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About Cowboys & Buckaroos
from the book's back cover
photo by Tim O'ByrneThe cowboy has been a subject of fascination for over a century, yet few people truly understand the nature of his work. Cowboys & Buckaroos explains in great detail the trade secrets and working lifestyle of this North American icon in a way that appeals to everyone.Learn about starting colts using cowboy and buckaroo methods, riding feedlot pens, roping cattle and making long-circles in rough terrain. Follow the cowboy crew as they guide their cattle through the four seasons, each one with its own distinct challenges. Over 250 photographs document authentic working cowboys as they perform their daily tasks on million-acre mountain and desert ranches, in huge feedyards out on the Great Plains and on family ranching operations scattered from Texas to British Columbia.
Cowboy culture doesn't discriminate against any person possessing enough tenacity to saddle up, even if only for the weekend. The author left the city at age 17 and spent over 20 years working on large commercial ranch and feedyard operations across the West. Excerpts from the author's journal offer candid, firsthand accounts of his struggle to achieve the skills necessary for him to earn inclusion into the cowboy world.
Cowboys & Buckaroos serves as the modern-day definitive guide to help improve your own cowboy skills, preserve the time-honored tradition of the Cowboy Code and enhance your enjoyment of the ride.
What Does it Take to Become a Cowboy?
Understanding Who's Who on a Big Outfit Crew
Calving the Cow Herd
The Long and Short of Short Lines
What Does it Take to Become a Cowboy?
from Chapter 1, Defining the Word CowboyThe desire to become a cowboy or buckaroo usually starts with the individual's need for a personal challenge or extreme adventure. Contrary to popular belief, joining the ranks of the working cowboys has never been restricted to second- or third-generation ranch kids. Everyone had to start somewhere, including the cowboys of the 1860s who were credited with contributing much to the development of the culture. My father was a career Air Force man, and the first time I saw a cow was on my uncle's farm when I was ten. Many young men and women from equally diverse backgrounds get caught up in the cowboy world when they help out during the summer at a mountain guiding outfit or dude ranch. The freedom of the outdoors attaches to a part of their soul, and the result is often a blinding, all-encompassing commitment to earn the right to call themselves a "hand."
The cowboy and the buckaroo world in North America today is a relatively small one. If you meet someone on the Texas plains, you can pretty much build a chain of "Do you know (whoever)?" all the way up into western Canada. Reputations often precede the traveling cowboy on the ranch he's lookin' to hire onto. And, as you can imagine, integrity is the cornerstone of an admirable reputation. There's little room for rogues and scallywags. Usually, the drifters with bad intent get only one chance to make it. If they step over the line and do harm to one of the cowboy clan, including family, no matter where, the dubious deed will always catch up to them.
The physical aspect of the professional cowboy's job can be considered quite unique. Cowboys spend an inordinate amount of time in motion, rarely sitting long enough for a lucky photographer to snap a prize-winning photo. Outfits comprising a great deal of real estate rely on either trotting out or trailering out from camp to get to where the work begins. These great distances horseback lead to calcified knee joints, fused spinal columns and hairless calves and inner thighs.
The ability to withstand anything Mother Nature can toss his way is crucial because very often the cowboy is stuck up there on his horse in the middle of a work and taking shelter isn't an option. Preparedness is a virtue and many times a simple item like a box of matches can be the only thing standing between survival and defeat.
Cowboys not only work together, they also live together. Therefore, the ability to get along in cramped quarters is high on the list of requirements for the job. The cowhand who disrespects others' property or right to sleep, eat and read a book is soon dealt with. Learning the rules can be a painful undertaking but it's a necessary component of earning the right to call yourself a cowboy.
by Tim O'Byrne, from Cowboys & Buckaroos, © 2005 by Western Horseman
This material may not be reproduced without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Understanding Who's Who on a Big Outfit Crew
"Tips" from Chapter 2, Securing a Job on a Big OutfitCowboss: He hires and fires the crew, divvies our the horses, plans the day's work, is responsible for all the supplies, drives the truck, never gets a gate, loads his horse first, takes the long circle.
Jigger Boss (straw boss): Some outfits have a second-in-command to the cowboss, called a jigger boss or straw boss.
