<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0509/p01s02-woap.html">Australian cowboys learn once again how to ride a horse</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>What sort of self-respecting cowboy doesn't know how to ride a horse?<br />n<br />nApparently, the Australian kind. Many jackaroos and stockmen on the country's huge cattle ranches, or stations, have grown accustomed since the 1960s to rounding up herds with helicopters, motorbikes, and four-wheel drives.<br />n<br />nThat's beginning to change, however, as a growing number of ranches are getting their stockmen back in the saddle to improve the quality of the meat and to economize on fuel costs. In many cases that means sending staff back to Cowboy 101: How to handle a horse.<br />n<br />n"The young generation have not grown up riding, as happened in the past," says Tim Gallagher, operations manager for one of the biggest cattle businesses, the Australian Agricultural Company. "We organize an induction week for all new staff, and a big part of that is teaching them how to ride, how to shoe a horse, how to fit the saddle.</blockquote><br />n<br />nInteresting story. I find the dichotomy of American way of doing things and the Australian way interesting. The Australians are going back to the horse and more and more it seems like Americans are going to four wheelers and bikes.<br />n<br />nI know more and more places are going to a four wheeler and doing away with horses for cattle work. Probable the largest reason for this is that a person can cover a lot more country with a four wheeler over a horse so you can get more accomplished in a day. Between that and the price of a good horse the four wheeler is really attractive. I'm glad I have a hired man now to help with the riding because trying to do it myself is tough on horses. Too much country for a horse to cover with my fat body on it makes for not getting things done. I can't imagine going to four wheeler though for cow work. It just wouldn't be right.<br />n<br />nI didn't realize that handling cattle horse back was a dying institution down under. I'm glad to hear that this is changing. That's only right.<br />n<br />n<b>The time is always right to do what is right. Martin Luther King, Jr.</b><br />n<br />