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August 1941. "Cowboy and horse at the Quarter Circle U, Brewster-Arnold Ranch Co. Birney, Montana." Our second visit with this sweater-wearing wrangler. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
The horse is not wearing a halter, but a hackamore bridle. The nosepiece is called a bosal. These are more common in California and Texas -- in the old California style, the young horses are worked in the hackamore, slowly transitioning to the large and heavy spade-style bitting.
It can be hot as blazes -- or not -- in Montana summers, so the straw hat is cooler than the felt style hats.
Interesting that the horse is not wearing a bridle, but rather a halter. The bridle has a bit, which goes in the horse's mouth, and is used to control the animal. A halter is generally used only to lead them. Somebody more horse savvy than I am might be able to shed light on this.
Time to add the tag to this guy, because he is one. Sure, not in the iron worker way, but rather in the ranch hand way!
[Done. - Dave]
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