call myself a 'cowboy,' especially since I dont raise cattle (not anymore anyway). But I used to. In the Columbia Basin, we raised several head of cattle. We used horses to cut cattle, ride fence lines, etc. Never got into the whole cowboy hat, boots, and buckle look though. As a kid growing up farming and ranching, I was certainly exposed to it. But I prefer my Obos, 5.11 belt, and no hat.
I can still ride, I can still tend to cattle. In fact, due to the increase in cattle demand in the area, myself and a friend of mine are thinking of putting in a pasture...

 

[grsthegreat]

Many moons ago i was one. Worked on a large montana cattle ranch. Spent my days in the saddle. Lived in a bunkhouse. Loved the work, hated the winters. While I could rope, i was not great at it. What I was great at was flipping the calves and holding them for branding. Montana mud wrestling. .

 

[Tinhack]

My neighbor to the North of me WAS a "real cowboy". He's retired now and his sons took over the place. Haven't seen any livestock in his fields for years. They grow turf. And they leave their scary pallets in the field.

I used to see him riding herd at the crack of dawn. As he got older, he switched over to ATVs for him and his cowhands.