Why COWBOYS are on Lake Winnipesaukee

[Joe Kerr]

All this negative talk about Cowboys on the big lake makes me laugh for many reasons. What's wrong with cowboys?

Why is it a bad thing that cowboys are in a State that is referred to as COW Hampshire? Google it if you want, put in COW Hampshire and up pops NEW Hampshire. There are a lot of definitions with slightly different connotations. For instance, the Urban Dictionary has this entry from 2003

Originally Posted by Urban Dictionary.com

New England state, north of Massachusetts. The folk of this state are simple, like cows.

Another site
Found HERE includes the following:
Cow Hampshire purports to embrace the rural, unsophisticated nature we are supposed to have (and believe me, there are places where it is absolutely true. There are entire towns which seem to survive on an economy of sharpening each others' saws.), but there is a bit of further mahketin' going on as well. The SE section of NH is essentially Manchester, Nashua, and suburbs of Boston. It kills us to admit that, but it's just true. So we dig in our heels a bit to insist that we are not suburban Boston, but a pristine rural state with lots of wildlife, farms, and wilderness, So that tourists will come. ...

So why is it that some people are "surprised" and/or complain that there are Cowboys driving boats in Cow Hampshire?

[Sandy Beach]

There are many good guy cowboys. Some famous personalities both fictional and real include the Cartwrights from Bonanza. Roy Rogers, Hop-A-Long Casidy, Gene Autry. Even the character The Lone Ranger was considered a cowboy.

Real life cowboys abound and include folks like: William Barclay (Bat) Masterson, William Frederick (Buffalo Bill) Cody, William Penn Adair "Will" Rogers, Martha (Calamity) Jane Cannary, Charles Goodnight, Christopher Houston (Kit) Carson, (Texas Jack) John Baker Omohundro, James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickok, Wyatt Earp, Phoebe (Annie Oakley) Ann Oakley Moses and so many more.

Why is there a stigma to the label of cowboy? Did those cowboys riding horses have speed limits or safety zones?

A cowboy is not the same as an undesirable person.

Giddy-up !!

[NHBUOY]

...cowboys...have spurs that jingle..jangle..jingle...ride horses' with no name...and...rustle-up grizzlies, and kiss pretty girls...sounds good to me...

[BroadHopper]

Don't forget the Cowgirls! They want more than a 'ten second' ride.

[MAXUM]

The term Cowboy is often referred to and often times confused with those that are at times free wielding beyond the point of reasonable self restraint which couldn't be further from the truth. In reality it's a inappropriate label put on simple folks by so called self proclaimed city and suburbanite dwellers who have no concept of what living a simple life is all about.