Singing the Cattle
Imagine yourself spending long hours in the saddle watching cattle tear at prairie grasses. You munch on a biscuit pilfered from the cook wagon at breakfast and cool your face in the breeze that descends along with evening. The light fades into dusk, but you can still make out the darker hulks surrounding you. The herd seems calm, at least for now. You release a sigh but remain vigilant. Anything—the boom of thunder, a glint of lightning, the scent of a predator, even a stick breaking—could spook the feral cattle. Beginning with a low rumble, a stampede (or stompede as they were more colorfully called), could reach a ground-shaking roar in no time. The only way to stop the panicked cattle was to herd them into running in one direction while other riders raced to take the lead. Turning the fleeing herd in on itself forced it to slow and stop.
A stampede during the daytime was bad enough, but one at night was worse than awful. It took a lot of courage to plummet at top speed through the darkness, relying on your horse to see better than you. Simply staying on while your horse leaped obstacles and dodged prairie dog holes took courage and skill. If you caught up to the herd without breaking your neck, you still had to flank and turn it in the blackness. With each plunging beast weighing five hundred pounds or more, this was no easy task even in broad daylight. Suffice it to say that riding night herd gave you a special interest in keeping things peaceful.
A hat brim gleams, hooves thud, and a silvered tale flicks as the other ranch hand circling the herd in the opposite direction comes into view. His song starts low and gains in volume until it vibrates the air. You join him in “singing the cattle.” It’s a known fact that cows find human voices comforting, and in truth so do you. Any calming song will do. Church hymns come and go, and then gusty renditions of “Old Dan Tucker,” “Git Along Little Doggies,” and “The Cowboy’s Lament.” You trade off singing verses but eventually tire and drop out to rest for a time while another cowboy takes your place. You swap again. As the night wears on, your singing fades to humming. The motion of your horse lulls you into a state between waking and sleeping. Now and again, you jerk upright in the saddle and join the song once more.
Cowboy Proverbs
· If you ain’t made up your mind, don’t use your spurs.
· If your horse don’t want to go there, then neither should you.
· How to ride a horse: First, you mount the horse. Second, you stay mounted.
· Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.
· When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
· Always drink upstream from the herd.
· Just because it’s a well-marked trail, doesn’t mean whoever made it knew where he was going.
Note from Janalyn Voigt: I discovered and fell in love with “singing the cattle” while researching ranching in Montana for The Whispering Wind (Montana Gold, book 6). I included the practice in my book as a tribute to the cowboys of the open range.
The Whispering Wind
Phoebe can have her pick of suitors but never the man she wants.
Fancy parties and embroidered fans hold little appeal for Phoebe Walsh. She would rather gallop across the open range or help her father with a wounded calf. Of her many admirers, none spark her interest. Ma seems determined to save her from becoming a spinster, but how can Phoebe accept her mother’s choice of suitors when her heart belongs elsewhere?
Several years have passed since Will Canfield stole a kiss and her heart. Remembering her passionate response still curls her insides, but how she feels doesn’t matter. Will’s interest in her isn’t serious, as he’s made clear. She needs to get over the man. If Uncle Con will stop throwing them together, that could be a whole lot easier.
Will feels guilty about Phoebe, but he can’t risk another heartbreak. Being left at the altar certainly changed his mind about romance. Phoebe is better off marrying someone else, even if the idea sets his teeth on edge.
Phoebe and Will must both, with God’s help, conquer an old fear before they can move ahead with their lives. Set during a troubled time in America, the Montana Gold series explores faith, courage, and love in the Wild West.
Giveaway!
Janalyn is giving away an autographed print copy of Hills of Nevermore, Book 1 in the Montana Gold series to one person who leaves a comment today.
What is your favorite cowboy proverb – either from her list or from your own repertoire?
Janalyn Voigt’s father instilled a love of literature in her at an early age by reading chapters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Robinson Crusoe and other classics as bedtime stories. When she grew older and her father stopped reading stories at night, she continued putting herself to sleep with tales she ‘wrote’ in her head. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Janalyn became a voracious reader, something she credits with teaching her to write. She trained as a classical vocalist, which explains why her writing is often described as musical.
When she’s not immersed in one of her story worlds, Janalyn can usually be found weeding the garden, spending time with her family, or reading. Find out more about Janalyn Voigt: janalynvoigt.com
I wonder what the cowboy today would think of the cowboy back then.
Good question. Even in these softer times, cowboys are still a tough bunch though.
They’re all good but my pick is “When you lose don’t lose the lesson.” We can always learn something from everything that happens, right? Thanks for the look into the past and for the chance to win a book.
