14 DAY TRIAL // A cowboy would be the one who tends cattle and horses on ranches in North and South America.
The cowboy is normally an animal herder most commonly in charge of the horses and/or cattle, whereas the wrangler's work is more specifically related to horses. Today, many cowboys, in addition to working on the ranch, take part in rodeos, and many cowboys only participate in the rodeo.
The XIXth century cowboy is a legendary figure in American history, as the first settlers of the wild west of North America. It is said about cow-boys they were carrying their home with them.
The secret consisted in their special saddles, from which they didn't get down a whole day, without harming themselves or the horses.
A cowboy's saddle is a really comfortable seat, well fitted, crafted with maximum care for the horseman and horse.
A high quality product, the saddle allowed the cowboy to keep on riding for 15 hours, without wounding the horse.
The saddle itself could last 30 years!
The cowboys' saddle is not an invention, but an adaptation of the saddle of the Spanish hidalgos (knights) from the XVIth century, which was tall both in front and behind.
What was the cowboy saddle made of?
First, the saddle was sedated over a thick leather fender, which protected the horse's back and concurred to the saddle's stability.
The saddle was secured to the animal by a long and strong leather cinch.
In front, there was a steel horn covered in leather. The horn was used as a lasso hanger.
On the rear there was an oblique cantle that allowed the horseman to bend in order to launch his lasso.
On the flanks, there were two wide leather "skirts" which protected the horse against the feet and the boots of the rider.
The stirrup is made of a sole piece of skin, making it this way simpler and more resistant.
Various strings served for binding or hanging all kinds of necessary or unexpected objects.