| Don't Wave at a Man on a Horse | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 15 2012, 03:02 PM (338 Views) | |
| Mason | Mar 15 2012, 03:02 PM Post #1 |
|
Parts unknown
|
. The Code of the West "Back in the days when the cowman with his herds made a new frontier, there was no law on the range. Lack of written law made it necessary for him to frame some of his own, thus developing a rule of behavior which became known as the "Code of the West." These homespun laws, being merely a gentleman’s agreement to certain rules of conduct for survival, were never written into statutes, but were respected everywhere on the range. Though the cowman might break every law of the territory, state and federal government, he took pride in upholding his own unwritten code. His failure to abide by it did not bring formal punishment, but the man who broke it became, more or less, a social outcast. His friends ‘hazed him into the cutbacks’ and he was subject to the punishment of the very code he had broken. Though the Code of the West was always unwritten, here is a "loose" list of some of the guidelines: * Don't inquire into a person's past. Take the measure of a man for what he is today. * Never steal another man's horse. A horse thief pays with his life. * Defend yourself whenever necessary. * Look out for your own. * Remove your guns before sitting at the dining table. * Don't make a threat without expecting dire consequences. * Never pass anyone on the trail without saying "Howdy". * When approaching someone from behind, give a loud greeting before you get within shooting range. * Don't wave at a man on a horse, as it might spook the horse. A nod is the proper greeting. * After you pass someone on the trail, don't look back at him. It implies you don't trust him. * Riding another man's horse without his permission is nearly as bad as making love to his wife. Never even bother another man's horse. * Always fill your whiskey glass to the brim. * A cowboy doesn't talk much; he saves his breath for breathing. * No matter how weary and hungry you are after a long day in the saddle, always tend to your horse's needs before your own, and get your horse some feed before you eat. * Cuss all you want, but only around men, horses and cows. * Complain about the cooking and you become the cook. * Always drink your whiskey with your gun hand, to show your friendly intentions. * Do not practice ingratitude. * A cowboy is pleasant even when out of sorts. Complaining is what quitters do, and cowboys hate quitters. * Always be courageous. Cowards aren't tolerated in any outfit worth its salt. * A cowboy always helps someone in need, even a stranger or an enemy. * Never try on another man's hat. * Be hospitable to strangers. Anyone who wanders in, including an enemy, is welcome at the dinner table. The same was true for riders who joined cowboys on the range. * Give your enemy a fighting chance. * Never wake another man by shaking or touching him, as he might wake suddenly and shoot you. * Real cowboys are modest. A braggert who is "all gurgle and no guts" is not tolerated. * Be there for a friend when he needs you. * Drinking on duty is grounds for instant dismissal and blacklisting. * A cowboy is loyal to his "brand," to his friends, and those he rides with. * Never shoot an unarmed or unwarned enemy. This was also known as "the rattlesnake code": always warn before you strike. However, if a man was being stalked, this could be ignored. * Never shoot a woman no matter what. * Consideration for others is central to the code, such as: Don't stir up dust around the chuckwagon, don't wake up the wrong man for herd duty, etc. * Respect the land and the environment by not smoking in hazardous fire areas, disfiguring rocks, trees, or other natural areas. * Honesty is absolute - your word is your bond, a handshake is more binding than a contract. * Live by the Golden Rule. http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-codewest.html Edited by Mason, Mar 15 2012, 03:04 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| LTC8K6 | Mar 15 2012, 03:11 PM Post #2 |
|
Assistant to The Devil Himself
|
Don't just walk into another man's camp, especially at night. Stop outside the area and say hello and ask for permission to enter. "Hello the camp!" will do nicely, but basically just announce yourself and your intentions before barging in. |
![]() |
|
| Rusty Dog | Mar 15 2012, 03:35 PM Post #3 |
|
This sounds just like The Pioneer Woman's husband, Marlboro Man! (Pioneer Woman, aka Ree Drummond, writes a great blog at http://thepioneerwoman.com/ about living on a large cattle ranch with her husband and four kids, cooking and photography. Marlboro Man, aka Ladd Drummond, appears to be an adherant to this Code of the West, strong, silent, polite, intelligent and extremely hard working.) Thanks for posting this. I love it!
Edited by Rusty Dog, Mar 15 2012, 03:36 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| Deleted User | Mar 15 2012, 05:15 PM Post #4 |
|
Deleted User
|
Many of these rules of the West are pertinent today. I plan to pass along to my children. Great post! |
|
|
| Baldo | Mar 15 2012, 06:02 PM Post #5 |
|
Real cowboys are modest. A braggert who is "all gurgle and no guts" is not tolerated. Well we know who wouldn't make it back in the west. |
![]() |
|
| Deleted User | Mar 15 2012, 07:18 PM Post #6 |
|
Deleted User
|
I sent this list to my college son only to have a reply that he only "drinks with his gun hand". That was not the response I was looking for. I was looking for someone to respond more like Matt Dillion rescuing Miss Dolly from a saloon brawl. |
|
|
| Mason | Mar 15 2012, 08:24 PM Post #7 |
|
Parts unknown
|
You can lead a horse to water.... I like the one that says, complain about the cooking and you become the cook. . Edited by Mason, Mar 15 2012, 08:34 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| Toast | Mar 15 2012, 08:47 PM Post #8 |
|
well, gee. I complain about government cooking all the time, and they never let me be President. |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · LIESTOPPERS UNDERGROUND · Next Topic » |






7:49 PM Jul 10