May Newsletter

Philip Armour — Mon, 2011-05-09 13:41

The 100 Greatest Western Movie of All Time

In bookstores now and available on Horsebooksetc.com, American Cowboy’s new book “The 100 Greatest Western Movies of All Time: Including Five You’ve Never Heard of” is our definitive—if controversial—ranking. Westerns are our favorite movie genre, of course, and we worked with publishers Globe Pequot to do it justice. No two people would ever agree on this list, and our staff debated the rankings ad nauseum. But that’s why we did it! A line in the sand needed to been drawn, because we’re eager to hear your thoughts. We all love Westerns, yet why we love one movie over the other is very personal and tough to explain. The essays in this book that accompany make the case for each movie’s greatness and ranking. How did we do? Sound off at AmericanCowboy.com.

The Old West was a tough place to live, as the stories of many a silver screen hero, heroine, and villain will tell you. Making Westerns wasn’t always easy either, and the genre has been given up for dead many times over the last 100 years. But there’s something visceral and noble about Western movies and the timeless themes they depict, and every so often a new Western will break out to huge success. The Coen brother’s remake of True Grit was certainly proof of that, and the upcoming Cowboys & Aliens with Harrison Ford may surprise us all. Even the new Michelle Williams vehicle Meek’s Cutoff is a solid if eerie contribution.

Meanwhile, spring is upon us and the horses are frisky. See you at the corrals! Or maybe just the movie theaters ... “The 100 Greatest Western Movies of All Time” should help you decide what to queue up next on Netflix, at least.

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Riding the Saddle Horn

wacummins — Thu, 2011-05-26 11:50

Hi Roger,

You wrote a great piece about the attitude of modern rodeo cowboys who are permitted by judges to grab the horn anytime they feel like it.

However, I was trained by great horsemen who were born 110 to 120 years ago. They would laugh you out of the arena in those days for grabbing the horn.

I've cracked a nut several times which caused me to pass out and fall off my horse, but never once did I let the horse get away from me. The "old timers" knew how to protect both horse and rider when they were all alone on the prairie.

Protecting your horse was so important that "horse thieves" were hanged immediately. I teach the "old timers" way in my new book, "KING and the COWBOY." www.caipublishing.net

It's time for all rodeo judges to get back to the basics of professional riding and outlaw any attempt to ride the saddle horn.

William A. (Bill) Cummins
Port Orange, Florida

Real cowboys don't pull leather

wacummins — Fri, 2011-05-20 22:43

After reading all the comments, it looks like I need to explain some of the "old timers" thinking about pulling leather.
First of all, they want riders to value their horse more than themselves.
With this understanding, the rider's job is to help the horse maintain its balance, just like a biker keeps his two wheeler balanced.
The second the rider grabs the horn the horse must add the rider's balance to its own.
Just as an off balanced biker spills and gets injured, an off balanced horse will spill and take the rider with him.
There's more to this, which I explain in my book, "KING and the COWBOY - A true Showbiz Story."
I don't like to see any rider grab the horn, but my deepest shame is directed at so called "professionals who do it when rodeo contesting"
The judges should immediately outlaw the practice in all contests.
Respectfully,
Bill Cummins, Author
Self-made professional cowboy at 18 and professional engineer at 29

Real cowboys don't pull leather

wacummins — Tue, 2011-05-17 16:47

Hey, I don't want people to get hurt by not knowing how to ride right. At 15 I was teaching young and old "greenhorns" how to safely ride for the first time.

The first rule I taught was to never grab the horn. In over three years of running the ranch and teaching hundreds of rider, none were hurt.

I don't care if cutting horse saddles are made to hold on ... it's wrong and should be outlawed in all rodeo competition.

If you want to know why the old timers came up with the rule just give me a holler at: 386-383-5198 or email: wacummins@clearwire.net It's FREE!

Ride safely cowboys/cowgirls and enjoy it.

pulling leather

flboots — Fri, 2011-05-20 17:22

The comments are interesting. But no one brought up night latches, that cowboy uses on western saddles. Just look at ranch rodeo. I agree with one person. better to give up pride, than be afoot.

Riding the Saddle Horn

South Texas Cowboy — Wed, 2011-05-18 16:27

After reading such debate, it seems odd that in barrel racing and Cutting Horses, it is custom to hold the saddle horn. Although, while riding rodeo, the free hand never can touch the horse, but then, there is no horn on a saddle bronc saddle. However, there seems to be a time when it is acceptable, and when it is not. Surely, western reining and showing calls for the hand to remain clear of the horn too but in general, unless your in the arena, it comes down to preference. Except when Barrel Racing in the Area or Professional Competition with the National Cutting Horse Association where it's OK.

