Florida Cowboy History

---

The Florida Cowboy, often overlooked. What many don’t know is that the Florida Cowboy was the original Cowboy. Dating back nearly 500 years, the oldest in the United States. The first cattle and horses were brought by Spanish explorers in Florida in 1521. These cattle and horses arrived in Florida with Ponce de León. The Spanish had an influence by the techniques used today. They established a cattle ranching system, with cattle roaming freely and then being rounded up for trade. The Spanish even had a branding system to identify their livestock. The Florida cowboys, known as "crackers," adapted their techniques to the unique Florida wet and challenging environment. By the sound of their whips gave them the term of “crackers, or cracker”. This came to represent the early settlers who had adapted to the cattle industry and the unique way of life in Florida. While the Spanish initiated the cattle industry, other groups in Florida like the Seminole Tribe and English, Scottish, and Irish settlers also participated in cattle herding, contributing to the rich history.

Though many don’t realize, these traditions are still instilled in Florida, by the legacy’s left behind by the Florida Cowboys. A history not just of The Florida Cowboy but of the whole American Cowboy.