'Although cowboy haberdashery and hardware have received a healthy share of previous attention, Rickey's work is definitive and leaves no margin for improvement' - "American West". The cowboy of the open western range flourished from 1865 to about 1885. Despite his brief heyday, he made a permanent impression that has been perpetuated by dime novels, wild west shows, and horse operas. But, the picture portrayed in popular media is often historically incorrect. Don Rickey Jr. relied on the last of the real cowboys - old-time rawhiders who scoffed at the phoniness of their media image - to put the record straight."$10 Horse, $40 Saddle", based on the author's personal acquaintance with cowboys, describes "the clothes they wore, the gear they used, the arms they carried, and the trappings and tools of their calling." The book provides a wealth of information about cowpoke dress, from Stetsons and unfancy dark shirts to boots and underwear. It includes illustrations of the guns, ropes, and saddles that enabled cowboys to do their unromantic work. Rickey never stints on detail, even noting how the men rid their blankets of lice (by placing them on anthills).
"$10 Horse, $40 Saddle" is an entertaining narrative that corrects misconceptions about cowboys and offers an authentic look at the Old West. Don Rickey Jr. also wrote the classic "40 Miles a Day on Beans and Hay". Daniel N. Vichorek is the author of several books on the American West including "Montana's Cowboys: Living the Heritage".