would not stop them, but it would "turn the herd" eventually. the cowboy would also shoot his six shooter in front of the herd to frighten them and to turn the herd. he would never start shooting steers though. the cowboys knew that eventually, if the herd did not run over a cliff, they could turn them and calm them all down again.
once the cattle stampede turned, though they ran and ran, they would eventually turn into a mill, that is, if the cowboys did their work well. this meant all the cattle would run in a big circle. this gave the cattle the sensation that they were running free, 