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What is a Cowboy? - Facts and Fiction
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What is a Cowboy?
Local myth: A Cowboy would be your typical, dirty, horse riding type. He drank until he fell over; fought everyone around him, rode a horse everywhere, pushed cattle around the county, and was a lonely soul.
Past and Present:
In the 18th Century
In reality the Cowboy didn't dress like the Cowboys of the movies. A Cowboy wore whatever he could get his hands on. Cowboys and other laborers wore what was called "ready-to-wear" -"hand me downs"- second-hand clothing that had been discarded by the higher classes. That's why you would not often see ranch hands riding the range wearing a suit coat or vests. The typical Cowboy hat could have been pretty much any hat of that era. The wider brims were to keep the Sun out of their eyes. A much fancier dress up with the suits was for only those with money. The origins of the Cowboy boot are well-researched and started life as riding boots for the marauding Mongol tribesmen. The Cavalry issued the Cowboy boot (as Cavalry boots), which were mass-produced using, reinforced cardboard.
In the 19th Century
In the beginning of the 1900s with the westward movement came the Duster. The Duster was used to keep the dust off of all their clothes. In the 1900s, the first embroidered toe wrinkle boots were made and the earliest of Actors wore them on screen outside of their Jeans. Today, most Cowboys do not wear pointed toed boots. The Original Cowboy boot was pointed due to the fact that the wearers spent a good amount of the day in a saddle, boots in the stirrups. The Cowboy hat was made famous with the 'Black and White' movies. Black hats were known to be for the bad guys and the good guys wore White hats. The modern Cowboy was born. He sang and rode horses; he was able to push cattle all day and still stay up and drink around the campfire and strum his guitar while wearing his handkerchief around his neck. In the mid 1900s the Cowboy belt buckle was introduced. Cowboy hats were normalized with sizes and materials that they were constructed of. Crowns on the Cowboy hats become symbols of who you were. American Cowboys also grabbed a hold of the Confederate Flag as a symbol of pride. The Overalls or Bibs were brought into existence and were a National craze for a short time during this period.
In the 20th Century
In the late 1990s and early 2000s showed that the American Cowboy pride was still alive and active even though on a steady decline. The larger the better became the norm'. When it came to belt buckles, some as-large as dinner plates, the buckles also crossed over into the Hip-Hop scene and the Bling-Bling movement. Rappers were quick to jump on this American symbol and use it to show their stature. Generation X moved in, and hate for the Cowboy had a traumatic impact on the clothing of the era. The Confederate Flag was being pushed away and said to be a symbol of hate by most African Americans. Although a lot of the middle age and younger generations of Cowboys are reaching back for a historic symbol of pride in today's trying times, it is making a strong come back. Cowboy hats were no longer Black and White; there were no good guys and no bad guys left. There was just the Grey middle where everyone fell into place. Hats colors or makes had changed into seasonal apparel. Black or felt hats were for winter time and straw hats or White hats were for summer time. Cowboy hats were also traded in for a more reasonably priced baseball cap with a logo or symbol on it, such as John Deere, Caterpillar, and of established Ranches, such as The Thomas Ranch. You no longer had to wear a $200 10X Stetson to be a Cowboy. Some Cowboys during all of the American history never wore a Cowboy hat. Jeans have been and always will be an important symbol in the Cowboys' apparel. Levis Strauss was the leading Cowboy Jeans, but Wrangler was not to be out done and have jockeyed for number one for years. But in the Twentieth Century, Carhartt has stepped up and has become a symbol of the true Cowboy, not only with jeans, but work jackets and other apparel. T-shirts replaced button up shirts, having symbols of Hunting, Fishing, Outdoors, and Rodeo pictures. Cowboy boots were replaced with work, or hiking, boots. The Cowboy traded in his horse, for a mass-produced American 4X4. The Ford pickup truck, has become synonymous to the Cowboy. Country music had reached its peak. Shirts, vests, dusters, chaps, spurs, and anything Cowboy was in. The Music industry changed how all Cowboys dressed due to singers such as Garth Brooks and the group Brooks and Dunn. Button up shirts now became colorful. Cowboys now smoked (Marlboro country was born), dipped (Copenhagen cans were in every Cowboys pocket, Copenhagen belt buckles became a rage as well)(a worn area in the back pocket of the jeans become a symbol of a true Cowboy), and were wearing typical 'Rodeo' apparel. Cowboys were now wearing 10X felt Stetsons and $150 custom button up shirts. 'Cowboy Up' becomes the calling card for all Cowboys. This meant it was time for the Cowboy to mount up on the bull and get ready to ride. Another way of thinking was it was time to toughen up and bear down and get it done. Winchester rifles have been an important part of the history of the Cowboy, even in today's day and age. Their 30/30 lever action is a symbolic Cowboy icon. Ropes and Stirrups have been replaced with Cell phones and Sunglasses. The Cowboys' of the 20th century had a wild ride.
