Eddard

Hi
I'm from Italy, I'm doing a small University research

I would like to know something about your passion for rodeos and horse riding.. I've been long trying to understand why this tradition is so strong in Texas and USA. Of course your history speaks clearly about this, but I would like to know you personal point of view also
Do you have any particular to tell me? funny story..
Being a Cowboy is just horses and rodeo or is something also in the way of dressing, behaving..?
do you have any special equipment for rodeos?

thanks!!

Shannon

Well, we're not all cowboys and rodeo veterans here in Texas. In fact, I can't remember the last time I attended a rodeo, and San Antonio's Livestock Show & Rodeo is one of the best around. I just don't like crowds, don't really have a thing for beer and loud music, and I like my wildlife in the wild. That said, the rodeo attracts all age groups and it's a fun way to get outdoors, see talented people (bull riders, calf ropers, dancers, musicians, etc.) and celebrate a part of our heritage -- when our ancestors depended on their cattle, horses and other livestock for survival and to support their families. It's also a reminder that there are still farming and ranching families today, and most rodeos have scholarships and awards set up that are available to young people following those professions.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
http://www.twitter.com/ageekgal

Cube

Howdy,

There really isn't time or space to give you all the information about Rodeo right here and right now.

Part of the reason that rodeo is such a part of Texas is that the root word is from Mexico. Spanish for "Round up" or "surround", the rodeo was when rough men met rough stock. The essential skills of the cowboy or stockman were needed for a successful round up. These men took great pride in their abilities, but the actual time spent working the stock was not the time to compare.

The first rodeos were often held by small towns or a collection of ranches. These events were for small prizes or bragging rights. Every hand took his turn and before long, the better hands were recognized. Over time, these celebrations have gotten larger and larger. The prize money is huge, the gear is specialized and frankly, the cowboys ain't cowboy. Like Shannon, I haven't been to a big stock show or rodeo in years.. but I do like the small town shows now and then.

Adios,

dwalsdorf

I am probably like a lot of guys who rode rodeo in high school, then left it in college. My skills were poor, so I drifted to saddle broncs. The real talent is in the roping events. In high school, the risks are less--we had no bulls of any size, and our broncs were fairly tame compared to the pro circuits you can see on TV nowadays. A lot of the allure comes from the history, which you mentioned. Guys like me who weren't raised on a ranch liked "being near" to that life. Funny, because most guys who were raised on a ranch couldn't wait to leave--I said most, not all.

Funniest stories usually centered around watching someone get sick on Skoal/Copenhagen (our snuff) when they started using it. Not that funny when it's your turn, though. There's no nausea like "dippin'" nausea...

Special equipment? The spitoon on the truck dash. Willie and Don Edwards in the truck's 8-track tape player. Pearl beer in the ice chest in the truck's bed that you can reach in through the trucks rear window.

ah, lost youth...

__________________
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell...it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

Eddard

I'm sorry for the long silence ^_^' I've been very busy...

That's fine! thank you very much for your answers
now..
I've read some text about the importance of Boots in rodeo, riding, roping etc.. is that so important? I've found many tipes of boots and different Brands: Lucchese, Nocona, Justin, Tony Lama..
Do they make part of you equipment?
Also I think to have understood that there're two big type of boots:
handmade and industry made. In the end of '90 the big industry, risen in the '80 for the Urban Cowboy craze, has seen a lowoering of sells, and so the small producers has risen.. but really I can't figure out which are considered the best from people...
Nocona for example: which type are they?

ps. Is it true that since 1948, traditionally, every USA President recieves a pair of Customized Tony Lama?

ps.2 forgive my english, and If you want correct me :P

dwalsdorf

Simply, the cut of a boot fits into stirrups, which is necessary when working on a horse. The uppers of a boot protect legs from riding in brush, etc...

Brands (makers) vary according to one's taste and pocketbooks. I always found Dan Post/Nocona the best for a fat foot. Luchesse means "expensive". Nowadays, the line between hand v. industry/machine made is blurred. I think it is more important to know a good bootman (cobbler) for the re-soling than whatever brand you start out with. And for the locals, the best I think is over on Fredercksburg Rd. just south of Callaghan. I have had 3 pairs of boots for over 15 years--including dress boots I wear almost every day with a suit. I have had them re-soled about 8 times total. YMMV.

dunno about the president story, but it sounds right.

__________________
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell...it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

Eddard

So is not so important the brand, but the way you mantain the quality of the boots over the year. That's very interesting, you simply give importance to you confort and not to the 'style', am I wrong?

I'm telling you this beacuse I've found a strange scenario about boots and Countr Style.
During my research I've found that Cowboys, and Country has a double nature.
One's related with all you've told me about rodeo, riding etc, and another one linked with the fashion. It's hard for me to understand this two way of using for example a pair of Tony Lama! On one hand are used as a confortable pair of boots that's really the best for riding, but on the other hand we have people that uses this kind of boots just because of their "style power", in a fashion way I'd say.
What do you think about this?

You give much importance to the 'wearing' behaviour of the boot: more confortable/cheap -> best
Others give importance on style: fashion -> best

4everfrio

A comfortable boot doesn't always mean a cheap boot. The old saying "you get what you paid for" mostly runs true on boots. One can buy a cheap pair of ropers for say $40.00. That's ok if you don't wear them alot. And, they may be fairly comfortable. But, you learn that those boots won't hold up to everyday use. Currently I am wearing Ariats and I love them. They are a middle of the road boot in price( $ 130.00).
To address the fashion side. I wish the movie Urban Cowboy wasn"t ever made. The only thing this movie did was to inflate the prices on western wear. Jeans, shirts, boots, belts , hats etc. went up in price. Everyone had to have their cowboy boots and accessories. It still goes on today.

