How do cowboys herd cattle?
A good cowboy can ‘read’ the cattle. He knows where the cattle need to get to but the cattle will help choose the path. They will follow familiar trails. The cowboy uses his horse to ‘push’ the cattle in the direction and speed he wants. A good cowboy knows how hard to push different ages of cattle. Cows that move among familiar pastures regularly almost move themselves. Cowboys get the cattle gathered into a herd and then there are usually outriders on the sides to keep the cattle headed the right direction and then there are trailing riders who push the cattle at the proper speed.
