Many ranches didn’t employ cowboys over the winter, so they sometimes got other jobs (e.g. barmen). Some stayed on to repair equipment and plan ahead.
In early spring cowboys had to round up the cattle. Cattle were branded to show which ranch they belong to.
Life on the ranch was hard work, so cowboys were usually young
Cowboys lived together in a bunkhouse on the ranch.
Ranches often has strict rules, e.g. no gambling
Advantage of ranching on the Plains:
Ranches on the Plains were much closer to railheads. This meant that cattle drives only took days, rather than months.
Disadvantage of ranching on the Plains:
The Plains had harsh winters that Texas did not. Cowboys had to deal with ice and blizzards, and often spent lonely winters staying in sod houses or cabins out on the ranches.
