Comes A Horseman

On American cattle ranches and in the livestock industry, there are distinctly different groups of “Cowboys.”   Some cowboys of Nevada, California, Idaho and Oregon refer to themselves as “Buckaroos,”.  In Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico they often call themselves “Cowpunchers”.   Montana, Wyoming, Colorado & the Dakotas are where you find self proclaimed “Cowboys”.  They all use vastly different styles of clothing, hats, chaps, spurs and gear.  Differences have evolved from variations in culture, climate, terrain & plant life.  In this sculpture Bill is depicting the classic “Buckaroo,” showing his short chaps called “Chinks,” fancy leather wrist Cuffs, flat brimmed hat with a long braided Stampede string, large scarf, or “Wild Rag,” and his spurs with “ginglebobs”.   To the Buckaroo, horses are premier in their work, while cattle are useful as a training tool for the horse, considering themselves “horsemen” first and cattlemen second. With the Buckaroo, it seems a matter of attitude and pride, and they have plenty of it!!  We see that attitude, self-assurance and pride as he strides and says here Comes a Horseman.