Oregon cowboys face a tough new adversary: unemployment

Buck Matthews was crossing northeast Oregon's Big Sheep Creek on his quarter horse, Rose, two winters ago when they suddenly crashed through the ice. Matthews, a 29-year-old cowboy, swam for his life while dodging the mare's flailing hooves. Man and horse reached the riverbank, then trekked four miles back to Matthews' pickup and trailer to avoid freezing to death in subzero temperatures. "It was pretty wild, and I was walking fast to keep warm," Matthews said. This winter, a pack of gray wolves shadowed the pair as they herded cows in the snow-covered canyons east of Enterprise. Such is the life of "riding for the brand." Matthews and other cowboys in rugged eastern Oregon accept the hazards, long hours and low pay because they love what they do. Now they have a bigger worry: staying employed. The recession and ranch economics are trampling the job market for cowboys, one of the West's most enduring symbols. Many cowhands are out of work, work for ranches only part time or have left the field altogether...more