Cowboy & Horse Charms

Hundreds of years before the American cowboy, there was the vaquero, an expert horseman renowned for his ability to herd cattle and prowess with a lasso.

The original vaqueros were primarily Indigenous American men who wrangled cattle on horseback. However, a long-forgotten history of horsemanship in the Americas connects the vaqueros to the colonial past.

By the late 1700s, the vaqueros, derived from the Spanish word vaca (cow), would become renowned for their abilities and adaptability as Spain expanded its North American empire westward. Before the widespread adoption of cattle branding and modern ranching styles, Rangel asserts, the work of vaqueros was critical in a culture where food was frequently scarce.

While Spaniards have a long history of horsemanship, life on the rugged terrain of North America demanded something more. What distinguishes the vaquero from other horseback riders is their ability to braid rope. They fashioned their saddles. They tamed wild horses and threw the lasso.

In the mid-nineteenth century, the United States expanded its railroad network westward, and cowboys played a critical role in its “Manifest Destiny,” as westward expansion resulted in a constantly shifting frontier.

They rounded up and herded livestock shipped across the country by rail for sale. Cowboys would brand the cattle to indicate which ranch they belonged to by burning a unique mark. Between eight and twelve cowboys were required to move about three thousand cattle.

By the end of the Civil Way, the Northern beef supply was already depleted, thereby expanding the need for more cattle. Additionally, the expansion of the meatpacking industry boosted beef consumption.

By 1866, millions of longhorn cattle had been rounded up and herded into railroad depots. Cattle were sold for as much as $40 per head to northern markets.

Ranching remained popular into the late nineteenth century. White settlers were permitted to claim public lands as “open range” to raise purchased cattle on the Great Plains.

However, by the 1890s, the majority of land had been privatized due to the resolution of land ownership disputes and the widespread use of barbed wire.