Cowboy Tools & Attire

One of the biggest factors giving John Grady’s character a sense of authenticity as a cowboy in All the Pretty Horses was his use of real, working cowboy tools and clothing. Some specialized, less well known items are mentioned in the book from time to time.

Cowboy Tools and Attire

Hobbles are mentioned in the book more than once. Hobbles are leather, rope or chain cuffs which are placed around the lower legs of horses while they are turned out to limit there ability to wander off while grazing.

Hobbles can be very useful to a cowboy needing to let his horse feed while camping in the backcountry. Other types of hobbles can also be used during training as restraints or in teaching a horse to “give” or yield to pressure.

Photo from craigcameron.com.

Cowboy tools and attireJohn Grady and Rawlins use a hackamoreduring there work with horses. Hackamores are frequently used by cowboys on young horses that are not ready for a bit. Hackamores apply pressure to the nose and face but are easier on the young horses mouths.

Photo from horsearoundtack.com

The bosal (bosalea in spanish) as mentioned in All the Pretty Horses is typically the noseband region of the hackamore and is usually constructed of rawhide.

Cowboy tools and attire

Other common tools and attire

Knife-used for common chores, hunting and eating.

Boots-protect lower legs and smooth bottoms slip in and out of saddle stirrups easily.

Chaps- protect legs from shrubs, elements and from saddle scrapes.

tools and attire continued…

Wild Rag- bandana used for warmth, sun protection, to wipe sweat, possible tourniquet for wounds, can even be used to lead a horse.

Another common use for a wild rag is the sacking out of a horse. This is a method of desensitizing a horse by rubbing it with a soft, loose object in order to calm them and releave fears.

"No such thing as a mean colt." John Grady floats a gunnysack over the horse's face and rubs the sack over it, all the while talking to the horse.

Spurs- used by rider to initiate movement in horses while mounted.

Rope- (lariat or spanish reata) is used for catching livestock.

Mecate-used with a hackamore and bosal, traditional Spanish reins for controlling a horses head.

Cowboy tools and attire cont…Perhaps one the most defining

features of a cowboy’s outfit is his hat.

Cowboy hats come in all shapes and sizes that can vary depending on the region a cowboy is from.

Hats provide shade, warmth protection from rain and can be used by cowboys in many different creative ways.

“By late afternoon the horses were stumbling. They watered them out of their hats and drank the other canteen dry themselves and mounted again and rode. on” (p. 87)

Vintage poster from stetson.com