You’re welcome, Vickie. The proverb you selected is very wise.
My favorite would be ” Always drink upstream from the herd.” Thanks for the giveaway and the info.
There’s a lot of wit and wisdom in that proverb. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Welcome! I read Hills of Nevermore. I loved the story of Shane and America. I am a first time reader of your books. I plan to read more of this series. You can exempt me from the give away. The blurb on Phoebe and Will sounds interesting also. As far as the cowboy’s quote or saying, I guess it would be,”Never name a cow you plan to eat.” My father would give my brothers and I pigs to raise for our savings account. His saying was,”Don’t go naming these pigs, they will be on the dinner plate before too long.” Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, Tracy. How nice that you are enjoying the series. I have personal experience with that proverb. We named a pig we raised for meat, and I could barely choke the meat down.
When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
I plan to take that one to heart.
Just because it’s a well marked trail, doesn’t mean whoever made it knew where they were going is my favorite.
I love that proverb, too. It’s akin to: “If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you jump too?”
Don’t squat with your spurs on!!
Oh, my! I wonder who came up with that one–and why.
“Cowboys need nothin’ more than a hat, horse, and the will to ride.”
I loved your blog today and the pictures. Thank you!
Ah, thanks Kathy. The will to ride can be hardest to muster sometimes.
Loved your commentary and each of the selected aphorisms, but also spent some time studying the cowboy (has Sam Elliott’s 1000 yard stare–except Sam’s is more of a glare) and his hat. Looking at old photos the hats were generally, like this one, curled up at the brim all around, like the Mexican sombreros on which a lot of the western wear was based. Just got me to thinking of the modern Stetson styling which is far more flattering to most faces. (Yeah, I’m easily entertained.)
Books sound terrific, too!
Thanks for the tidbit, Elissa, and for the compliment on my book.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.
That just about says it all, doesn’t it?
Janalyn, I like them all, but “when you lose don’t lose the lesson” could apply to all. Really enjoyed the read! Thank you!
Good observation! Thanks for reading and enjoying the post.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction.
I grew up on farms all my life until my senior year in high school. We had horses, feeder cattle, milk cows, pigs, sheep and chickens. Did I leave anything out? A well rounded farm of animals. Plus my Dad farmed by sowing oats, corn, buckwheat once and made sileage for the animals for feed. We had a very busy place as the six of us kids grew up and Dad had lots of help. My job was the chickens as well as helping my sister milk cows twice a day, before school and after. Never a dull moment. I loved traveling out west and riding horses.
I envy you that upbringing, Judy. I’m sure you have stories to tell.
“When you lose, don’t lose the lesson” is the one that stands out to me most I think.
You’re in the majority, Megan. That proverb sure makes you think.
I can’t decide which is my favorite! I like “If you ain’t made up your mind…”, “When you lose…” and “Just because it’s a well-marked trail…”
Thank you!
Taken together, they could tell a story.
I like those you mentioned, especially If your horse don’t want to go there, then neither should you. You can rely on your horse for many things.
So true, Jackie. Maybe that’s the basis for the slang term, “horse sense.”
Interesting article today. I think I liked this cowboy wisdom-
The only good reason to ride a bull is to meet a nurse.
and
It’s better to keep your mouth shut and look stupid than to open it and prove it.
You made me smile.
He who will not when he may, when he will he shall have nay.
That’s profound.
My favorite proverb is When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. That has infinite applications! I love it!
It really does.
Hi, wow, all these Cowboy Proverbs are Great, my favorite one is · “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” I love it and it says alot in just those few words. Thank you for sharing all these, I had heard a couple of them. I love , love cowboys. Thank you . I loved the photos , thank you for sharing them. Have a great day.
Thanks for letting me know, Alicia. They were a lot of fun to put together.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
That’s a circular way of judging matters, I’d say. 🙂
I like “Don’t squat with your spurs on”. It always makes me laugh to think about what might happen if you did.
There’s a certain dry humor involved in that quote, but it might not be so funny in actual experience.
Cowboys need nothin’ more than a hat, horse, and the will to ride.
Unknown
denise
That’s a good one.
All these proverbs are great for everyone, not just cowboys. My favorite and one which especially applies to everyone is “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” Thanks so much for sharing these with us.
My pleasure, Patricia.
Thanks, for all the info. & your new book. I like, If your horse don’t want to go there, then neither should you.
Yes, horses have a lot of good sense… Hope, you have a great Mother’s Day & all the fillies too!!!
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and proverbs.
I like “If your horse don’t want to go there, then neither should you”
That one strikes me as such obvious good sense that people will miss it.
Thanks for hosting me, Karen. It’s always fun to chat with your readers.