So You Want to Be a Cowboy?

So you want to be a cowboy. If you're not bornthat. They are usually responsible for an entire
and raised on a ranch, weaned on horses andherd on a ranch (and you can't imagine the trouble
cattle, exactly how do you go about achievinghorses can create) and they do tons of general
that all-American dream? I always wanted to be amaintenance involving tractors, fences, hay, and
cowgirl but by some strange accident I was bornany structure on a ranch. It's a hard life.
in Philly and lived the better part of my adult life inStart to explore areas of the country where you
Jersey. Not exactly the Wild West, but I did it- Ican work outside with horses. Colorado,
found a job in Colorado wrangling horses. I wouldWyoming, and Montana do the lion's share of
never call myself a real 'cowgirl' because at thedude ranching so these are a natural fit for
age of 49 I'll never get there. And I too muchcowboys-in-training. But anywhere you live in this
respect what the real cowboys and girls do. But Icountry, there's probably green space
wrangle horses, can saddle and care for them,somewhere, with someone working horses. Do
and I can teach other folks the basics. Not badyou research and find it. If you can afford to
for a girl from Philly.travel, go West young man or woman (or in my
No matter where you live, the first step incase, middle-age woman). Take a horse pack trip
becoming a cowboy (forget the gender thing for- they're not that expensive - and get familiar
a minute if you can) is to get familiar with horses.with the process of horse-related travel. This is
Take lessons if you can afford it. If not, volunteerwhere I met the folks I work with now. I took a
to clean stalls at any barn anywhere. Within drivingfive day pack trip into the Sangre de Cristo
distance of any major city you'll find stables ofMountains. When I came down from the
some kind. I used to volunteer at the Atlanticmountain, life would never be the same.
Riding School for the Handicapped. ThisIf you are young, you're probably not yet saddled
organization used horses as physical therapy for(sorry) with debt and family responsibilities. Even
disabled children and adults. There were speciallywith little experience you can get a job on a
trained instructors but they always needed helpranch as a hand or a beginner wrangler. You have
cleaning stalls, saddling horses, and walking besideto be eager, and willing to work hard. There are a
the riders for safety. Do whatever you can tofew places where you can actually attend a
start getting a real comfort level with horses.Wrangler School. These courses are enormously
Next, start your mind-training. Read, read, readbeneficial and surely look good on a wrangler
about the cowboy lifestyle, about life in the West,resume.
about a "day in the life" of a cowboy. You'll findIf you really want to be a part of the cowboy or
most "real" cowboys are born and raised in thewrangler culture you have to be willing to work
West, and were on horses before they couldvery long hard hours, outdoors, in any weather.
walk. You can't really aspire to this, but you canSummers in the dude ranch industry are incredibly
absolutely become a ranch hand, a wrangler, andbusy - 16 hour days, and many nights spent
a dude horse trainer. "Dude" in the West refers tosleeping under the stars (not a bad perk, huh?)
any city slicker or any non-ranch or horse person.There are a few great websites for outdoor
In Jersey, 'dude' was a surfer term ofjobs, like and You won't believe what's available.
endearment. Not so much out West. This is whatYou can also do a Google search for dude
you can learn by reading about the cowboyranches in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. You
culture.may need to start out as a cook one summer,
A "wrangler" is a person - not always a cowboy -and work your way up to wrangling.
who has some basic competence around horses.I was a high school teacher and (gulp) a litigation
He can groom, saddle, and care for them; heattorney for 16 years before my dream of being
understands tack (horse equipment, saddles,a wrangler came to fruition. If this nearly-50 year
blankets, bridles etc.) and is committed to safetyold Jersey girl can ride the range for a living surely
on a horse and when teaching others. Cowboysyou can too. Good luck, and come see me at the
do wrangle, but they do a whole lot more thanranch.