1. Midnight Boot Polish
Cowboys believed polishing boots at midnight brought luck. They did it in secret groups. Rumors said it warded off ghosts. Some refused to do it fearing bad omens.
2. Coffee Ground Fortunes
Reading coffee grounds predicted the day's dangers. Groups gathered around the pot each morning. Funny predictions often came true by chance. Some cowboys avoided strong brews to skip bad news.
3. Rattlesnake Boot Dance
Dancing in boots made from snakeskin warded off bites. Performed around campfires at night. Rumors claimed it scared away predators. Participants looked ridiculous but felt safer.
4. Spur Jingle Codes
Spurs had patterns to send messages via jingles. Used during cattle drives for warnings. Contradictory stories exist about its effectiveness. Outlaws supposedly cracked the codes easily.
5. Horse Hair Braids
Braiding horse hair into bracelets brought good fortune. Done only with shed hair not cut. Scary tales warned of curses if done wrong. Many kept them hidden under sleeves.
6. Dust Devil Wishes
Chasing dust devils to make a wish was common. They ran in circles yelling requests. Contradictory results led to arguments. Some cowboys got hurt trying too hard.
7. Bandana Knot Secrets
Tying bandanas in specific knots hid messages. Used for love notes or alerts. Funny mixups happened often in groups. This practice faded with the telegraph.