BY: Erin Steves & Morgan Crowl &

American Cowboys On Columbus’ second voyage in 1493 he brought horses and cattle to the land that had no horses or cattle. We know this land as the United States of America. Over a period of four centuries horses and cattle and the people who tended to them, spread south to Argentina and north to Canada. The lifestyle was simple, hardworking, and the ranch hands turned into legends. In the 16 th century Spaniards thought that handling cows and horses was beneath them. Tight boot ankles kept out sand, water, brush, and insects. Tall tops protected the shins.

Horses! The American quarter horse is a popular breed in the United States. Ranchers favored horses with lots of colors and patterns. So they bred painted horses or pintos, which look as though someone had splashed paint all over them. Mustangs are wild American horses - small, sturdy, and hardy. In the spring ranchers use to capture four- year old mustangs in the round-ups. Today mustangs are captured and sold at low priced auctions or become dog food. Appaloosas have distinct spots that really stand out. The Nezperce of the Northwest took a liking to the breed. They bred these horses for war.

On the Cattle Train From 1866 to 1887 a million mustangs and 10 million cattle walked the long train tracks north from Texas. Tens of the thousand cowboys signed up to drive them. Crossing the plains meant months of empty land and big blue skies and getting lost was easy. The cry “stampede” meant thousands of cattle were thundering out of control. “ cookie” the cook drove the Chuck wagon, a kitchen on wheels. Cookie fixed meals, attended wounds, cut hair, and sewed on buttons. Son-of-a- gun stew was a popular meal. The recipe: throw a whole critter into a pot, except the hair, horns, and holler and add hot sauce and let it cook for 3 hours.

The rodeo show When most people hear the word “Rodeo” they think of bucking horses and riding bulls. The world champion bull rider Jonnie Jonckowosky is in the national cowgirl hall of fame. The only million dollar cowgirl Charmayne Rodman has won nine world rodeo titles in a row more than any man or woman ever. Her first barrel racing run was at the age of 4. By 14 she had won her first title.

Music, Art, and Poetry Fredric Remington leading artists of the Wild West, captured the fading American frontier in The End of the cowboy era. Songs and poems that brag about famous feats and cowboy legends helped fuel romantic myths about the cowpunchers lifestyles. Charles Marion Russell painted about the dangerous wild west.

Hollywood Cow folk Gary Cooper is one of Hollywood's great cowboy star. Cooper received an Oscar for “High Noon” perhaps his most memorable film. Cowboy legends began as early as When the first western dime novels appeared the weekly books costs 5 cents to 15 cents. The writers stretched the truth as far as it would go.

Resource: KIDS DISCOVER Cowboys April 1994 Volume 4, Issue 4

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