@wildwestaliaweek | Day 5: Historical
The Caucasus does not have much of a connection to the Wild West aside from one character — the Georgian region of Guria.
A people known for their riding feats, Gurian men and women were recruited from the Caucasus to perform in American Wild West shows (notably Buffalo Bill’s Wild West) between the 1890s and 1920s. Show organizers promoted the Georgian riders as Russian Cossacks, as at the time Georgia was part of the Russian Empire and the Cossacks had a wider reputation.
Late Western historian Dee Brown noted that the Georgians won widespread recognition and significantly influenced cowboys.
“Trick riding came to rodeo by way of a troupe of Cossack daredevils …” he noted. “Intrigued by the Cossack’s stunts on their galloping horses, Western cowboys soon introduced variations to American rodeo. Colourful costumes seem to be a necessary part of trick riding, and it is quite possible that the outlandish western garb which has invaded rodeo area can be blamed directly on Cossacks and trick riders.”
Character-wise, Zurab (Guria) visited America for a short time. He was able to show off in front of Alfred before returning home to tell the other Georgians about seeing tall buildings and “moving rooms” (elevators).
Alternative image and more information under the cut!