Cowboy life is woven into the Drummond family story, and with it, comes a set of unwritten rules that every good rancher knows. Paige once summed it up perfectly while working on the ranch: “College didn't prepare me for this… but my childhood prepared me for it.” Growing up around horses, cattle, and long days of ranch work means learning not just how to do the job, but how a cowboy is expected to do it.
At Drummond Ranch, that means respecting the land, looking after your horse, and knowing your place in the herd. These rules may seem simple, but they’re part of the code that keeps ranch life running smoothly.
If you didn’t grow up around cattle and cowboys, though, some of that etiquette might not be so obvious. So we rounded up eight cowboy rules every good rancher swears by—including Ladd.
1. Remove Your Hat Indoors
Just like with a baseball cap, a cowboy hat comes off when you enter someone’s home or a place of worship. But don’t go thinking it has to come off every time you step inside. At a bar, restaurant, or while running errands, it’s generally fine to leave it on.
The rule really comes down to respect. Taking off your hat is a small gesture that shows good manners, whether you’re stepping into someone’s home, meeting someone for the first time, or standing for the National Anthem.
2. Never Pass the Lead Cowboy
Similar to an office, there’s a pecking order on a ranch. The Cow Boss, or Ranch Foreman, leads the crew, with herdsmen, ranch hands, and wranglers falling behind. And no matter how eager you are to get moving, one rule stands: Never ride ahead of the lead cowboy.
There’s a good reason for it, too. The lead cowboy sets the pace, knows the land, and can read how the cattle are behaving. Riding out of order can spook the herd, scatter livestock, and create a safety problem in a hurry. Plus, passing the person in charge is just plain bad manners.
3. Leave a Gate Exactly How You Found It
Ranch gates may not look like much, but they’re doing an important job: keeping cattle safely where they belong. Opening one from horseback can be a bit of a production: You hop down, swing the gate open, ride through, hop down again, and close the gate behind you.
Still, it’s imperative not to skip that last step. Even if there isn’t a steer in sight, always leave a gate exactly how you found it. On a ranch, one forgotten gate can quickly turn into a pit of time and money.
4. Mind Your Dust
If you’ve ever followed someone down a gravel road, you know how fast a little dust can turn into a full-blown cloud. The same thing happens on horseback—except there’s no windshield between you and the dirt. One big gust can end up in your eyes, nose, and lungs before you know it.
That’s why a good cowboy always minds their dust, whether they’re driving a truck, riding a horse, or pulling a wagon. It’s simple, just slow down when you’re approaching or passing someone. Your fellow ranchers will thank you for it.
5. Never Touch Another Man’s Horse, Gear, or Hat
A good rule in life—and an especially good one on a ranch—is to keep your hands off another cowboy’s things. That goes double for their horse, gear, and hat. A cowboy has their own way of saddling up, handling their horse, and arranging their equipment, giving reason to every detail.
So unless you’re asked to help, leave it be. Moving a piece of tack, adjusting a saddle, or handling someone else’s horse can throw off a routine and cause more trouble than aid. And as for the hat? That one is simple: never touch it without asking.
6. Tend to Your Horse Before You Tend to Yourself
A cowboy and their horse spend a lot of time together, and for good reason. Horses help with everything from herding and sorting cattle to covering miles of rough terrain, so keeping them healthy and cared for is an essential part of the job.
If you stop on the trail for food, water, or a break, make sure your horse is taken care of before you settle in yourself. A good cowboy knows that looking after the animal carrying you is never optional.
7. Never Quit
“Never quit” may sound simple, but ranch life has a way of testing this popular mantra. The days can start before sunrise, end long after dark, and include plenty of heat, dust, sore muscles, and things that don’t go according to plan.
Still, the cattle need tending, and the crew is counting on you. So even after a 15-hour day when just about everything went wrong, a true cowboy gets up the next morning, pulls on their boots, and does it all over again.
8. Respect the Land and Livestock
A cowboy’s livelihood starts with the land and the animals that live on it. Thriving pastures and well-cared-for livestock are what keep a ranch running, so taking care of both is a crucial part of the job.
That means treating the land with care, looking after the cattle, and never taking them for granted. A good rancher knows the goal isn’t just to get through the day’s work—it’s to leave the ranch in good shape for the next generation.
Kate (she/her) is the associate editor of The Pioneer Woman Magazine. She writes features, commerce, and travel content. Kate brings nearly five years of home, food, and lifestyle experience to the role, including time as editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping. Her bylines have appeared in Woman’s Day, Food Network Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Dream Kitchens & Baths, and more. When she’s not writing, Kate can be found lazing in the park with a sudoku in hand.