Lead-Off Man: A senior level cowboy who's designated to lead the entire crew or a crew split on a particular work. A lead-off man might be a camp foreman, a senior-level cowboy, or the jigger boss.
Cowboys and Buckaroos: Split among guys and gals from 19 years of age to 99. Each person has all his own gear.
Young Guys: 16 to 19 years of age, yappy, think they know more than they do, likeable in an annoying way, handy to have around.
Nighthawk: Usually some truant kid who quit school or arrives at the wagon during summer holidays and works herding the horses virtually for free (a couple of bucks, grub and a place to unroll his bed).
Cook: The cook is regarded extremely highly, feared and heeded by all, treated like a movie star, pampered like a lap dog, cussed by some (always from a great distance), and missed sorely when gone.
by Tim O'Byrne, from Cowboys & Buckaroos, © 2005 by Western Horseman, reproduction prohibited
This material may not be reproduced without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Calving the Cow Herd
from Chapter 5, Spring WorksThe main cow herd is usually calved out in huge grass preserves set aside all year especially for that purpose. Some of these tracts of land are unbelievable large in size and center around calving camps that cater to five or six cowboys at a time. Cowboys must leave camp in the morning on the long trot if they expect to make a decent circle and get back by suppertime.
Cows love wide open spaces to calve in. They're very solitary animals during this special time, and they often surprise the cowboys with their selection of hidey-holes in which to deliver their calves.
Calving in the wide open is a wonderful assignment for cowboys because the sunny days and melting snow are a welcome respite from the bitter cold of winter. Cowboys are happy because they wear their good ol' riding boots again, having thrown the clumsy winter footwear into the back of the bunkhouse closet until next year.
A general rule of thumb on a big cow-outfit is one man for every 500 cows. There are places where over 2,000 cows are turned out in pasture totaling in the tens of thousands of acres. Cowboy heaven.
The routine is a bit different out there in the open but nonetheless important. Remember, without a calf crop to sell in the fall a ranch can't remain viable. Cowboys pack all sorts of calving items with them because they end up so far from the calving camp or the truck and trailer that to trot back every time they need something would be a ridiculous waste of time.
Here's what most guys pack on their rig, in their banana bag, or on their body during calving time:
A book and a pencil to write down notes, tag numbers and such
Prolapse tape (special woven string for prolapses)
A marker crayon (to identify animals that have been worked on)
A long calving chain and a handle (some guys use a piece of nylon cord and a stick)
About six short lines (see "Short Lines" in Chapter 9)
An extra rope
Antibiotics, a syringe, clean needles and other items such as scour tablets for the calves and plastic sleeves for vaginal palpations
Ear tags and a tagging plier
A couple of milking needles (to release the milk from tight-bagged cows)
Toilet paper
Matches
A two-way radio, common on some outfits
by Tim O'Byrne, from Cowboys & Buckaroos, © 2005 by Western Horseman, reproduction prohibited
This material may not be reproduced without express written permission of the copyright holder.
The Long and Short of Short Lines
an excerpt from Tim O'Byrne's Journal from Chapter 9: Roping--Cowboy Style"Tie her down," yelled the lead-off man over his shoulder while he struggled to hold the heels from 50 feet away. His horse was pulling the rope with everything he had, and you could hear the snap and zip of the nylon as it settled into the well-worn tracks of his horn.
"Whadaya mean?" I yelled back, adrenaline rushing as the cow stared at me with deadly intent through bulging eyes. My rope around her neck was starting to slack off, putting me in a dangerous position there on foot so I pleaded with my horse to back up and keep it tight while I figured out what to do. Somebody was clearly going to get stomped here, and it wasn't going to be the boss up there on his horse far away.
"Where's your short line?" he yelled back, rope straining as the cow kicked like a housecat with a play toy.
Dang! I didn't have one. You could hear him mutter something under his breath as he took his McCarty (mecate) in his teeth and fished around with his left hand down by his belt. Pulling out a chunk of soft white rope he boomeranged it in my general direction, then went immediately back to the task of holding the cow down so she wouldn't get up and smear me out.
