Younger men traditionally drove the cattle, a chore more exhausting and dangerous than glamorous. The trail boss rode ahead to scout the trail and choose a place to camp. On horseback, a cowboy felt taller, faster, and stronger. With the aid of his horse he could round up the cattle, cut them out for branding and drive them to market. The vaquero, or Spanish cowboy of the Southwest, rode horses specially trained to work with cattle.
Cowboys use signals to direct their horses.
A touch of the spurs start the horse, while spurs, knees and reins prompt it to turn. Tugging on the reins pulls the bit in the horse's mouth, directing it to turn or stop. Each cowboy was given a string of 6 to 12 horses depending upon his work. He changed mounts when one animal tired or when he needed a horse with a special skill. Wild Mustangs sometimes have zebra-like stripes on their hind legs.