Cowboy Life

Martin Black discusses ranching, horsemanship and making a living in the southwestern corner of Idaho. The lifelong horseman has deep roots in the region, as both sides of his family settled in Owyhee County more than 150 years ago and raised and sold thousands of horses to ranchers and buckaroo outfits throughout the Great Basin. Black himself ran cattle and trained horses for many years before he began conducting horsemanship clinics, a livelihood pioneered by his former father-in-law, Ray Hunt. Black's reputation as a teacher of practical horsemanship skills has taken him throughout the United States and into Australia, Brazil and Europe. In addition to working as a rancher and clinician, he has competed successfully in colt starting competitions, won major ranch horse events, claimed a Ranch Horse Association of American National Championship, and started multiple performance horses that went on to win titles in cutting and reined cow horse. He has also released several DVDs, written numerous articles and co-authored the book, Evidence Based Horsemanship with Dr. Stephen Peters. Today, Black continues to ranch in Idaho and conduct private and public clinics.

Don Murphy is well-known as an elite cow horse trainer, however his roots reach down into the ranching culture of the West Coast. Before training and showing was a sustainable business, he was cowboying in the steep hills of Northern California and embracing the traditions of vaquero horsemanship. His grandfather, Thomas Murphy, homesteaded near Mount Diablo and established a cattle ranch in 1873. Don Murphy was raised in the steep foothills, checking on cows and calves, roping steers and breaking colts. He was also learning the finer points of riding in the hackamore, two-rein and spade bit. After a few years in college and a short stint in the U.S. Army, he began working horses full-time during the late 1960s. As the reined cow horse industry grew, he trained and showed standouts such as Black Hawk Willie, RS Lilly Starlight and Bald N Shiney. During a career that spanned five decades, he trained 23 AQHA world and reserve world champions. He is also respected as a successful coach, helping both amateur competitors and professional trainers step up their game. Many horsemen agree that his savvy as a coach and a mentor stems from an understanding of how modern cow horse competition relates to traditional work done on a ranch.

Red Steagall has sung the praises of cowboys and the ranching way of life for decades. As a musician, songwriter, cowboy poet and radio and television personality, his pursuits as an entertainer consistently shine the spotlight on America's Western heritage. He is the official Cowboy Poet of Texas, hosts the TV show "Somewhere West of Wall Street," and continues to perform his Western music across the country. His passion for preserving the Western lifestyle can be seen in the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering, his new book, Texas Red, and the soon-to-be-built Red Steagall Institute for Traditional Western Arts. For many years he joined the cowboy crews of the Four Sixes Ranch and the JA Ranch during spring works, which continued to inspire his poetry and songwriting. Here, he shares his story, which reveals the same type of perseverance, determination and work ethic that have shaped the American West. Thanks to our sponsors, the RA Brown Ranch October Sale, the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering, and Farm & Ranch Candle Co.

Jeff Williams has been starting colts for big ranches for four decades. Some of those outfits have included the Beggs, Haythorn, King, Muleshoe and Spades. Williams started out as a cowboy on various West Texas ranches, but it didn't take long for him to discover that starting colts was his passion. He has continued to day-work on cow-calf operations, and he has competed in roping and ranch horse events. However, starting colts under saddle is his focus, and many ranches trust him to put a solid foundation on their youngsters and train select prospects for elite ranch production sales. The Post, Texas, horseman has also influenced countless young men and women who have worked for him, and he has judged at numerous ranch horse shows, ranch rodeos, and colt starting competitions such as Road to the Horse.