This incident happened to me early in my career when I was still struggling to understand the rigors of big outfit cowboy life. As the boss and I trotted back to the ranch in silence I wrestled with the decision to either include short lines in my toolbox or ignore their many uses. Within a week I had two of them handing off the belt of my chinks.
T Lazy S Ranch, Battle Mountain, Nevada, 1981
by Tim O'Byrne, from Cowboys & Buckaroos, © 2005 by Western Horseman, reproduction prohibited
This material may not be reproduced without express written permission of the copyright holder.
Book Contents
Cowboys & Buckaroos
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Introduction
PrefaceChapter 1: Defining the Word Cowboy
Early Beginnings
The Cowboy
The Buckaroo
Hybrid Cowboys--The Third Style
Is Cowboying an Art, a Craft or a Way of Life
Classifications of Working Ranches
What Does it Take to Become a Cowboy?Chapter 2: Securing a Job on a Big Outfit
Ten Years to Make a Hand?
Today's Cowboy Requirements
Minimum Gear List
Understanding Who's Who on a Big Outfit Crew
Pursuing a JobChapter 3: A Green Cowboy Joins the Crew
Learning Trade Slang and Terms
Terminology
Jingling the Horses (Wrangling)
Catching Horses
Standing on the Ropes
Roping Duties
The Three Most Common Horse-Catching Loops
Catching in the Jingle Trap or Rope Corral
Recognition SkillsChapter 4: The Novice is Introduced to the Cowboy Way
Day 1 -- "Thanks for Breakfast"
New String of Horses
The Circle
How a Circle Works
The Novice--Making His First Circle
So Many Things Can Happen
Understanding the Flow of the Land
Building a Rodear
The Cut
Creating an Exit Flow from the Working Face
Rules of the Rodear
The Novice -- Moving on to the Next Level
Chapter 5: Spring Works
Calving Heifers
The Average Heifer Herd
Common Calving Problems
Hard Decisions
After the Calf Arrives
Calving Outside
Pairing Out
The Art of Grafting
Calving the Cow Herd
A Typical Day Calving Cows in the Open
Recognition Skills
Branding
Restraint Methods
Dragging Calves
Roping Off a Colt
Open Rodear Branding
Cleaning Up the WorksChapter 6: Summer Works
Turnout
Flow Chart
A Typical Turnout Day
Herd Movement
Wet Herd (Cows and Calves)
Reaching the Final Destination
Dry Herd (Yearlings and Dry Cows)
Training the Herd
Interference from Large Vehicles, ATVs and People on Foot
When Cows and Vehicles Share the Road
Handling a Huge Wreck, and Getting Beat
The Bulls
Selection and Turnout
Riding Fence and Other Tasks
Riding Bog
Poison Alert
Ticks, Screwworms and Other Parasites
Fight Fire
Pasture Doctoring
Wheat Pasture Cattle
Starting Colts
Weaning and Castration
Introductory Ground Work
The First Saddle
The First Ride
The Next Year
The "Bronco Man"
PonyingChapter 7: Fall Works
Fall Gather
The Hold-up Method
Working a Fall Rodear--Mixed Herd
The Horses Have a Job to Do
Weaning and Shipping
More Fall Work
Preweaning (Preconditiong) Programs
Feeding Groups
Pre-Check teh Cows
Culling the Herd
Sorting the Herd
Taking Inventory
Winter Grass
Straggling
Moving the Feeding Groups
LayoffChapter 8: The Making of a Horseman
Working Colts Afoot
Working Horseback
Tying a Colt in the Barn
Broodmares
Ranch Stallions
Moving Big Horse Herds
Dogs Don't Run Horses
Horse Health Care
Hoof Care
Soring a Horse
Cooling Off Period
Horse Accidents and Injuries
Culling Horses
Challenging Horses
Riding the Challenging Horse
The Primary Circle Horse
The Rank Horse
Riding the Rank Ones
Shoeing the Challenging Horse
Fixing a Problem
Getting Bucked Off
Why Cowboys Get Bucked Off
A Bad Buckoff
Packing Horses and MulesChapter 9: Roping--Cowboy Style
Rating Cattle
Roping Styles
The Big Decision
When Things Go Wrong
Common Loops
Laying Trips
Sneak Shots
Working as a Team
Missing a Shot
Choke
Supporting the Boss's Decisions
Short Lines and Piggin' Strings
The Long and Short of Short Lines