Does America still need the Cowboy?
The Cowboy is more of a mind set now a days then an actual person. He is kind, tough, and hard working, he stands for morals. People may think a Cowboy is slow, but he is always enjoying the world around him. America needs to step back in time to pick back up where the last of the Cowboys have left off. The Cowboys won the west with the tools of their time. Their tools were the horse, gun, and barbwire. But it was the determination of the Cowboy that actually made this Country as large and as powerful as it is today.
Let us take a look at what makes up a Cowboy, minus what we have already discussed.
Morals: The morals of the Cowboy are steadfast. He takes on and accomplishes any job given to him, no matter how hard or dangerous this job maybe. He rides and competes for pride, not for the actual belt buckle or title. A Cowboy stands for all that is pure and true. He knows that a job must be done. He can stay all night on a trail of cattle being pushed around the state or country, he could at the same time go twenty miles out of his way to take a sick dog to a vet for a child. They were never looking for trouble, but when it came, they faced it with courage and dignity. The Cowboy is always on the right side (if there is a right side). They defend good people, who cannot defend themselves, against bad people. They have always had high morals. They had good manners and were honest.
Language: A Cowboy knows when a child, a lady, or an educated man, is around how to bite his tongue. Cursing is not part of his vocabulary around these people. His vocabulary may be a little slower or not as elaborate as those with education. A Cowboy is shy around woman because he spends most of his time in isolation.
Definitions: A hired hand that tends to cattle and performs other duties on horseback. A performer who gives exhibitions; of riding and roping and bulldogging.
Singing: Why do all Cowboys sing? The Cowboy would sing while driving cattle due to the fact that a stampede was more dangerous than a natural disaster. The Cowboy would sing day in and day out. At night while the cows were settling down an unknown noise would spook them, the Cowboy would rise out of the bedroll and begin to sing. This was done because the cattle had grown accustomed to the singing and would soon settle back down for the night, because the singing had mellowed the cows.
The Modern Cowboy.
Modern Cowboys are not all molded together. Each has its own style and is unique. Some of today's Cowboys still ride, rope and brand. Some have never even seen a cow up close. To become a Cowboy one does not have to actually ride the range, all they have to do now is listen to Country Music and dress the part. Telling a true Cowboy from a "Dime Store Cowboy" is hard. If you go on the scenario that all Cowboys walk bow legged, have missing teeth, and all spit tobacco, then you will miss out on an awful lot of true Cowboys. The list above is not for all Cowboys, just the western community as a whole. Besides family owned ranches and selected country born individuals, the Cowboy of today is trying to grab onto the roots of the past. With the sprawl of the cement world, it becomes harder and harder to find a spot in the world to call your own, and the Cowboy needs his space to ride. He needs his space to call his own. Throughout time, the Cowboy has been a patriot to this county.
Are you a Cowboy?
AMERICAN PRIDE! COUNTRY PRIDE! GOD BLESS THE COWBOY!
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Does America Still Need the Cowboy?
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The Cowboys of the 19th Century. Courtesy of Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library
The Cowboy of the 20th Century. Shown wearing a baseball cap, instead of a Cowboy Hat.
A Cowboy walking thru the Arizona Desert.
An American Icon.
A Cowboys transportation, his horse.
Your typical Cowboy, of the Movie Era.
The Cowboys of the 18th Century. Courtesy of Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library
How to: Cowboy Party
List of Cowboy Sayings
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