Bill, I know all of this. I spent 20 years, both swinging a rope as a "header"/Team Roper and working for Stock Contractors. Actually, there are those who are past the age of 60 that still Team Rope. Ever heard of Senior Pro? It's not called "Senior" for nothing! I haven't been involved (in the arena) for some 18 years now, but wife and I still wear Wrangler jeans, Resistol hats and Roper boots by Ariat. I traded in my old pointed cowboy boots for the Ariat Roper boots right after I bought my Red Roan Quarter Horse (heading horse). When I met my wife, I bought her a pair of Ariat Lace-Up Roper boots that she loves. Got rid of her pointed boots. Stopped wearing the old Western "snap" shirts and went with more modern button-down collar and button shirts that are Western as well. There is even Cowboy Church here and in Cheyenne. Look up Coy Huffman (cowboy church minister). He has his own website. Some pro-rodeos even have Cowboy Church on Sunday morning next to the arena. IOW, Bill, the cowboy lifestyle hasn't died, just slowed down. Really. And, depending on where a person lives, that person will see more of the cowboy lifestyle. Actually, Bill, take a look at the website Mountain States Ranch Rodeo where actual ranch hands/cowboys compete. We went to a Ranch Rodeo in Colorado Springs when we lived in Colorado before. There are still Western events that have cowboy singing and cowboy poetry involved in them.
Just never/ever tell a working ranch cowboy or their foreman that the cowboy lifestyle is dead! Don't go to a Stockyards and tell a Pen Rider that the cowboy lifestyle is dead! And, don't tell a World Champion Rodeo Cowboy that the cowboy lifestyle is dead! Yes, the lifestyle has changed, but it's definitely NOT dead!!
Thanks Bill! I use to go and read at cowboy poetry readings, but the last time I went after taking several years off, the old style campfire cowboy poetry was replaced by city folk moving to the country, buying a few fancy horses and showing their skills as Phd's in literature. It was great poetry, just not cowboy. My poems were based on how ranch life had changed. Topics like is a women with horses and no cattle a cowgirl? Seems like a horsegirl is more correct. My favorite was about the way "cowgirls" dress for rodeo. I can't remember most of it, just the verse about tank tops. Ladies rodeo tank tops comes in various cuts some cropped short, others down to the butt Some very form fitting, light colored and thin A favorite with boys struggling to become men My preference my love is the ones with build in bras Supportive and modest and hide my ta ta's
At cowboy poetry readings I never heard a lady recite. Have been to several in Lubbock. Lubbock's Texas Tech University hosted this month their annual Nationl Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, an annual event to help keep the cowboy culture alive. I attended that event for several years, got to know some of the folk who furnished wagons and equipment to the event. Attended a number of cowboy poetry events at the symposium. And for three years was one of the official photographers who photographed the entire event for Texas Tech. https://cowboy.org
Oh my goodness Bill, you must get out more. I have never been to one where there wasn't at least one lady, ha ha! Yvonne is well know and one of my favorites.
What Ever Happened to Cowpokes by Faye Fox Cowboy that and cowboy this I’m sick of it, no respect for the Miss In fact, little or no respect for the cow Lots of bull while boys drink morning coffee With half fried eggs and meat from the sow Have these boys forgot who taught them to deliver a calf? It wasn’t their daddy, who put his arm in half Mama was the one that put her arm in all the way She was never skirmish or dramatic, but was calm and steady Turned the breech around then went about her day Now I must address the real issue So you drugstore types may need a tissue I’m sick and tired of the boy or girl with only a horse or pony Braggin about rodeo belt buckles so damn big from bull riding Riding the bull for 8 seconds, doesn’t erase the phony They call themselves cow boy or girl It makes me nauseous and sick, I want to hurl If your mini ranch has no cows that moo Just horses all groomed up and pretty Calling yourself a cow anything is just lots of bull poo poo Call yourself a horse girl or boy Your $100K horse trailer pulled by your $50K toy Doesn’t impress me, as I see no cows in the back Just fancy expensive horses, special blended horse food Choice hay, expensive custom made saddles and all your tack Your boots girl, look at the extra high heel I bet that crocodile will soon off the cow leather peel Lucky for you, you have a horse and don’t have to walk Because those fashion boots you wear up to your knee With those Denim looking leggings so tight you can hardly talk Real western wear is not made in China or places with forced labor It is made in the Americas, Australia, and such and something to savor Real cowgirls or boys never dressed up all fancy and guss Fashion wasn’t considered, just wear that aided them in their work Their hat had a purpose as did chaps, boots, dressing was never a fuss So real cattle people prodding cattle along were called pokes Long before the all-inclusive cowboy became popular, nothing but joke Real cowboys never called their mama a cowboy, not even a cowgirl When her jeans were ripped and worn, they got mended, not sold In a boutique for a high price because they had back pockets adorned with pearl Cowpokes is correct not slang as the liberals want us to believe The cowpokes language isn’t totally lost, just needs retrieve Ever try to poke a horse? Just try it, if you don’t believe me Just don’t come crying to me with your fools remorse When cowboys dropped their shirt and trousers In times past, cowgirls exclaimed wowsers Real cowboys once wore red long handle underwear Not shorts smacking of undergarment, called macho men boxers Or those awful knee length underwear looking shorts you wear to the fair Listen guys this isn’t a women’s lib rant Just me, now a city girl, that doesn’t know can’t I no longer can call myself a cow that or this I live in town wear sandals and girly sports wear Fix my hair all pretty and the cow poo I don’t miss So @Cody Fousnaugh and @Bill Boggs and cowboys on this site Just having some poetic improvisational fun, not pickin a fight
While working on a ranch as a teenager all my cowboying came to naught when the only broc I tried to ride not only threw me but threw me out of the corral in front of God, the owner, and all his help. Most all the stock hands were part time employees and when the work ended for most of us, I hung up my gloves. My job had been building fence, where most young or new hire employees started. Never was a cow hand but I did attain the distinction of becoming a profession dishwasher.
