GENE AUTRY'S COWBOY CODE

1.  The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
2.   He must never go back on his word or a trust confided in him.
3.  He must always tell the truth.
4.  He must be gentle with children, the elderly and animals.
5.  He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6.  He must help people in distress.
7.  He must be a good worker.
8.  He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
9.  He must respect women, parents and his nation's law.
10. The Cowboy is a patriot.

COWGIRL 'BLING BLING'

The West is a land of extremes - scenery, wealth and weather so it is not a surprise to learn that fashion is no exception! The lavish fringe-and-sequins style goes back to the early 1900's when champion rodeo star, Prairie Rose Henderson. decorated her costume with sequins, ostrich feathers and fur! Cowboys and cowgirls were not seen as fashion icons though until Buffalo Bill Cody took to the rails with his famous Wild West Show and thus began the era of 'high style' western wear.

Rodeo parades began to encourage participants to show up in fashionable gear - not only were the leather 'chaps' heavily embellished with brass spots but cowboys' spurs and horses' saddles began to glow with shiny silver. Bohlin, known as the 'Saddlemaker to the Stars' established the benchmark for parade and silver saddles that still stands to this day. During the 1920's and early 30's Tom Mix was Hollywood's number one cowboy star and is considered to be the 'Father of the Rhinestone Cowboy' - his fancy white western suits had contrasting embroidery, piping and lacing. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were the next Hollywood stars to wear flashy outfits. According to Roy Rogers it was important to have a sequined costume and a silver parade saddle because once the spotlights hit Trigger and Roy, the pair pranced across the arena in a bejeweled display of Hollywood showmanship and that's exactly what the crowd wanted to see!

The rodeo queens and princesses were the first western fashionistas to dazzle rodeo crowds with sparkling tiaras of rhinestones attached to their cowboy hats. Barrel racers (mainly cowgirls) always dressed in co-ordinating western outfits and it wasn't long before their 'good luck charm' cross that they attached to their saddle before a race was embellished with coloured crystals (each colour of crystal has a significant meaning). Flashy platter sized silver and gold western belt buckles have often been awarded to event winners - some were even encrusted with real jewels! So, it wasn't long before western fashion designers realized that 'rhinestone' or crystal buckles would certainly accent those crystal crosses and 'cowgirl bling bling' was created. Today western leather belts come in any colour of the rainbow and are studded with matching or contrasting crystals!

In the past, when a barrel racer accessorized her horse she bought a sturdy, comfortable barrel racing saddle (with very little silver as it is too heavy for the horse to carry - speed is critical in this event),  a functional leather bridle, saddle blanket and a breastcollar! Today she still has that same sturdy saddle but the bridle and breastcollar are often encrusted with crystals to co-ordinate with her belt, buckle and outfit. In fact, you can now order bling, bling horse breastcollars with blinking lights - now that's a real 'stand up and get noticed' feature for those late-night rodeos.

Pleasure riders are even starting to dress up their horses in strands of turquoise or coloured crystal beads. Riders are able to concentrate on the empowering symbolism of the colour or semi-precious stone as part of their training - for example, turquoise has protective properties and blue has a calming quality. Word charms can also be literal reminders such as 'Centre' and are clipped into a horse's mane and forelock. Honestly, horse bling bling really does have a serious side! The cowgirls who dress-up their horses with bling bling believe that horses, just like cowgirls, love bling, bling..........................................

COLLECTING & WEARING WESTERN STYLE BELT BUCKLES

The tradition of the snap-on belt buckle is western in tradition, but the fashion trade took note of a great idea and now manufacturers and artists are designing many different styles of snap-on belt buckles. Collecting these 'western style' belt buckles and wearing them to match your mood, clothes or day of the week is easy and fun. Each buckle is designed to snap-on to a western leather belt so you only need one really cool leather belt.

Popular belt categories include: big rig, truck & car advertising buckles - show stock buckles - horse buckles - cowboy buckles - biker buckles - patriotic & flag buckles - beer & liquor advertising buckles - eagle buckles - native inspired buckles - Harley Davidson buckles - Levi jeans belt buckles - and the most coveted of all - RODEO TROPHY BUCKLES won by cowboys and cowgirls at rodeo events. These trophy buckles are often made in sterling silver, set with gems, and decorated with gold or brass by well-known Western silversmiths such as Bohlin or Vogt . They can be worth thousands of dollars!

Wrangler jeans even spaces the front belt loops on their jeans just a little wider than other famous jean manufacturers to accomodate those sparkling 'bread & butter' plate sized trophies! Another tidbit of trivia - there is even a group of girls known in rodeo circles as 'Buckle Bunnies' that follow those cute rodeo championship cowboys who wear those fancy buckles just like the 'Groupies' follow the bands! 

In the U.S. since 9/11 the patriotic theme has been the number one buckle of choice. Teenagers tend to purchase belt buckles of their favourite bands, skulls or beer. Biker imagery, especially the magic of the Harley Davidson, is popular even with those who don't even ride a Harley. Most people select a belt buckle that makes a statement about themselves! 'Bling' is the thing many western ladies want today - the belt buckle is encrusted with crystals and the belt is studded with matching crystals. The crystals and the leather can be any colour of the rainbow - now that is 'real' flash!

My personal belt buckle - well it just happens to be a plain engraved silver belt buckle with a brown enamelled Gelbvieh beef cow and the word GELBVIEH engraved on it - advertising pays and that's the breed of purebred cattle we raise at Bar GR Gelbvieh here in Northern Alberta.

Even Prime Ministers and Presidents wear western belt buckles. Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, from Alberta gave U.S President George Bush, from Texas, a limited edition Calgary (the famous Stampede City in Alberta) brass belt buckle for his 60th birthday. Who would have ever thought that those boys really exchange birthday pressies! I'd like to be in on the Texas-sized 'birthday goodie bags' at that party!

The Western Belt Buckle is stylish, often rustic and definitely wearable! Collector's are able to display them and wear them which is an added bonus!

This piece of the 'Old Alberta West' headed off to London, England!

THE 'REAL' COWGIRL'S FASHION STATEMENT

This wonderful poem below was found in American Cowboy July 2001!