Cowpokes, also known as cowboys, paniolos or vaqueros, manage livestock on ranches. The occupation originated from early settlers acquiring large numbers of cattle, and the vaquero was the predecessor of the cowpoke. Cowpokes must be skilled riders and comfortable around livestock, and they use horses, dogs, and equipment such as chaps and hats. Although the days of massive ranching are over, cowpokes are still an important part of many ranching communities.
A cowpoke is a hired ranch hand who is responsible for managing the livestock. Cowboys may also be referred to as cowboys, paniolos or vaqueros, depending on the region of the world under discussion. Although the days of massive ranching in the Americas are over, cowpokes are still an important part of many ranching communities, and this occupation is still alive and well, though much smaller than it once was.
The cowpoke occupation arose when early settlers in the Americas began acquiring large numbers of cattle. These cattle could not be handled by a single family and needed hired staff who could move, handle and prepare them for slaughter. Many of these settlers were Spanish, and the vaquero was the predecessor of the cowpoke. The sheer size of these ranches required cowboys to work on horseback, leading to a lifelong association between cowpokes and their horses.
A cowpoke must be talented in many fields. He or she is a skilled rider, able to handle a horse and work with the animal to achieve common goals. Cowpokes must also be comfortable around livestock, sometimes in large numbers, and often perform basic medical care for both horses and cows. On very large spreads, a Cowpoke can spend a fair amount of time away from the ranch, camping out in the field with other Cowpokes, who take turns preparing food.
A number of pieces of equipment are brought onto the field by a cowpoke. The horses wear an assortment of tack suited to long days in the saddle and hard work, and the horses also carry saddlebags and packs with supplies including medical tools, rope for catching cattle, rifles and ammunition, and food. A cowpoke can also use dogs to assist in herding cattle. The Cowpokes also have practical items that have become iconic, including chaps to protect their legs and large floppy hats to protect their eyes from the sun.
The spread of railroads across the West slowly separated once huge ranches. While this changed the role of cowpoke in the Americas, it did not eliminate the tradition entirely. Many ranches keep a staff of farmhands on hand to assist with the handling of livestock, and many of these farmhands are steeped in a tradition of individualism, honor, and astonishing kindness to animals. People who want to work on ranches in this capacity typically start young; many Cowpokes are offspring of ranch and Cowpoke families who pass on their skills.
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