Return to Questions and Answers Index Q&A Questions and Answers: QUESTION: How did the draft horse get its name? B. M. ANSWER: The word “draft” is a corrupted spelling of “draught” [pronounced draft] which eventually found its way into common usage. It means “to drag, draw, or pull along.” A draft horse is one that […]
Return to Questions and Answers Index Q&A Questions and Answers: QUESTION: Dear Bob, I am worried about my 20 year old, part thoroughbred, 17 hands horse who is repeatedly getting colic. We live in Tenerife in the Canary Islands off Morrocco, which has a rocky desert climate. Consequently there is no grazing and it is […]
Osnaburg Osnaburg — a type of course, strong, plain-weave tow linen or canvas, often left in its natural color. Originally imported from Osnaburg, Germany, it was commonly used as a top on covered wagons — such as the restored Matador Ranch chuck wagon shown above — as well as for feed sacks and some items […]
Oregon Short Line An Oregon Short Line — A device attached under the horse’s belly to the inner face of both stirrups to keep them down during rough rides. Photo by William A. Wilson, courtesy Library of Congress. Digital ID afc96ran 45507
Return to Questions and Answers Index Q&A Questions and Answers: QUESTION: Dear Cowboy Bob, I ran across your site and was happy to read that on your farthest point out on a trail ride you give your horse a treat sometimes. I’m glad to hear you say you do things you know you’re not supposed […]
Wallow A horse wallowing in a sandy wallow. In the old west, some buffalo wallows were deep enough to serve as shelters during combat. In September of 1874, army scouts Amos Chapman and William “Billy” Dixon, along with four cavalry soldiers, successfully held off a 36-hour assault by some 125 Indian warriors by taking refuge […]
Quirt A whip usually consisting of a long tapered flexible length of braided leather attached to a stiff handle; used for driving livestock. When given a sharp snapping action, the tip of the whip can exceed 760 mph, producing a small sonic boom. Whips were thus the first man-made implements to break the sound barrier. […]
Jimsonweed Jimsonweed is a very poisonous range weed having foul-smelling foliage, large trumpet-shaped flowers, and prickly fruits. Scientific name: Datura stramonium. Also called Jimmyweed, Gypsum Weed, Stink Weed, Loco Weed, Jamestown Weed, Thorn Apple, Devil’s Trumpet, Devil’s Snare, and more. Public domain image courtesy of Leo Michels.
Milk Run Unloading cans of milk from early morning “milk run” train at Montrose, Colorado, in September of 1940. A Milk Run is a trip or activity which can accomplished at a leisurely pace and with little effort. A routine and uneventful trip, especially on a dangerous mission. A milk run was originally a railroad […]
Joshua Tree In 1964, Leatha got her first view of a Joshua Tree in California’s Mojave Desert. When California explorer Captain John C. Frémont first saw a Joshua Tree, he proclaimed it, “the most repulsive tree in the vegetable kingdom.” In an interesting example of symbiosis, the Joshua tree requires pollination by the yucca moth […]
Medicine Hat Sioux Indians riding Medicine Hats around 1890. Notice the dark color on the ears and top of the head as well as the colored “shields” on the horses’ chests. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Mecate A multi-purpose long rope that serves as reins, lead rope, quirt, and more. In Spanish, the word “mecate” means “rope” or “cord.” Here the mecate is connected to a bosal. For more detail, see Q&A #284 — “What’s a mecate?” Photo by Bob Lemen. All Rights Reserved. Special thanks to Cowpokes Work & Western1812 […]
Return to Questions and Answers Index Q&A Questions and Answers: QUESTION: What does the word “mustang” mean, and how did the breed originate? S. Q. ANSWER: It is generally assumed that the word “Mustang” comes from a Spanish word — possibly “mestengo” or “mesteño,” — meaning a “stray, feral, or ownerless” horse. The word, it […]
Talus Talus or Scree, a sloping mass of loose rocks and boulders at the foot of a mountain. This uneven, unstable, rocky ground usually makes for difficult travel for both man and beast. Photo by Nova Development Corp. Used under license.