Fences across the American West are a symbol of the hard work and
perseverance of working cowboys and cowgirls. David Stoecklein's images
in this volume of the ever-expanding Cowboy Gear series depict the
fences that snake across the varying terrain of the West, ranging from
simple barbed wire to old wooden panels. Fences serve an important
purpose and they also have a certain symbolism. They communicate
ownership and mark property lines, but they also protect livestock and
symbolize the teamwork that is so important to surviving in a harsh
environment.