ABSTRACT
While the notion of the cowboy figures in different ways in literature on human–horse relations and human–animal studies more broadly, little is written about the lives and work of contemporary cowhorses. The iconic cowboy has been used as a symbol of a macho, violent masculinity, not the least in discussions on animal ethics, which raises questions about the implications for the horses they ride. Through an ethnographic account based mainly on participant observation on a cowboy crew on a working cattle ranch of the Canadian west, I explore in this chapter the everyday multi-species interactions of working cowhorses. A cowboy code of conduct towards horses is outlined as well as the challenges of its implementation. Building on previous scholarship on animal work and welfare, this chapter problematises the interpretation of aggressive and dominating behaviour of horses towards cattle. Finally, I offer some concluding remarks on methodological challenges we face when analysing multispecies ethics and horse welfare.
