Many a man got rich in the cattle industry, especially at the end of the Civil War when the East was in ruin and beef-starved. Men in them days were no different than today. If they had it, they spent it on Victorian bling. That would have included a nice suit of clothes, fancy boots, spurs, a gun and rig, the best saddle money could buy and a good horse. Of course, for every cowboy who made a killing on movin' long horns about, there were hundreds who made their thirty-a-month-and-found. Even then, they would save up their poke for what was most important to them. It's not like they had to pay rent, buy groceries or pay utility bills. Sometimes what was important was a poke when they got to town, other times it was spent on tools of the trade, improving thier standing in their chosen profession.
Even today, the person most likely to buy a three thousand dollar, hand built saddle, is the dirt poor ranch hand who spends his days in a saddle and knows it's value. The weekend equestrian warrior, even one with some scratch, will settle for a two hundred dollar kack from the co-op. Yesterday's cowboys are no different than the shooters of today, they'll make due with what they've got till they can afford what they want. It's all a matter of priority and pride, yesterday and today.
Will