 One day I sat on a barstool next to an old cowboy. We
had just been to the funeral of a friend. Was the best
funeral I had ever been to, if you can call any of them good,
but that is a different story. The saloon was where they
were holding the wake. The nature of the gathering and the
refreshments prompted us to become somewhat philosophical. I
asked the man what he thought the word cowboy meant to him.
He said, "I'll never forget what my ol' dad told me. 'Bout
summed it up as good as can be said. He said a cowboy is
an honorable man."
We went on to tell more stories and
the day passed, but I haven't forgotten what he said. I
think "honorable" sums up what we mean by the term cowboy and its
appeal in this modern world. There are still real working
cowboys making their living horseback, tending cattle.
Doesn't mean they are always honest or perfect, but, as a group,
they are fiercely independent, have real goals and do meaningful
work.
In America, where 90% of the population
lives in urban areas, we find cowboys hard to see from
the road. However, that does not lessen the appeal of the
cowboy mystique and the cowboy way. People are looking for
something real. They look for heroes. The cowboy
lifestyle is real and people understand the difference between
work that matters, people who are honorable and the imposters
and "wannabes' of everyday life. Thousands of visitors come to
this web site every day to touch this lifestyle. Hope you enjoy
it. |
Below
we have links to articles on a wide range of western, cowboy,
and horse topics. Click on the titles that appeal to you.
We hope you enjoy the variety
of subjects presented and return often for new and updated
stories, training techniques, tips, and information.
Remember: This is your showcase. We welcome
submissions and comments. |
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Cowboy
Traditions: Ranches and Events |
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Cowboy Gear: Spurs |
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We are very interested in
hearing from collectors and users. Articles and photos are
welcomed. e-mail:
lee@cowboyshowcase.com |
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Cowboy Profiles: |
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Cowboy
Terms: An Illustrated Glossary
Have you ever wondered what a cowboy
term meant or where it came from? This section helps answer
some of these questions. We are continually adding terms and
explanatory photos. We welcome your input on other terms you
are curious about or terms you would like to share with the
other visitors. |
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Cowboy Showcase
Gallery: |
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Cowboy
Gear - Tips &
Tricks: |
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Cowboy Campfire
Yarns and Truths: |
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Cowboy Philosophy:
We really liked this
perspective on the Internet and the digital age written by
contributing cowboy
David Dill from Texas:
"Electronics and the digital
smoke signal we call the internet is having a profound effect on
our lives and many people do not realize it. The wonderful
thing to me is that we can share and preserve and expand some of
the traditional culture of our past and blend it to make a new
'cowboy culture' that will truly be a national treasure. It is
my feeling that cowboys from different backgrounds will continue
to get together and share using the technology that we now have
and it will have an effect on the cowboy culture that can
possibly equal the first sharing and exchange that took place
when the first South Texans trailed their steers north in the
great cattle drives after the un-Civil War." |
