The Canadian Cowboy

by Andy Russell

"In The Canadian Cowboy: Stories of Cows, Cowboys, and Cayuses, Andy Russell takes us on a winding trail through the history, legend, and lore of western life on this continent." "Starting with the ranches of Old Mexico, we follow through time first the Spanish vaqueros (whose language, rigging, and dress provided the roots of cowboy lingo and gear), then the American cowpunchers, who drove thousands of head of cattle across Texas and the plains of the southwest, on to the eastern railheads. In time their ranches spread west and north and eventually came over the line into western Canada." "The author dedicates his book to "all the old cowboys," and the adventures of such legendary figures as stock detective Jack Reid, outfitter Bert Riggall, bronco-buster John Ware, and entrepreneur Pat Burns fill these pages. We also meet lesser known but equally colourful characters such as Happy Jack Jackson, Henry "Frenchy" Riviere, and "Barbwire" John Spears. And, as he outlines the history of th