Laurel Miller

With an emphasis on respect, safety, and plain ol' good manners, the rules of cowboy etiquette have been handed down through the generations.

The artistry of Garcia bits and spurs is kept alive at a famous Elko saddlery.

Learn about the mule tours to the rarely traveled Kalaupapa Peninsula.

Legendary figures of the Old West, from Sam Houston to Charles Goodnight, loom large in Texas mythology. But there’s something more that puts the Lone Star State—El Paso and Mercedes, in particular—on the global map. Cowboy boots.

Whether you’re in the saddle or on the dance floor, your lid says a lot about who you are and where you’re from. We picked 12 favorites that would do any cowboy proud.

Synonymous with the Old West, sourdough was a dietary staple of pioneers, miners, and cowboys.

Used to identify livestock ownership and to protect ranchers from theft, branding has been practiced for thousands of years. While freeze brands, tattoos, and microchips are increasingly popular, old-fashioned fire branding is the most traditional method. Hank Curry, a third-generation cowboy, explains how to make your mark.

Arbuckles, bean juice, joe—whatever the name, just make it strong.

Taste Central California’s rancho heritage in a succulent cut of meat.

Taste the pride in this Native American specialty.

Used as a training device or to limit mobility, hobbles help keep horses under control.

A successful program at a Nevada prison places wild horses in new homes and helps the inmates who train them set new priorities in their lives.

Perplexed by the all the labels currently being used to market meat? You’re not alone.

Does a chef who has a Ph.D. in biochemistry find himself naturally drawn to Western cuisine? For Robert Del Grande, no other fare compares. Texas-based chef Del Grande explains his style and shares recipes for hearty cold-weather fare.