Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Techno Cowgirl
INFLUX OF TECHNOLOGY UPON RODEO
LINCOLN — At first glance the advent of technology into everyday life seems to contradict the old west image of the cowboy.
Antique photographs dating back to the 1860s when the cowboy lifestyle became prominently thrust across the fabric of American society depicts men capable of living off the land while accomplishing their duties. The variety of tasks typically assigned to cowboys included: driving cattle herds, rounding up cattle, bringing back strays, delivering calves, branding cattle and protecting their employer’s investment in manpower, stock and wagons. Carrying a timepiece, which represented technology of the period, was a luxury.
Technological Spoof
The intrusion of technology prompted spoofs.
Prairie Home Companion aired a skit titled “Cowboys” from its Feb. 10, 2001, episode featuring voices of host Garrison Keillor and Tim Russell with a pseudo commercial complete with horse whinnies and related sound effects.
“The one problem with riding a horse has always been that after you ride for a few hours you are no longer able to walk,” Russell said building up a spill about imaginary high-tech saddlery as he continues, “but this is no longer the case with the new Svendson Series 900 Air-ride Saddle. It rides like a luxury car, thanks to precision Swedish engineering.”
Keillor describes in detail how the imaginary high-tech Svendson saddle works. A motorized mount lowers the saddle from a tree limb onto the horse’s back, secures itself and finishes up with clamps ratcheting stirrups snugly around the cowboy’s boots.
Russell interjects, proclaiming more virtues of the imaginary high-tech saddle, “loaded with extra features,” including a Global Positioning System built into the saddle horn which also shows current temperature and wind conditions and mileage to the next town.
“No more getting lost in blinding blizzards or dust storms,” Keillor drawls, setting up Russell for the infomercial spoof punch line.
“And just looky here. It’s a laser lariat, the lariat that never misses,” Russell said. “You just look at what you’re aiming at and the laser beam mounted in your Stetson guides the lariat straight and true.”
Sensors mounted under this imaginary high-tech saddle provide read-outs on the horse’s blood pressure, sugar level, and salt content, among other things with a warning light indicator for loose fitting horseshoes or an oats overload.
The tongue-in-cheek skit is well worth listening to and can be accessed in the show’s archives hosted online by Minnesota Public Radio at www.prairiehome.org/shows/57827.html or by going to the Feb. 10, 2001 audio file.
Second Thoughts
Digging a little deeper the addition of smart phone to cowboy attire might be considered a natural progression.
Historically, cowboys always equipped themselves to do the job. Frequent excursions far out on the range put them a fair distance from merchants and traders. Traditionally cowboys carried their own provisions and supplies, not only for themselves, but also for their horses. Canteens, ropes, guns, ammunition, and knives, plus eating and drinking utensils packed in saddle bags were as much a part of a cowboy’s every-day gear as hats, boots, bandanas, chaps, and belts.
Carrying a smart phone makes sense for the modernday cowboy. The device allows instant communication, storm alerts and on-thespot entertainment.
Progressive Technology
The history of the cowboy is interwoven with progressions in technology. Steam-powered locomotives could haul tons of beef to market faster and more efficiently than moving a herd overland so cattle drives became shorter. Once railroads were established across the middle part of the continent cattle drives from Texas often concluded no farther north than the cow towns along the Kansas prairie.
Rodeo Tech
Technology crept into rodeo. Electric eyes are now used to detect broken barriers while electronic timers measure whether bronc and bull riders qualify for a score. Bullriders can even practice by mounting a mechanical bull capable of bucking them off.
The day of the “Technological Cowgirl” has arrived.
During the 2016 Lincoln Rodeo, blogger Michael Knox-Smith observed a surrealistic moment sighting a young cowgirl, dressed in all her finery, texting on her iPhone not the least bit unbalanced engaging in the activity while on horseback.
A year later, Loran Lopez, 2016 Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo queen, carried her cell phone, while introducing the 2017 Lil’ Mister and Lil’ Miss contestants.
If nothing else, having a cell phone handy could discreetly help avoid a miscue like when the wrong winner was announced for “Best Picture” at the 2017 Oscars — something every cowgirl prefers to avoid.