Cowboy Ethics- The Code Of The West

howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas where
the temperatures are a little warm at 100 degrees but the next 2 weeks
are showing temps ranging from 105 to 108 degrees with lows at night
from 81 to 85. We're gonna have some large cracks forming in the
lawn.

“A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no

matter his job.” — John Wayne

I've been talking about the cattle drives of the 1800's and the life of the
cowboys who worked those drives so I thought it would be interesting
to delve into the character and ethics which most of these men lived
by.

There were vast expanses of territory in the West with no lawmen or
enforcement of any kind except in the Cow towns and larger cities,
but there DID develop an unwritten law or code as it was known and
observed by everyone on the range.

The cowboys out on the range were a rugged, independent bunch
who had no use for the government laws and regulations written by
some bureaucrats behind a desk and didn't pay much mind to any
State or Federal laws either! lol. don't ya love it?

cowboyethics.com

But it was serious business if you broke the Code, and could even cost
you your life..depending on what part of the Code you broke. Like I
talked about yesterday when the Cowboys were in the dance halls
and saloons with the girls who were there..the ladies were treated
with great respect and insulting one of them could get you killed!

Those were real men back then and many Texans I meet are cut
from the same cloth. That's good. That's strong. That's powerful.

So what are these rules of the Code? Here is a rough breakdown
of the Code, remember it was never formally written in statute
form. I don't even know if statute is the correct term but you know
what I mean.

The Code of the West

• 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.

• Never order anything weaker than whiskey.

• 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.

• Honor and show respect to all women.

• A cowboy doesn’t talk much; he saves his breath for breathing.
  (until he has a whiskey filled to the brim)

• 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 chuck wagon, 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.

Well there you have it folks, I wonder if any of these could be adopted
by modern society and would it make a difference? Let me know if
you have any thoughts about this.

Thanks for reading folks, God bless you all!
-jonboy Texas
the gentleman redneck

ps- ya know, you might just be a redneck if:

the rear tires on your car are at least twice as wide as the front ones!