There are those who believe the day of cowboys and horses is over. Some say trucks are more efficient than horses. Have the cowboy and his horse ridden off into the sunset? Are horses now just for rodeos, shows and trail rides?
I won't talk about the Amish in this post, even though they use horses for everything, other than to say that before Clinton Anderson moved to Texas, he lived in Ohio. When his horse acted up, he'd threaten to give him to the Amish - then the horse would learn what work really meant!
For the modern cowboy, is his trusty steed no longer needed? Can't he just hop in his truck and get to his cattle that way? Isn't a truck faster and more efficient than a horse? A truck won't spook or balk at going down the round. A truck doesn't know how to say no. Doesn't it make more sense to use something that seems to be more reliable?
The key word in the above paragraph is "seems." A truck doesn't have cow sense. If you've got narrow or rocky terrain, a horse can get into places a truck can't. A horse won't have engine trouble. A horse won't get a flat tire. A horse with cow sense can out-think a cow and maneuver reluctant cattle to where they need to be - whether it's branding, vaccination, turning a bull into a steer or whatever else needs to be done.
For some jobs, a truck is good enough. But when it comes to places it's impossible for a truck to go, only a horse will do.
As long as there are cattle to be worked and cowboys who know the value of a living, thinking partner, the working cowboy and his horse won't be riding off into the sunset just yet.
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