The Life of a Cowboy

• Folklore has said that cowboys were Anglo-Americans when in reality:25% were African Americans25% were African Americans

12% were Mexicans 12% were Mexicans

• Myth that cowboys spent their day on the open range, herding cattle and battling villains/Indians

A Days Work

• Nonstop Work• 10-14 hour days on a ranch

with 14 more on the trail• Alert at all times for danger

harmful to heard• Might own a saddle but the

horse belonged to their boss• Expert rider & roper• Used a gun to protect the herd

Roundup

• Season began in the spring• Herd all the longhorns you can find into a corral• Once cattle are penned up for several days, cowboys now

sort through the herd for branding• Calves are branded• Trail boss chose his crew for the long drive

The Long Drive• Overland Transport = Long Drive• Lasted for three months• 1 cowboy for 250-300 head of cattle,

cook to drive the chuck wagon, wrangler carrying extra horses

• Trail boss was paid $100 a month and had the responsibility for supervising the drive and negotiating with settlers and Native Americans

• On the saddle from dawn to dusk• Sleep on the ground• Bath in the rivers• High risk job-at rivers swept away

struck with lightning