Vaquero History

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The vaquero was and still is a man on horseback who works cattle, “cow worker” hence the name “vaquero” which comes form the word “vaca” meaning cow. Even the slang word Buckaroo, is derived from the word vaquero. In the shadows of history, behind the cowboys and buckaroos, stands the vaquero a descendant of the old world horse culture. A vaquero should not be confused for a Charro, which is a Mexican performer who participates in Charreadas, also known as Mexican rodeos. They’re also not to be mistaken as a Caballero, a gentleman on horseback, but as a Paisano, countryman, a tough working man. Hence vaqueros being the original cowboys of Texas. They were herding cattle in Northern Mexico in the 1590’s then that part of Mexico becoming …show more content…
The vaqueros daily attire would include the large brim hat known as the sombrero which sometimes we call a cowboy hat a ten gallon hat because they would hear the vaqueros say “galón” which are braided hat bands and sometimes they would have up to “ten galónes” , sometimes made out of leather, cheap felt, or woven palm fiber, a shirt typically mad out of wool or cotton depending on what was readily available, leather, of course because it’s always available to them, a “bolero style jacket was adopted along with pants that laced up the sides and fit tightly around the vaquero’s thighs and waist” (Underwood 20) often they would wear a green or red silk or cotton sash around their waist, leather leggings called botas that covered the lower part of the legs, only the rich could afford what we know are boots today. Since the climate where vuaqeros usually work in was relatively warm for most of the year the protective footwear was not a requirement so they wore crude sandals.” Spanish equipment--The saddle, spurs, and lariat--for handling cattle on the plains of northern Mexico.” (Cole) The word lariat comes from the word la raita a rawhide rope sometimes to be used as a weapon against the Apache warriors. “The Mexican cowhand could ride down any wild cow and rope it; he could catch, ride, and break wild mustangs; he could ride all night; he was a ladies’ man and a fighter who scorned danger.” (Underwood 19) Today the clothing has changed very little, they still wear straw hats, belts but instead of having tools it has intricate designs on them a nice belt buckle, pants made out of heavy cotton no labels, shirts with long sleeves and a fancy design, no
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