Working up to 20 hours a day, cowboys drove the animals from one watering place to the next, guarding against predators, straying cattle, and stampedes at night. By about 1890 the cattle ranges had been fenced in and the extension of the railroads had eliminated the need for long cattle drives. Thus the era of the old-fashioned cowboy came to an end. Although far removed from the drab truth, this image continues to dominate popular accounts of the cattle frontier. Riding styles, as well as apparel and tack, were developed out of specific historical requirements that were then modified to suit contemporary sporting needs.
Riders communicate to their horses with aids, or cues.
After learning to mount, dismount, and attain proper body position, the novice rider must learn coordinate the aids, an important step in becoming proficient. To make the transition from the halt to the walk, for example, the rider squeezes his or her lower legs against the horse's sides at the girth to generate forward impetus while simultaneously relaxing the hands to allow the horse to begin moving.