Many Texans – and no doubt some abiding outside our borders – have used the expression for years: “He’ll do to ride the river with.” We give little thought to its origin, but typically it is used to convey highest praise for others in whom we have confidence – whether we’re fording a river or even if we don’t have a horse underneath us. They say it originated a century and a half ago, when cowboys herded cattle to northern railheads. Obstacles included crossing rivers known for their rages, so cowboys counted on each other to get the cattle, their horses and ...