The Cowboy Code: Etiquette in the West

The West is known for many things: sagebrush, rugged mountains, and large wild animals, to name a few. But once you have visited the T Cross Ranch, you may have noticed another rare find: the cowboy.

To meet a genuine cowboy—wranglers, boots, hat and all—is a truly singular experience. So what is it that makes these men so unforgettable? Perhaps it is their rugged gentility—reminiscent of the knightly chivalry preserved through the centuries—mixed with a die-hard work ethic.

After interviewing several exemplary cowboys, we present the “Cowboy Code.”

1) Gentlemen should always remove their hats when being introduced to a lady. Firm handshakes are permitted.

2) Also gentlemen are to remove their hats when entering a home or dining room and for social events.

3) Gentlemen are still expected to open doors for ladies—strangers as well as acquaintances.

4) When people are being introduced and you are seated, stand.

5) Once introduced, always call a person by his/her name— use Mister and Missus especially if you are 30 or younger.

6) Cowboys always wear collared shirts to dinner.

7) When ordering at a restaurant, the lady always orders first.
Children younger than 18 years should ask to be excused from the dinner table in someone else’s home or in their own home.

9) Ladies should acknowledge a gentleman’s gestures with thanks and appreciation.

Join us at the T Cross and witness for yourself the custom of the West and the refinement of days gone by.