| Most folks wouldn't automatically conclude that | | | | close up the gap by riding in front of someone, |
| cowboys have manners, but in my day, most | | | | however, you needed to apologize as soon as |
| cowboys were considered true gentlemen. The | | | | possible. |
| tipping of the hat to a lady still applies in many | | | | You never handled another cowboy's hat, unless |
| cases, but let's examine some less familiar forms | | | | given permission, other wise this was grounds for |
| of cowboy etiquette. | | | | a fist fight. Never set your hat on a bed either, |
| Growing up on a ranch in NE New Mexico brought | | | | although I think this had more to do with |
| numerous lessons in cowboy conduct, many of | | | | superstition than manners of any kind. It's |
| which are still alive in today's less formal | | | | supposed to bring bad luck. |
| environment. To go to a dance in most places | | | | One summer while helping neighbors brand, they |
| meant leaving your hat on the table while you | | | | had a chuck wagon, which we gathered at for |
| were dancing (upside down, of course, to protect | | | | meals. One cowboy had been consistently |
| the brim). Spurs were never worn on a dance | | | | disrespectful and uncaring about the cowboy |
| floor, even if you felt they looked cool. | | | | code, and one afternoon it all came to a head. He |
| This code was even more pronounced while out | | | | was introduced to the age old tradition of |
| working on the ranch. We, who were fortunate | | | | chapping. |
| enough to live the life, learned the lessons, | | | | Several cowboys grabbed him and held him over |
| sometimes the hard way. One sure way of | | | | the tongue of the chuck wagon, while an older |
| earning a cowboy's contempt was to ride in front | | | | cowboy took off his chaps and proceeded to |
| of him, or between him and the herd. | | | | whip him across the back side with the chaps. |
| When gathering cattle, the riders converged on a | | | | This hurt the ego, much more than the rear end. |
| pasture in a way similar to an army surrounding | | | | I think the "chappers" got more out of it than the |
| the enemy. Dropping off riders until one end of | | | | "chapee," as it certainly didn't improve his |
| the pasture was fully enveloped; they converged | | | | disposition, but it was a lesson for us all in the |
| simultaneously in a wide loop and remained in the | | | | code of the cowboy. |
| same formation, as the loop squeezed the cattle | | | | Cowboy courtesy is alive and well today, but the |
| toward the corral or gate you were heading for. | | | | lines have been somewhat blurred by our |
| A cowboy who got out of this formation was in | | | | permissive society. I've always felt it was an |
| for a difficult time. | | | | honor to be a cowboy, something to be proud of. |
| This could call for some tricky decisions, especially | | | | Mutual respect between cowboys should always |
| if you were riding next to someone who didn't | | | | be the norm. Let's keep the tradition alive, and |
| know what they were doing. It was considered | | | | allow the dream of the American cowboy to live |
| ok, though, if the cattle were getting away, to | | | | on. |