Tying Cattle with Short Lines
Roping Mature Stock Alone
Tying Off with a Long Rope
Turning Loose
Wild Cattle
Loading Cattle into a Stock Trailer in the OpenChapter 10: Keeping Pace with Today's Beef Industry
Working with the Environment
Animal Welfare
Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Good Production Practices
Laws
Occupational Safety
Chapter 11: The Feedlot Cowboy
Feedyard Systems
How a Feedyard Works
The Feedyard Cowboy's Job
The Art of Pen Riding
Categorizing Cattle
Identifying an Animal-Health Concern
Identifying Sick Calves in the Hot Pens
Poor Weather Conditions
Roping in the Feedyard
The Hospital
Treating the Pulls
Homing
Sorting "Fats"
Weighing
The Horses
Feedyard Occupational Health and SafetyChapter 12: The Masters
Master Horseman
Range of Influence in the Round Corral
The Finished Cow Horse
The Horses
Never Turn a Horse Away from a Cow
Pacing the Ranch Horse
Communication by Doing Nothing
The Accomplished Horseman
Balance and Finesse
Cattle-Handling Masters
Other Cattle-Handling Tactics
Dog Men
Training a Cow Dog
Choosing Commands
"Come In"
Safe Zones
"Down"
Discipline
Cattle Work for the Pup
Cast
Time for Work
Chapter 13: The Life
The Single Life
Married Life
The Role of a Cowboy's Wife
Support Members
The Cowboss's Life
Camps and Wagons
Cow Camps
Cookshack
Camp Bunkhouse
Wagon Outfits
Camp Cooks
Cowboy Fun
The Working Cowboy as an Icon
All chapters also include additional tips, terminology, journal entries, and more
Epilogue
Author Profile
Ranch Credits
Order Information and Praise for the Book
Cowboys and Buckaroos (0-911647-67-8) is available for $21.95 from:
Western Horseman
800-538-9942The book is also available from Beal's Cowboy Buckles, Amazon.com, and other booksellers.
Praise from Hugh McLennan, rancher and host and producer of Spirit of the West:
" I haven't been able to put Cowboys & Buckaroos down ... This is the finest, most informative, best researched, most entertaining, clearly written, practical appropriate, timely, masterfully composed anthology, text book, manual, historical, educational document on the honorable profession some of us are blessed to be involved with that I've ever laid eyes on. And that includes the volumes of work from Ed Connell, Fay Ward, Ross Santee, Will James, Spike Van Cleve, Andy Russell, and all the others I've devoured...I can envision in the coming months, hordes of hopeful young hands riding out across the hills, reins in one hand and a copy of Cowboys & Buckaroos in the other."
About Tim O'Byrne
photo by Ernie Ohlson from Cowboys & Buckaroos
Tim O'Byrne, the son of a career Air Force man, began cowboying straight out of high school in 1977 west of Calgary, Alberta. He ventured to British Columbia where he rode for the Quilchena and Nicola Ranches and was Chapperon Division foreman at Douglas Lake Ranch. Interspersed throughout the 1980's were stints on the T Lazy S, the Gamble, and the JD Ranches in northern Nevada.
In 1991 he held the position of Gang Ranch cowboss. Later, he and his wife Christine, whom he married in 1985, moved to Alberta where Tim became a foreman at Van Raay Farms, a 90,000 head feedyard near Lethbridge.
In 1995 Tim and Christine sated a business, Calico Beef Consulting, to assist the beef industry with special projects. In 2002 they received the Alberta Farm Animal Care Association Award for Innovation and Communication.
Tim's first book, Cowboys and Dog Tales, (Caitlin Press) was released in 1997. He has been published many times in Canadian Cattlemen magazine and Western Horseman magazine. (See a list of books and publications here.) In 2003 Tim and Christine, along with their son Mark, relocated their consulting business to Christine's hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tim's web site is www.handlingcattle.com.
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