It should be said that a saddle, such as we all used, cost from forty to sixty dollars, and weighed generally about forty pounds, not counting saddle blankets.

Sometimes the saddle had only one "cinch" or girth, generally two, one of which reached well back under the flank.

Such heavy saddles were necessary for heavy work, roping big cattle, etc.

The stirrups were then generally made of wood, very big and broad in sole and very heavy, sometimes covered with tapaderos, huge leather caps to save the feet from thorns in heavy brush, and protect them from cold in severe weather.
To protect our legs we wore over the trousers heavy leather chaparejos, sometimes of bear or buffalo hide.

Let it be noted that a genuine cowpuncher never rolls his shirt sleeves up, as depicted in romancing novels.