Buckaroo John's Blog — Cowboys

First chronicled by the famous western writer, Zane Grey, in his 1934 novel The Code of the West, no "written" code ever actually existed. However, the hardy pioneers who lived in the west were bound by these unwritten rules that centered on hospitality, fair play, loyalty, and respect for the land. If it's not yours, don't take it. If it's not true, don't say it.If it's not right, don't do it.Cowboy's word is his sacred bondBargains sealed with handshake are more binding than legal documents Be loyalDemand square dealingsBe proud of your occupationLay down your life, if necessary, for the...

Whether you are a cowgirl of today or a cowgirl from the Old West, making a fashion statement has always been apart of the cowgirl style. A traditional cowgirl outfit from the old west consisted of a pair of gauntlets, a short skirt, tall lace up boots, and a red scarf. The sash was probably a style adopted from Charlie Russell who, inspired by the vaquero costume, always wore a red sash. One famous cowgirl, Prairie Rose Henderson wore ostrich plumes over her bloomers and a blouse covered with bright sequins.     The cowgirl riding gauntlets came in a wide variety...

Cowboys of the old west were referred to as "vaqueros." (The Spanish word "vaca" means cow.) The term "cowboy" was rarely used back in the old west. It is more commonly used today. The word vaquero pronounced by American cowboys, was "bukera" and finally "buckaroo." For a period of time anyone working cattle, whether in Texas, California, or elsewhere was known as a "buckaroo". It wasn't until the late 1860's when the Texans began to drive their cattle north to the new railroads in Kansas that the term "cowboy" came into widespread use. Vaqueros were poor, owned no land, probably not even...

Hobbles are connected loops made from sturdy material, such as leather, that loosely connect a horse's front legs together. Now, I'm sure that can seem quite horrifying and barbaric to people, but let's take a look at where and why they are used. A good horse must know how to tie and all horses must be able to be contained in some fashion. Ground tie, tie to a tree, outside a bar, pseudo tie (that's a fancy word for "fake tying"), cross tie, tie to the side of a trailer, etc. In this day and age it seems we have...

When you picture a cowboy, he is more than likely wearing a cowboy hat on his head. It is the iconic symbol of the cowboy and of the West. There are three main types of materials the hats are made from: straw, palm leaf and felt. Within each of these are low to high quality materials and craftsmanship. The number of X's on the band indicate the quality, be it mixtures of fur or weave of straw.  Straw hats are typically a hot weather hat, and provide decent ventilation on those scorching summer days. They are generally more affordable than...