A Saddle Bronc Rider and myself, me a Team Roper, use to be sponsored by a nightclub in Orange County, California. Boy did we see our share of "wannabe cowboys" and "buckle bunnies". Both knew a whole lot about dancing, but would never/ever allow their new boots to get dusty or dirty. Give them a saddle, blanket, pad and bridle, they wouldn't know what to do with any of it. Their main interest at a rodeo was watching bull riding. When that event wasn't on, both would be at the beer stand.
@Cody Fousnaugh, I'll bet you were good, a cut above. Had a cousin who rodeoed a while. He was pretty good but never got into the big time. He became a Baptist preacher and pastored for many years. What he was pretty good at was writing and reciting cowboy poetry out of Guyman, OK. And almost forgot, Texas Tech did sponsor a rodeo and gave scholarships and they have one of the best western museums anywhere. Whatever we do, wherever we go, an old piece of advice is still fresh today, we oughta pause along the way, every now and then, and smell the roses. Good luck, Cody.
I did attend a Roping School in Norco, California. The instructor was originally from Montana and wore the Montana cowboy hat with a big crease in it in front. My first "heading" ropes came from Rattler Rope Company until Classic Rope Company bought them out. Always wore a white Roping Glove and kept my thumb out of the dally. There is a big Timed Events Championship in Guthrie, OK in the Lazy E Arena yearly. It covers bulldogging, tie-down, team roping and steer tripping.
Unless the writer is specific a reader may use their own imagination. And since I have never seen any plastic models that I can recall, when I read the poem I supposed the line was used because it rhymed with bed to finish out the poem, and gave it no more thought.
One more word about "cowboy" and cowboys. I personally have always detested the word, cowboy. In the 1870 census in Texas, my grandfather was listed as a twelve year old stock hand, working on a ranch in Stevens County. The term cowboy was not used in Texas until much later. The history of the cowboy can be traced back to Spain where men worked cattle. They were called vaqueros. Men who rode and roped well and the term sprang from the word vaquero. A translation of that word would be cowman or cowboy. The translation wasn't thought of yet in Texas until ranch life in northern Mexaco flourished under what was called the "hacienda" system, which included Texas and on further north while it was under Mexican rule, meaning of course, ranch life. I suspect cowboy didn't really catch on until early western writers started using the word cowboy. Before the term cowboy was used, a number of other American terms were used. Stockman, stock hand and herder were some terms used to refer to men who handled stock or cows. Wrangler later used to refer to men who handled horses. I guess what I'm saying is that writers and later movies made the term 'cowboy' as he came to be known popular. In all probability, cowboy came into play because boys most often worked on ranches in early Texas. It was mostly boys who made the cattle drives north to Kansas. Grown men were simply not available. So cowboy would have been an appropriate name for young teenagers who mostly worked the ranches of early Texas. This is not important and relates to nothing in particular. It is simply my take on things as passed down from my family, some who were the care takers of cattle on some of the ranches in early central Texas.
March 1st, 2020 update here: Well, I'm wearing my Wrangler jeans, of which I'm always wearing during the winter anyway, my felt cowboy hat, and Ariat Hiking Boots, but sometimes my Ariat Lace-Up Roper Boots, more and more here. To Walmart, restaurants and other places. It really, really feels good to go "Western", since we didn't want to "stick out like a sore thumb" in northeastern Florida (aka Jacksonville) where absolutely nobody wore, or liked, Western clothes. Here, very accepted whereas there, nope! Even my wife will wear her felt cowboy hat at times. Looking forward to later this month when we go to the BIG Denver Indian Pow Wow. Been to it before and it was great. Then, later this summer, will head to Colorado Springs and the Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame for the 2020 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies. Have been to CLA (Centennial Livestock Auction), just north of us, a few times to watch sheep, goats, cattle be sold. Want to stop by when they are selling horses. Enduring the winter of cold-to-freezing temps and, of course, snow. Sometimes much more than just an inch. LOL Unpacked our freshwater fishing gear yesterday and put the reels on the rods. Bought our 2020 Colorado Fishing Licenses today. In a few months, have the boat "summarized" and head to local state park and onto Boyd Lake. Rodeo action and parade at CFD (Cheyenne Frontier Days) and 4th of July Parade in Greeley, as well as the Greeley Stampede Rodeo.