The Humble Burro in Western History
The unimpressive burro played a significant role in the history of the American West.
When you imagine the American West, you may envision cowboys, mountain men, pioneer families, vaqueroes, Native Americans, Texas Rangers, or some other historical figure. You may also imagine animals like bison, bears, and horses. These animals are almost inseparable from the human history of America in the 1800s. If you really know your history, you may also imagine the long-eared mule since it played such a prominent role as well. Most people, however, would likely seldom acknowledge the role the humble burro played in the settlement of the American West.
Although perhaps not as majestic as the horse, burros did in fact play a significant role in shaping the American West. Recently, while reading These Were the Vaqueros, I came across a section penned by author Arnold Rojas about burros. Rojas was a California vaquero, historian, and folklorist, who lived from 1896-1988. During his life, he had the privilege of living alongside vaqueros who actually lived the “glory days” of open range, massive cattle outfits, and wild country. The men and women he knew passed on many stories from those old days, and Rojas shares those stories with his readers. Early in the book, Rojas wrote a few lines about burros, their impact on history, and what a few old timers thought of them:
“Though their masters may never have thought to eulogize them, the real heroes of the migrations into California from Sonora were the lowly burros, half-dead bags of bones, specters of famine and over-work, with feet worn to the quick at the end of the journey. Masters and beasts were examples of the ultimate in human and animal misery after traveling a road…It’s difficult to see how the people who came in the early days could have made the journey in such numbers without the patient little animal the paisano (*Frontier Life note: Spanish peasant) could most readily afford….
“Ask any old paisano who knows him and he will tell you the burro is the smartest and bravest of all animals. Put him against the largest and strongest horse and the proudest charger will turn and flee from the onslaught of the lowly jackass. He will, in a fight with a grizzly bear, give a better account of himself than any other animal, battling with a ferocity that belies his melancholy bray, gentle nature, and great trusting eyes…
“The old men would smile with pleasure and were eloquent when asked to enumerate the virtues of the faithful and staunch companion of their boyhood. ‘Si,’ they would say, ‘the burro is brave…’”
If you understand the horse culture Rojas grew up in, you’ll understand the significance of these lines. He lived and worked in a world where a bridle horse was one of a man’s most prized possession. Often these horses were ridden in fancy saddles, bits inlaid with silver, and flashing conchos. Despite their reverence for horses, Rojas teaches us the old-time vaqueros respected burros for many reasons.
Burros were not just used in California. In fact, one of my favorite images of the frontier features a trapper named “Beaver” Dick Leigh. “Uncle Dick” actually missed the height of the trapping days, but he stayed out West after joining the army in the late 1840s. It was in 1872 that photographer William H. Jackson captured this image of Dick and his family.
When imagining the West, many people seem to over-romanticize what life was like. I have to admit, sometimes I fall into this trap as well. What I love about this picture is that it really captures the Spartan reality of life. We see a man with his family out on the plains. It’s likely that everything they own is captured in this image. A home. A gun. Some clothes. A few necessities that can be stored away in the panniers seen in the background. And…yep…two burros. Now, we don’t know if there are horses somewhere just out of the scene. That, however, seems unlikely. On the contrary, it seems like they have made a point to set up and show off what they had. And, despite our modern misconceptions, Beaver Dick wanted those modest burros to be immortalized along with him.
Here is another picture that shows a scene of frontier life most people may not imagine.
According to the source, this photo was taken in Arizona in 1906. Although it falls outside the realm of what this website focuses on, it can still provide an image of people’s hard-scrabble existence. The dogs are bone thin, there are just a few hides nailed to the cabin wall, and the burros are saddled up for travel. It doesn’t quite fit the Hollywood version of history we are shown, does it?
Finally, another photo shows a cattle drive in the 1800s.
Image via: wikicommons.
At first, you might think I included the wrong photo. “All I see is a bunch of horses?” you may say.
If that’s you, take a closer look at the gentleman on the far right. Sitting in the saddle, leg over the saddle horn, astride what looks to be a tired burro. Although I knew cowboys occasionally rode mules on cattle drives, I have never come across any source indicating burros made the journey. My guess is this man didn’t work the cattle, but instead he may have helped the cook, wrangler, or some other menial job. But that is just a guess.
Now, a few pictures and some reminiscences doesn’t mean that we should imagine the West as a place where burros ruled. According to most of my reading and study, horses and mules were definitely the backbone of the frontier. They had superior speed, strength, and potential for distance traveled. In a lawless land, I’m guessing that speed and endurance came in handy from time to time.
Although horses and mules get the majority of the publicity in western history, the humble burro played a more significant role than we may imagine. Not majestic by any standard, in a way the hard-working little animals probably embody life of the frontier as well as any animal. Tough as boot leather, they would survive when nothing else would. You could argue, that was what the frontier was all about.
