Open-range ranching was seasonal, like agricultural work. Mirroring the seasons, there were four phases to the cowboy’s back-breaking work: the spring roundup, the trail drive, the fall roundup, and winter tasks. Click here to view more seasonal work images

Erwin E. Smith (1886–1947) A Lonely Fence Rider, ED Ranch, near Crowell, Texas, 1906 Nitrate negative Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas LC.S59.272