Keeping it "Cowboy"

      When I look at any particular item for the store I always have to ask myself, "Is this western? Will a cowboy or cowgirl want to wear or use this?" It should never surprise me then, when folks ask me, "Do you think this is 'cowboy'?"
    It could be the shape of a hat, or the jeans you wear, or even the color of your rope that is called into question. And it is most often people who are still a little fuzzy about this thing we call a western lifestyle that proudly judge what is, and is not -- Cowboy.
    Fact is, "cowboy" is a hotly contested label some things are proud to have, some things are begging to get, and some things can't seem to shake no matter how much they protest.
    Let's take wild rags for example. For those of you who don't know, a wild rag is a cowboy bandanna. And not just any bandanna, but typically a fine silk scarf, probably in a loud print or a brilliant color. It is one of the most fundamental pieces of attire a working cowboy can wear. Temperature control aside, when worn, a wild rag is a badge of belonging to the west. I can't tell you how many times a spectator at a show wanders through the booth, gently fingers the beautiful, bright fabric and asks, "What are these for?" After explaining the purpose and function more than one person scoffs, "Not  any cowboy I know!"
   Here's a more recent application. In the movie Cowboys And Aliens former 007 star Daniel Craig plays a tough outlaw who shoots UFO's from horseback. Is that cowboy?
   Rock and Roll has a long-time love affair with cowboys too. I always think of Cody Ohl riding in to Kid Rock's "Cowboy" at the Thomas and Mack during the NFR in Las Vegas. Is Kid Rock cowboy too?
   What I try to get across to new employees when they join the crew here is this; cowboy isn't a just a word, or a label. It's an image, a lifestyle, or even an attitude. When the gals here told me we needed ladies headbands in the store, I admit I crinkled me nose and thought, "That's not very cowboy." But when I saw how they were being worn by some of the toughest cowgirls around, I realized I needed to take my own advice to heart.
    So the next time you see something new, be it square toed boots, a black roping saddle, or even blinged-out belt with peace signs on it, consider the spirit, the pride, and the heart that went into making the object before you decide just how 'cowboy' it is. And when you're feeling froggy, 'cowboy' up, put it on, and prove to the rest of the world just how right you are!
  Happy Trails,
  Ty Rogers
 

"What kind of hat would look best on me?'

  "What kind of hat would look best on me?' Part 1

  This very common question can be equated to deeply personal preferences like "What flavor ice cream would I like?"

  The cowboy hat is an extension of your personality. Function, form, fit, all are variables that each person has to decide for themselves what fits them best. Here are some basic options to help you decide what type of hat is right for you.

  Body

  Hat bodies can be made of practically anything, but we'll limit ourselves to the most recognized cowboy hat materials used today. Felt is the traditional choice, made from wool or fur. For the budget conscious consumer a wool hat may be the best thing you can afford. Wool has limitations though; it will absorb moisture quickly, dirt and stains are more difficult to remove, and the shape doesn't typically hold over time. Fur felt is a more durable option. Basic felt hat bodies will be made from rabbit fur, with better bodies having some beaver content mixed in. Beaver fur is more supple, water and stain resistant, so the best hats are pure beaver. A super-fine dress hat will have mostly beaver with some mink or chinchilla thrown in, but also cost the most.

  Straw is popular summer choice for many, year-round choice for some. Hand woven from straw fibers and imported to the U.S. where the bodies are shaped and fitted at a hat factory. Straw hats are truly a work of wearable art when you consider how much time goes in to hand weaving each one, then cutting them to fit a specific size, stitching in a sweatband, shaping and finishing the hat. All that work, and they typically last about one good summer season before they crack, break down, or get a large sweat stain. Yes, cleaner is available for a straw hat, but that is often a wasted effort. Think of your straw as disposable when you buy it and you'll feel much better about getting a new one each Spring.

  Palm or palm leaf hats are similar to straw fiber but thicker and coarser. I put them into their own body group because palm behaves differently than straw, and also lasts longer than most straws. Palm looks a bit cruder than straw and is much heavier too. One of the best benefits of palm is it's natural ability to absorb water, making it a natural summer hat. Take your palm leaf hat and dip it in the trough (or under the faucet as circumstances allow) and let the wonders of evaporative cooling take place.

Color

  Hat color is mostly a personal choice as well. Felt hats can come in a virtual technicolor array of colors, tones and shades.

  Black hats are the most common, easy to clean and can look good on nearly everyone. The old adage of "bad guys wear black" went the way of BETA video tapes. If you want to start in a safe place with color you can't miss with a clean black felt cowboy hat.

