Traffic on the rural roads of Northern New Mexico tells the story of the season of the year, and the weather expected to come. In the last few weeks, a careful observer of these winding little roads would have seen a lot of diesel pickup trucks hauling cattle trailers. Ranchers favor a diesel because it can pull a heavier load than a gasoline engine. The trailers are empty as they head towards higher elevations. When you see these trailers coming down out of the mountains, you know without looking there are cattle in those trailers. Here, like many rural places, there is a rhythm to life. Elevation means cooler temperatures. For most of us, cooler temperatures are good in the summer, but could be deadly in the winter. This is especially true in high mountain country like Northern New Mexico. Because of this, somebody has to go get the cows that have spent the summer at higher elevation.
For the modern cowboy, business as usual means trucks and trailers. But there are rare exceptions-a vanishing breed-who throw a saddle on a horse, get the dog and any sons old enough to reliably ride a horse, and head for higher elevation to drive the cattle back down the mountain. I love these men, and the life that may disappear with their generation. The men in this picture live in Cuba, a small rural town in Northern New Mexico. That little town has a median household income of about $21,000 per year. These guys are tough and lean. They can live on less than anyone you will ever know. But supporting your family through thick and thin on $21,000 per year is becoming impossible. Horse riding cowboys are a vanishing breed of men.
When you watch them drive the herd, you are seeing something they learned from their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Each cowboy has a leather whip, but I have never seen it used to strike the cows. Instead they have a very efficient motion that, with a snap of the wrist causes the whip to make a loud crack. The riders use the crack of the whip to move the cows away from danger, or towards some intended goal. The youngest boys are at the back of the herd, which is the safest spot. In addition to their safety, the back of the herd is a great place for kids who love to practice and/or showoff their ?whip-cracking? skills. Cows are motivated to keep moving with all those little ?whip-cracking? kids at the back.
I know the practical reasons why the kids were at the back. But as I watched the herd recede, the older cowboys now out of sight-only the boys left-it seemed like a metaphor for their way of life. These boys will probably not get the chance to pass on their riding, whip cracking skills to their children. And I think we will all be the poorer for it.
For the modern cowboy, business as usual means trucks and trailers. But there are rare exceptions-a vanishing breed-who throw a saddle on a horse, get the dog and any sons old enough to reliably ride a horse, and head for higher elevation to drive the cattle back down the mountain. I love these men, and the life that may disappear with their generation. The men in this picture live in Cuba, a small rural town in Northern New Mexico. That little town has a median household income of about $21,000 per year. These guys are tough and lean. They can live on less than anyone you will ever know. But supporting your family through thick and thin on $21,000 per year is becoming impossible. Horse riding cowboys are a vanishing breed of men.
When you watch them drive the herd, you are seeing something they learned from their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Each cowboy has a leather whip, but I have never seen it used to strike the cows. Instead they have a very efficient motion that, with a snap of the wrist causes the whip to make a loud crack. The riders use the crack of the whip to move the cows away from danger, or towards some intended goal. The youngest boys are at the back of the herd, which is the safest spot. In addition to their safety, the back of the herd is a great place for kids who love to practice and/or showoff their ?whip-cracking? skills. Cows are motivated to keep moving with all those little ?whip-cracking? kids at the back.
I know the practical reasons why the kids were at the back. But as I watched the herd recede, the older cowboys now out of sight-only the boys left-it seemed like a metaphor for their way of life. These boys will probably not get the chance to pass on their riding, whip cracking skills to their children. And I think we will all be the poorer for it.
