C&T Publications Eye on Fine Art Photography - July 2014 | Page 24

© Tommy Anderson

Cowboy Etiquette
By Jay Hopson

Most folks wouldn't automatically conclude that cowboys have manners, but in my day, most cowboys were considered true
gentlemen. The tipping of the hat to a lady still applies in many cases, but let's examine some less familiar forms of cowboy
etiquette.
Growing up on a ranch in NE New Mexico brought numerous lessons in cowboy conduct, many of which are still alive in today's
less formal environment. To go to a dance in most places meant leaving your hat on the table while you were dancing (upside down,
of course, to protect the brim). Spurs were never worn on a dance floor, even if you felt they looked cool.
This code was even more pronounced while out working on the ranch. We, who were fortunate enough to live the life, learned the
lessons, sometimes the hard way. One sure way of earning a cowboy's contempt was to ride in front of him, or between him and the
herd.
When gathering cattle, the riders converged on a pasture in a way similar to an army surrounding the enemy. Dropping off riders
until one end of the pasture was fully enveloped; they converged simultaneously in a wide loop and remained in the same formation,
as the loop squeezed the cattle toward the corral or gate you were heading for. A cowboy who got out of this formation was in for a
difficult time.
This could call for some tricky decisions, especially if you were riding next to someone who didn't know what they were doing. It
was considered okay, though, if the cattle were getting away, to close up the gap by riding in front of someone, however, you needed
to apologize as soon as possible.
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