  Dark colors can include mink, chocolate, smoke, navy, midnight, moss, charcoal, putty, pecan, fawn, sorrel and many other names sounding like a fraternity rush class. Dark colors in general hide dirt well, can be used to stand out in the crowd, and are a great way to show you aren't afraid to be your own cowpoke.

  Pastel colored hats sound like Easter eggs in the garden but are mostly defined by a single word: silverbelly. Envision these popular pastel color names as a nightclub in Vegas: Sand, chrome, sandalwood, belly, cream, mist, peach, pistachio, pink or blush. These delicious sounding colors are some of the most classic tones available, but the most unique colors are for those daring souls who proudly declare, "I fear no color... your black hat must be trembling in my wake!"

  White hats should have no color, no tone, no shade. White hats fall into the wedding dress category; there is white, and everything else. Generally reserved for rodeo queens and superstars of the arena, a white hat tells everyone that you have come to win, and want to look better than anybody else competing.

Extras

  Brim size is today almost always 4" when you buy a hat off the shelf. But that doesn't mean it is the right size for you. 4 1/4" brims have been very popular with a lot of performance horse riders, the extra 1/4" adding a distinctive flair to a crisp hat shape. Bigger brims are available up to about 5" without too much difficulty (some palms may have a 6 or 7" brim) but you really have to know you can sport a lid that big. A lot of Texas enthusiasts like 5" brims shooting up high, while many Great Basin buckaroos will use a 4 1/2 to 5" brim flat when they work. Vice versa a shorter brim can speak volumes about the bearer. A 3 1/2" brim is used more by the 'Boss' than a ranch hand, and taking 1/4" off a 4" brim can help balance a hat on a shorter man or a small lady. The best advice I can give you with brim cutting (on felt hats only) is to be careful who you take it to. Ask if the hat department regularly trims hat brims, and get a big yes, because "I'll give it a shot..." is not the right answer.

  Binding or the ribbon the edge of the brim adds a special touch to a hat. The ribbon can contrast, it can match, heck, it can even be done tight to encourage the brim to 'snap.' But know this: the hat body and the hat binding will often behave differently over time. Most bindings will shrink a bit with exposure to the elements and will warp a brim a bit. I call it character, but you might call it a whoo-hah, bauble or some other term for 'ugly.' It's like your old dog, when it does change you're going to love it anyway. If you hate it, take it out back and shoot it then. Your hat, not the dog.

  Next time:

 Hat shapes, crowns, hat bands and cleaning.

Til then,

 Happy Trails,

 Ty Rogers

Inspect your tack before you ride

   I love this time of the year in Northern Nevada! Getting out the horses in the nice breaks in Spring weather here and going over all of your tack to make sure everything is in working order.
  A lot of focus goes into cleaning all of your leather tack and making everything look show-ready, but many people gloss over tack that is needing to be repaired or replaced.
  A few areas to watch out for:
  The cinch connector; the keeper between the front and rear cinch (if you use both) is extremely important. If you are using wire, rope, or a leather scrap to keep the two latched together it is time to replace it with a nice new connector. Leather is always popular and works well, but you do have to watch out for rot or tearing. Nylon is okay when you watch it carefully for fraying, but biothane, a PVC coated nylon is nearly indestructible for a few years.
  The Cinch; often overlooked because it doesn't get polished, pay attention to the condition of this vital piece of equipment. There are a hundred different types of cinches on the market, but a cinch needs to accomplish a few key goals: Keep the horse cool and comfortable, stay centered under the belly, be snug enough to hold the saddle in place. There are many variables to a used cinch, but I replace any cinches that are worn at the buckles, to D-ring hardware that attaches to the breast collar or the cinch connector. If your horse galls easily it's best to replace your cinches every year. Cleaning them is an option. Neoprene and PVC material is easily washed, and you can disinfect cinches quickly with a sport boot wash from Eqyss or even BioWash. Mohair, blends or cotton cinches can be washed out too, and I would hand wash a fleece cinch at least once a year to make sure the material is in good working order.
  Chicago screws; this is a great time to check all of your existing hardware on the saddle, breast collar, headstall and reins. Many people forget to inspect the tightness of screws that hold buckles to the headstall. Better to do it now than to lose a vital piece of equipment when you're out riding.
  Of course your entire rig needs to have some attention, but these key areas are among the most common offenders when I see folks in for repairs. And remember if you have any questions simply ask any one of the crew here at Rogers.
 Happy Trails,
 Ty Rogers