I know many of you are just wondering about this. Cowboys did not choose to sit on the top rail at the corral for very long periods of time. Good reasoning for it too! That top rail was mostly a two by twelve piece of lumber. It was nailed securely enough, but if you have been riding a saddle horse all day, that piece of wood is just not very dad gum comfortable. If you have anything in your back pockets…it is likely to wind up on the ground because you kind of have to squirm a little just to stay up there for any length of time. It is also rather embarrassing to go into the bunkhouse and have the worst joke teller in the entire world pull a splinter out of your rear end because you squirmed too much. Especially if you have been watching some bronco busting first thing in the morning and you have to sit the saddle all day. The only kick back is, sooner or later, you are going to have to pull a splinter out of that joker’s rear end. I have been atop that rail enjoying the view and wouldn’t you know some idiot just has to come up behind me and give me a goosing. Guess who wound up inside the corral where all that bronco busting is taking place. Yep, it’s me!
It is just best if you can lean in and look between the top rail and the next rail down. Putting your foot on the bottom rail is fairly relaxing.
I just know everyone has been wanting this information. So, the next time you are watching bronco busting at the corral, the old timers will tell you it is more comfortable to stay off that top rail.
(I think the feller sittin to the left in the picture just might have gotten a splinter!)
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