Cowboys are so-called not because they ride cows but because, back in the day, they used to herd cows. To herd cows out in the pasture, cowboys needed a “vehicle” that could outrun a cow and could bring back a cow separated from the herd.
And the only “vehicle” that cowboys in the olden days had that could do both was… a horse!
But in modern times, why do cowboys ride horses and not cows? Why not ride a well-trained cow instead?
Let’s find out why …
Why Do Cowboys Ride Horses and Not Cows?
Cowboys choose to ride horses and not cows for the following reasons:
- Cowboys need to control the animal they ride
- Cows aren’t fast enough – Cowboys need a fast animal to ride
- Horses are better at navigating in rough terrain with a rider than are cows
- Horses provide cowboys with transportation and help them carry supplies
- A horse can help a cowboy corral cows whereas another cow cannot
Now let’s look closely at each of these reasons why cowboys ride horses and not cows.
#1. Cowboys need to control the animal they ride
One of the basic requirements for cowboys is that they need to be able to control the animal they are riding. This is why cows are not used as mounts by cowboys. Cows are simply not as easy to control as horses.
Cowboys need their mounts to be obedient and responsive to commands. Cows, on the other hand, are not as easily trained as horses and are generally less reliable as mounts. Horses are also built in a way that they can be ridden while cows are not.
The human-horse communication too is better than that between humans and cows. Cowboys and horses have a special bond – they understand each other in a way that cowboys and cows never could.
And humans and horses are similar in many ways. This helps create a bond between rider and mount in a way that is simply not possible with cows. And so helping herd cows is one of the prime uses of a horse on a farm.
#2. Cows aren’t fast enough – Cowboys need a fast animal to ride
Another reason why cowboys choose to ride horses and not cows is that cows are simply not as fast as horses. Cowboys need a fast animal to ride so that they can keep up with the cows they are trying to herd.
Horses can run very fast and can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour whereas cows max out at around 15 miles per hour. So you can imagine how ridiculous it will be for a cowboy to control a herd of cows while riding another slow cow.
A fast horse can also be useful when the cowboy, following a grazing herd of cows, is far from the ranch or farm and needs to rush back in a hurry.
#3. Horses are better at navigating in rough terrain with a rider than are cows
Horses are also more agile than cows and can navigate their way through rough terrain more easily. Of course, if the cows are already in rough terrain this means the terrain is fine for the cows.
But cows are simply not built to carry a human on their back and will often struggle in terrain that is challenging for them. This is why, when the going gets tough, you’ll see cowboys riding horses and not cows.
#4. Horses provide cowboys with transportation and help them carry supplies
Another benefit of horses is that they can carry supplies for the cowboys. This is important because cowboys often need to travel long distances and need to be self-sufficient.
Horses can help carry food, water, and other supplies that the cowboy might need on their journey. This is why horses are such an important part of the cowboy lifestyle and another reason why cowboys ride horses and not cows.
#5. A horse can help a cowboy corral cows whereas another cow cannot
Just like mounted police, a cowboy on a horse is much better equipped to control a herd of cows than a cowboy on foot or on another cow.
In the pecking order of animals, cows see horses as being above them in the hierarchy. This means that a horse can help control a herd of cows whereas another cow won’t be listened to.
A horse can also be used to help separate cows from the herd, which is often necessary when a cowboy is trying to round them up.
The Sum up
So there you have it, five reasons why cowboys ride horses and not cows. Cowboys need to be able to control their mounts, they need a fast animal to ride, horses are better at navigating in rough terrain, they can help carry supplies, and they can be used to control the herd. All of these reasons come together to make the horse the perfect mount for a cowboy.
