Cowboys looked after the cattle, on the drives or on the open range. They most of their lives in the open. On ranches they 'rode the line' around boundary of the ranch. They looked for cattle needing help. On the drive, the might be over a kilometre long. It had to be guarded day and night. 'drag' at the back of the herd was hated, as it was so dusty. '' riders led the herd, with 'swings' at the flanks. There was a '' or of spare horses. The 'chuck-wagon' held their blankets and provided food. Despite the popular of a gun-toting cowboy, 25% of cowboys were black and 12% were Mexican. They did not normally carry . The main dangers faced they faced were stampedes, rattlesnakes, scorpions, rivers and Indians. They were paid off at the end of the drive, often all their pay fast, then looked for another drive.