What did the original cowboy lore consist of? Besides songs, poetry, tall tales, jokes, and pranks, a variety of stories were passed along. Rhyme and meter were popular in that they added in remembering. Although a lament was certainly not unheard of (the passing of old ways or death of a wrangler or hero).
What was the function of original lore? Although an occasional cowboy sang to quiet the herd, it seems most lore served as entertainment and relaxation. Range humor, especially, likely offered some relief from the physical/psychological demands of the range. More than one folklorist has commented that humor was as vital as a horse, rope and six-gun. Certainly, there were few topics that were too serious to be poked fun of.
Why did lore start to spread? Folklore of certain economic occupations has tended to flourish (logger, railroad engineer, the cowboy). Such occupations attracted individuals, demanded special skills, involved danger, and necessitated working with hands and heart. Further, the cowboy lifestyle developed a code that was, and still is, attractive and relevant. The cowboy was known to have courage, respect a gentleman's agreement, take pride in his work, not complain, remain cheerful, not shirk from work, not brag about self, maintain loyalty to outfit, and hold women in high regard.
Research on Cowboy Lore: Cowboy lore first began to be collected by such folklorists as John Lomax and Jack Thorpe. Thorpe: Songs of the Cowboys (1908). Lomax: Cowboy songs and other Frontier Ballads (1910). Lomax: Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cowboy Camps (1919) Thorpe: Tales of the Chuck Wagon (1926). If interested in present-day research or collections, you might want to examine some of the collections put together by Hal Cannon of the Western Folklife Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. College of the Siskiyous has a couple of his books in the library. If you've got some cash, Buckaroo: Visions and Voices of the American Cowboy, ed by Cannon and West, published by Simon and Schuster, is especially interesting-- It comes with a CD soundtrack.
Subjects: Many of the same subjects of the original cowboy lore are covered: the beauty of the West, the drama of the cowboy life, the beliefs held sacred, and most certainly, the humor. There seems to be a strong sentiment for place; much of the poetry can be viewed as a celebration of those who still live, at least in their hearts, a bit of the cowboy life.
Who Writes it? Certainly not just cowboys. Although ranch hands and rodeo cowboys contribute, lawyers that go home to a few head of cattle are also contributing. In fact, it seems that anyone who has some exposure to ranching, knowledge of the vocabulary, and some understanding of humor is welcomed. Though it is true that you can only write what you know, there are many ways to know something. Remember, the Red Badge of Courage (which perhaps captured the reality of war better than any other work) was written by a man with no personal experience with combat.
Form: Some types of poetry (the haiku and limerick) are led or controlled by the form. Cowboy poetry, though it may first seem to follow particular meter and rhyme patterns, seems more than willing to drop a beat or rough up a rhyme in favor of a message (mind over meter). It is also meant to be read aloud, memorized and recited. It is a performance.
Main difference between today and original lore: The main differences exist, not so much in subject, but in presentation and audience. Today there is a strong public performance movement. You might well see cowboy poets at county fairs and cattlemen's dinners. Also, the audience today is as likely to include plumbers and professors as it is poets and ranch hands.