Riding on an English saddle, or other saddles not equipped with a horn such as the Australian Saddle or the McCellen Saddle are each design for a grab strap. It works like a horn for grabbing in a panic though these saddles are not design for working cattle in the American tradition.

A good rider should be able to ride with full control without the use of holding on to the horn and still be comfortable at any gait. While my rodeo habits of never (Never) touching my saddle or rough stock with my free hand, just kind of keeps me from using it, though it merely comes down to preference and surely tossing left and right when cutting a calf, it does make for better control using the horn, rather than following a golden Rule of looking well mounted....

Roger Edison

http://cowboyandchuckwagoncooking.blogspot.com/

I will leave this simply by

nighthawksh — Wed, 2011-05-18 08:24

I will leave this simply by saying everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion. You have yours and I have mine.

"Real cowboys don't pull leather."

wacummins — Wed, 2011-05-11 21:32

Howdy,
I'm an old time cowboy singer, entertainer, trick roper, and expert horseman who headlined as a teenager across the Midwest on stage and radio. As a ranch boss, I taught hundreds of "greenhorns" how to ride safely. The first rule of riding was "Never" hold onto the saddle horn while riding, even if you have to fall off. I explain it all in my new book. Why don't rodeos have the same rule today? I have to turn away in shame when I see it! It makes me sick inside!
William A. Cummins, Author
of “KING and the COWBOY”
A True Showbiz Story
www.caipublishing.net
wacummins@clearwire.net

While it may be true that

nighthawksh — Thu, 2011-05-12 10:23

While it may be true that "real cowboys don't pull leather" I can recall a few times in my life that had I not got a good grip on that old saddle horn, I may very well have been sent flying. I hit the ground often enough through my days. I learned pride was not as important as staying in the saddle and not on the ground.

My very first riding leason was: Leave in the saddle, return in the saddle. Everything else was trimmings.

(Oh, I was around 6 years old for that lesson)

Real cowboys don't pull leather

wacummins — Thu, 2011-05-12 21:52

With all due respect to your position, I'm 80 years old and convinced more than ever you should never grab the horn except to mount and dismount. The old time cowboys didn't come up with the “don’t pull leather” rule for no reason. I explain the whole situation in my new book, “KING and the COWBOY.” (www.caipublishing.net)
It is a true story that will set the record straight once and for all. I'm hoping the rodeo judges will start disqualifying every rider from the event the second their hand touches the horn. Rodeo competition would take a turn for the better immediately.

Mr Cummins, you are certainly

nighthawksh — Fri, 2011-05-13 07:07

Mr Cummins, you are certainly entitiled to your opinion.

If one is speaking about rodeo, then I agree, no leather grabbing.

If one is talking about real life, the goal is riding is to stay in the saddle, period.

I do not doubt your credentials, please do not doubt other's.

While I am a little shy of your age (I'm 68) I do have a long history on horse back, many of them pushing cows around various places.

Let me ask you this; what about cutting horse contests? The saddles are expressily made to enable the rider to hold onto the horn. Should that be changed?

Bottom line is, there has never been any iron-clad rules when it comes to how a person rides, nor should there be if they are not involved in professional contests.

pulling leather

pdfangus — Thu, 2011-05-19 06:02

I also am an older unit. 62.
been horseback since I was a kid.
I am firmly in the camp with nighthawksh.

These days a good ride is determining by getting everyone back in one piece with no damage to man or beast.

Looking good is no longer a priority....staying in the saddle is....

in my younger days the saying was .......
"Hide will grow back, but pride won't"

Back in them same days I would smack the taste out of your mouth for looking at me funny. these days I smile and inquire first about how I might assist you. still don't take no crap...... but allow civility to take a chance first.

I would tend to agree that pulling leather is not going to dramatically enhance your chances of weathering a serious storm....but at my age I am not going to be on a stormy horse anyway. Just last weekend the horn kept me from coming off when a deer jumped up in front of my horse. If I had not grabbed and had come off, the horse would have been further scared. as it was we stopped and composed briefly, saw that it was just a deer, and rode on.

Jim Tate
Pipe Dream Farm
pipedreamfarm.com

Top 100

graphartist — Tue, 2011-05-10 09:31

Hey Phil, here's a link to the site. They got lotsa books. http://www.horsebooksetc.com

You can leave your horse to water, I'll have a drink.

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Riding the Saddle Horn

Real cowboys don't pull leather

Real cowboys don't pull leather

pulling leather

Riding the Saddle Horn

I will leave this simply by

"Real cowboys don't pull leather."

While it may be true that

Real cowboys don't pull leather

Mr Cummins, you are certainly

pulling leather

Top 100

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