There’s a misconception out there, that to be a cowgirl you have to wear tight jeans, a trophy buckle, and go to the grocery store in your hat and spurs. While some do dress the part; being a cowgirl is something that comes from the inside and works its way out rather than starting with “a look” and working its way in.
Many cowgirls admit to a weakness for the smell of the prairie on a summer night when a cool wind is murmuring through the grass and honestly think the feel of a well-made saddle and a slight smell of horse sweat make a perfect recipe for happiness. But real cowgirls can be found anywhere doing almost any thing. She could be a CEO living in San Francisco, a small animal veterinarian, a waitress, or even a surgeon.
A cowgirl can be hardheaded and independent, she may be slow to anger but she has no qualms about speaking her mind once she has made it up. Some are hard to get to know, they tend to act like some of the horses they’re attracted to, a little distant at first but solid once you gain their trust. She will have deep passions and frequently a soft heart, especially where horses or stray dogs are concerned. Often they are too strong for the men they come in contact with and that can cause them pain, but they’ll never let you see it.
A real cowgirl can do just about anything she sets her mind to—she’ll know how to foal a mare or ease a cow into a pen she has built out of old branches and baling wire; or she may know the best interest rate on the farm loan and how to get it. Then again, her specialty may be putting an outfit together for the lowest price.
If you need a friend, the cowgirl will be the first one at your door, generally with a pie or some other homemade gift. Not only will she pitch right in and help, but she will know the easiest way to get whatever it is you have to do done. She won’t mind getting dirty and won’t care if you can pay her, or whether you are in a position to return the favor. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly, but she’ll be the first to laugh at herself, if she finds herself doing something foolish, and the first to get back up when she finds herself sitting in the dirt.
It’s much more than owning a pair of boots and a belt buckle—being a cowgirl is a state of mind. If you know where you stand, what you believe in, and nothing can make you stray from what you know is right, you are well on your way to filling a real cowgirl’s boots.
Michelle Kuester has a bachelors degree in equine science and over twenty years of experience working with horses. She is passionate about natural horsemanship and helping people gain the best possible relationship with their equine companions. 
