What did cowboys do for a living when they were too old for cowboyin’?

What did cowboys do for a living when they were too old for cowboyin’?

Mike Franklin

Poteet, Texas

In the early days, an older puncher might get a job as a chuckwagon cook—the second highest paying job on the drive, just under the trail boss. Others took jobs in town and, if one got lucky, found a pretty woman and settled down. I’ve known some who put in long service for an outfit and the ranch always found a way to keep them around, sort of like an old horse that’s been faithful that you put out to pasture.