Cowboy hats run the same course. One can buy a cheap felt hat for $75. It may last one season if you wear it alot. Or, one can buy a $200 dollar hat and it may last a long time. Sure it will start off as a dress hat and eventually work its way to everyday-working hat. Get it cleaned every once and a while and it will pay for itself. And when the end comes for it, it's like losing your best friend. Come on guys, you know it's true.
Adios, Ray

Eddard

Well, that's true.. Urban Cowboy gave a arge impulse to the Cowboy myth I think, and caused a rise of prices and, of course, of sells
Probably Madonna too, with Music and Don't Tell Me no?
Someone says even Bush has given an impulse to the Cowboy market, due to his origin.

About the quality/price: so it's true to say that a pair of 200$ Nocona means quality and durability. That's a good ending point, and is fairly differnt from the fashion beacuse it's not always true that a pair of Armani jeans for example has a long life, even if it has an high price. But now I could ask, a pair of Tony Lama of 500$ has a long life?

Shannon

Madonna helped inspire cowboy culture or western wear? Do explain... I am from the "Madonna generation" (meaning I grew up listening to her music and watching her morph into different types of music and "styles"), and I can't for a minute think of anything she's done that was remotely western/Texan/cowboy culture celebrating... I don't think I've ever seen in her a pair of cowboy boots.

I don't think I'd credit Bush (the current President, OR his father) for generating any greater interest in western wear, cowboy culture or whatnot. Texans are Texans. We were that way before Bush Jr. or Sr. came into office, and we'll be that way after the administration changes. We talk straight -- sometime's a little rough and tough -- and we're always proud of our state even though we know and accept that it's not perfect. We're friendly to strangers and friends alike, at least many of us are. LOTS of us drive pickup trucks (but then again, so do a LOT of Americans -- the bigger the vehicle, the better, seems to be our unspoken motto), but at least in Texas you can rest assured that some of the trucks are actual "work trucks" -- they're used on ranches and offroad, not just to shop at the mall. We don't all speak with a drawl or twang, but a lot of us do say "Ya'll" (you all) and have fun with our Texas heritage. We still talk about the Alamo and the Republic of Texas (when Texas was it's own, independent nation -- not a part of the United States -or- Mexico).

You should read up on Bandera, Texas -- they bill themselves as the "Cowboy Capitol of the World" and from my visits there, they aren't exaggerating.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
http://www.twitter.com/ageekgal

Shannon

It's just like anything else, really. Some people who wear cowboy boots, or a cowboy hat will never go to a rodeo or set foot on a ranch just because their lifestyle doesn't involve those things... but they just like the way the boots feel, how the boots make THEM feel, or how people react to them when they wear them. The same thing is true for any other clothing, really. Surely you've seen someone in a fitted leather jacket, like one some motorcyclists wear (for PROTECTION from the wind and weather as well as "road rash" if they crash), but yet many professionals and trendy young people also wear those same jackets -- because they're COOL, they're stylish and they have an image associated with them. Cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and boot cut jeans are the same way.

So, yes, "cowboy" is a complex thing to describe because it could refer to an actual cowboy -- someone who either works on a ranch herding cattle and breaking horses or competing in rodeo events -- but it also could mean just the style and image of cowboys -- their music (country music), their laid-back but confident personalities, their way of dressing and the things they do.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
http://www.twitter.com/ageekgal

Cube

Howdy,

I'm not sure how to give you a primer on Texas and Cowboy culture.. it's pretty complicated.

Boots are as different as their uses, they are part status symbol and part essential equipment. They can be as bold as neon or as subtle as dust. Once you find a bootmaker with a "last" or foot base that works for you, then you tend to not stray. I wear Tony Lamas because they fit me.

I'd suggest that you continue to search the internet and read different sources of information.. then you might check back here and get some perspective on what you've found. Seems like we got a few folks who know a thing or two.

Adios,

__________________
Hal Skaggs

Eddard

Sure, but really It's difficult for an Italian to understand what happens in the USA
All I can do is read books, interviews, reports and forums and try to understand this scenario. And really you're giving me a great advice.

Really? Probably for me is different, beacuse I don't see every time the cowboy life and when something of that world appears it emerges. Have you ever seen the video of "Don't Tell Me" and "Music"? She wears Cowboy boots and hat, in two different ways. In Don't Tell Me she try to appear as a real cowboy/worker in the USA, in Music the same type od clothes are used in a personal and stylish way to create a new trend. And she did create a new trend in some way.
In some way it's like when you say:

And this two worlds, the real cowboys one and the normal people too, are the ones I'm trying to understand

dwalsdorf

It's a little of both. All of my boots are comfortable. I wouldn't wear them if they weren't comfortable (like some women wear high heels and hate them, but do so because they "look good"). However, as a professional, I need boots during the day that look "dressy". Just about any well-oiled skin will do, if it is kept clean. I have black bullhides. They last long, never scratch, are easy to clean and oil, very low-maintenance.

Since you are from Italy, let's talk Ferrari for a comparison (a very expensive one) There are thos ewho can afford a Ferrari and keep it as a "statement" about who they are (and how much they make) They have never been to a F1 race, nor have they an appreciation for the marque. However, there are those who acquire one, run the Ferrari Challenge, and USE the car for its intended purpose--a track car. This "two way of using an example a Ferrari"...do you get my message? There are all sorts of reasons that different folks use or own things--from the breed of dogs to the coffee they drink. You have picked a vast topic to research.

Just know that Texas is varied as are other places. We are proud of our heritage, especially those of us actually FROM the state.

__________________
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell...it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.