A cowboy is a cowboy is a cowboy. And a buckaroo is a buckaroo is a buckaroo. University of Nevada, Reno geography professor Paul Starrs can tell you. He can spot the subtle contrasts between the two brands of ranch hand at 10 paces or less.
Cowboys are the supposed lesser beings from Texas.
The buckaroo is the elegant master, derived from California roots. When it comes to buckaroos vs. cowboys, Starrs says there is a clear demarcation line between the two styles of ranch hand. Colorado, Montana and Texas are clearly cowboy country. Starrs bases his geographical classification on a number of criteria. Cowboys, for example, ride different saddles than their buckaroo counterparts.