Cask A water cask mounted on the side of a restored chuck wagon from the famous Matador ranch. A portable supply of water was essential when moving between camps where water might be scarce or even non-existent. Photo by Bob Lemen. All rights reserved.
Canine Tooth The canine tooth is a large tooth located in the long gap (the bar) between the incisor teeth and the molars. Although normally seen only in males, females sometimes have canine teeth, but they are usually seen as small bumps in the bar or as very small teeth. Canine teeth usually appear when […]
Camas Usually harvested in late June or July, Camas roots contain an indigestible sugar which changes to a fructose sugar after the root is cooked. The roots were sometimes boiled down into a syrup, but more often roasted in earthen pits. Another plant, Death Camas, is of similar appearance, but has white or yellowish flowers. […]
California Style Reining Cowboy Bob holding the reins California style. With this method, the reins enter the hand from below and leave between the thumb and index finger. The reining action is similar to that of operating a joy-stick. It has the advantage of keeping the hand in a more normal, relaxed position, rather than […]
Blevins Buckle A Blevins Buckle is an extremely dangerous and frequently difficult to adjust stirrup buckle, often mistakenly touted as a “quick-release” buckle. Comprised of two interlocking metal slides, if the parts of a Blevins Buckle are loose enough to adjust easily, the buckle tends to fall apart when in use, leaving the rider without […]
Breeching Dick Gusky adjusts a pack saddle on Nevada’s Grayson Ranch. Note the breeching — or britchin — straps across the animal’s rear. Photo courtesy Library of Congress. William A. Wilson, photographer.
Bunkhouse Cowboy relaxing on his bed in the bunkhouse on the Walking X Ranch in Texas, 1939. Photo courtesy of Farm Security Administration – Office of War Information Photograph Collection, Library of Congress.
Barbed Wire A coil of barbed wire rests on a wood corner post. The weight and tension of a wire fence mean that corners need to be strongly reinforced to keep the fence from sagging or even collapsing. Invented and first patented in 1867 by Lucien B. Smith of Kent, Ohio, barbed wire was subsequently […]
Hoodlum Wagon Chuckwagon and Hoodlum Wagon, on the M W Ranch roundup, 1911. According to Dictionary of the American West by Winfred Blevins, the Hoodlum Wagon was usually driven by the “Hood” — the wrangler who watched over the horse herd at night. Photo courtesy of www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com.
Hidebound Stirrup A hidebound stirrup with leather tread. Untanned hide is fitted over the core of the stirrup, tightly laced with latigo leather, then allowed to dry and harden. In addition to providing a tough cover, the rawhide gives extra rigidity to the stirrup as it shrinks. Photo by Bob Lemen. All Rights Reserved.
Bosal A Bosal is a noseband hackamore, usually made of braided rawhide. Similar to a side-pull hackamore — except that the reins are attached below the jaw — it is a fairly gentle control, working by swinging the head to the side and putting pressure on the nose when pulling back on the reins. […]
Double Tongue Roller Buckle The Double Tongue Roller Buckle is a time-honored method of adjusting the length of a stirrup. As the name implies, the Double Tongue Roller Buckle has an extra tongue for extra security as well as reducing strain on the stirrup holes, and a roller to reduce wear and to allow freer […]
Half Eagle A former United States gold coin worth 5 dollars. Beginning in 1795, the United States Mint produced a $10 gold coin commonly referred to as an “Eagle” because of the large portrait of that bird on the reverse of the coin. Subsequently, $20 gold pieces were popularly called “Double Eagles” and the $5 […]
Hooey Jeremy Wagner of Hillman, Minnesota, completes his hooey in a calf roping competition. A hooey in calf roping is a hogtie around any three feet, as opposed to the usual method of tying two legs. Photo by Bob Lemen. All rights reserved.