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
Tag: vaqueros
New Mexico – The Wild West Era
Located in the southwestern region of the United States, New Mexico became the 47th State of the Union on January 6, 1912. After the American-Mexico War, Texas ceded much of the land they had previously laid claim to and congress acknowledged New Mexico as part of America in September 1850. The History of the Cowboy… Continue reading New Mexico – The Wild West Era
Cattle Trails in 19th Century America
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