What was life like on the cattle drive?

What was life like on the cattle drive?

Life on the trail was long and lonely. Most drives lasted 3-5 months depending on the distance they needed to travel and delays they experienced along the way. A typical drive could cover 15-25 miles per day. Although it was important to arrive at their destination on time, the cattle needed time to rest and graze.

What did cowboys do on cattle drives?

They herded cattle, repaired fences and buildings, and took care of the horses. Cowboys often worked on cattle drives. This was when a large herd of cattle was moved from the ranch to a market place where they could be sold. A lot of the original cattle drives went from Texas to the railroads in Kansas.

What did Cowboys do after reaching the end of a cattle drive?

When the cowboys hit a trail’s end town like Abilene or Dodge City, Kansas, after some two months on the drive, the first thing they did was draw their pay and head for the barber shop to get a bath and shave. That would cost six bits or 75 cents. Next, they shed their duds at the mercantile store and got some new ones.

What was the dangers of the cattle drive?

In addition to hard work, the cowboy and his horse encountered many dangers on the cattle drive, particularly when crossing rivers. If the leader of the cattle was distracted or disturbed by a tree or brush floating in the river he might turn around, which would turn the entire herd around, causing them to “mill” in the river.

How did the cattle drive come to North America?

The practice was introduced to North America early during European colonization. As early as 1540, Spaniards established a cattle industry and began driving herds northward from central Mexico, as they looked for good pasturage.

Are there any diaries from the cattle drive?

Cowboys keeping diaries on the cattle drive was rare. The book, Trail Driving Days, does mention one diary kept by an early cowboy on a south Texas to Iowa trail drive in the year 1866. This was about ten years before cattle were driven up the long Western Trail to Dodge City.