Cowboy Wisdom
Page 7
Well, sir, when the leaders had got within about a quarter of a mile of him I saw them try to slack up, though they could not do it very quickly. But the whole herd wanted to stop, and when the cows and steers in the rear got about where the cowboy had cut across their path I was surprised to see them stop and commence to nibble at the grass. Then the whole herd stopped, wheeled, straggled back, and went to fighting for a chance to eat where the rear guard was.
You see, that cowboy had opened a big bag of salt he had brought out from the ranch to give the cattle, galloped across the herd’s course and emptied the bag. Every critter sniffed that line of salt, and, of course, that broke up the stampede. But I tell you it was a queer sight to see that man out there on the edge of the bluff quietly rolling a cigarette, when it seemed as if he’d be lying under two hundred tons of beef in about a minute and a half.
—S.L. LYMONS Colorado Springs, Colorado 1898
SHIFTY FOREIGN COWS
Havoc on the hoof—that’s a Brahma bull. A Texas-bred cross between the Brahma of India and the Mexican Longhorn, the Brahma is considered to be the most dangerous animal in rodeo. He’s not content merely to buck, but usually seeks vengeance by attempting to gore his dismounted adversary. It takes real nerve to try to ride these huge, “ornery” beasts. There is only a rope around the bull for the cowboy to hold on to. A cowbell dangling from this rope under the animal’s middle further infuriates him. As in bronc riding, one hand must be held free from the bull, and the cowboy must spur from shoulder to flank during the eight seconds which make a completed ride.
—MAX KEGLEY Phoenix, Arizona 1942
Like any other animal, the Brahma bull is just as mean as man makes it. He is bold, and he is proud. [He is] the only type of steer that can look a man in the eye and not waver. The Hereford will look, then glance away. He remembers something that the two-legged creatures have done to him, and he is ashamed of mankind. But the Brahma has no such scruples; he neither fears nor disrespects the master of the beasts.
—ABEL P. BORDEN Mackey, Texas 1934
TRANSPORTATION COWS
The last time I rode a bull I was a senior in college. When I started playing with the Cowboys, they asked me to stop riding bulls, which was all right with me. I was looking for an excuse to stop and still save face. “Oh, heck, I can’t do this anymore. Damn it. The Cowboys won’t let me.”
Thank God for the Cowboys.
—WALT GARRISON Dallas, Texas 1988
COW SUBSTITUTES
I would rather not bore the public with buffalo.
—HORACE GREELEY Reisinger’s Creek, Colorado 1859
There were eleven buffalos in the herd and they were not more than a mile from us. The officers dashed ahead as if they had a sure thing on killing them all before I could come up with them; but I had noticed that the herd was making toward the creek for water, and as I knew buffalo nature, I was perfectly aware that it would be difficult to turn them from their direct course. Thereupon, I started toward the creek to head them off, while the officers came up in rear and gave chase. The buffalos came rushing past me not a hundred yards distant, with the officers about three hundred yards in the rear. I pulled the blind-bridle from my horse, who knew as well as I did that we were out for buffalos—as he was a trained hunter. The moment the bridle was off, he started at the top of his speed, running in ahead of the officers, and within a few jumps he brought me alongside the rear buffalo. Raising “Lucretia Borgia” to my shoulder I fired, and killed the animal at the first shot. My horse then carried me alongside the next one, not ten feet away, and I dropped him at the next fire. As soon as one buffalo would fall, [my horse] Brigham would take me so close to the next, that I could almost touch it with my gun. In this manner I killed eleven buffalo with twelve shots.
—BUFFALO BILL CODY Cody, Wyoming 1879
This is a book for cowboys and anyone who likes cowboys…what you call your basic Cowpoke’s Companion. It’s big enough for trail recipes and home remedies, and advice on things like how to get along with your horse and your mate. It’s small enough to fit in a standard-sized saddlebag. Every once in a while we all need the words of real cowboys and cowgirls to help keep a tight rein on life. So remember that “a pair of six-shooters beats a pair of sixes.” And enjoy the ride.