Livestock herders in the Americas arose from a tradition based in Spain and Portugal, who brought their riding and herding skills with them when Mexico and California were colonized in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, many of the skills of the western ‘cowboy’ can be attributed to these early vaqueros and their mastery of… Continue reading Vaqueros
During the second half of the 19th century, western USA (which was considered any area west of the Mississippi River) became a major center of growth for American colonizers. Cowboys and their cattle, horses and the small towns that revolved around them were the trademarks of the Wild West. This expansion led to the unification… Continue reading The Wild West
A large part of the population of the Old West made their living based on the cattle trade, either directly or indirectly. During this time, there were many instances of cattle theft which could take place for different reasons. Native Americans would often steal a few cattle to feed their tribe, during times of shortage.… Continue reading Cattle Rustling in the Wild West – A Rancher’s Worst Nightmare
The Spaniards were the first set of people who drove cattle from one area to another, in the Americas. During the 19th century the scale on which this was done rapidly increased, as Americans began eating more beef than pork. The peak years of cattle driving were between 1866 and 1886, when over 20 million… Continue reading Cattle Trails in 19th Century America
The term cattle rustling is derived from the cowboy culture of the Old West, and is used in America in regards to the raiding of ranches. Rustlers were very rarely arrested but it was still considered a serious offence, and vigilantes took matters into their own hands normally lynching the accused. The introduction of fenced… Continue reading Cattle Rustling
Carl Dane - Western Author 