Cowgirls West People Working Women 1800s Expected Saddle

When people think about the "Old West" (the lifestyle in the Western United States in the late 1800s), they often "picture" (imagine; see images in their mind of) cowboys, but cowgirls were often working "alongside" (next to; with) them. This was especially true on smaller ranches, where there wasn't enough money to hire men for all of the work, so the wives and daughters had to help, too.

One of the "challenges" (difficult things; obstacles) for women working as cowgirls in the 1800s was that women were expected to wear long, heavy skirts, and a traditional saddle was "indecent" (socially unacceptable and scandalous or shocking). The "sidesaddle" was a special kind of saddle that allowed a woman to ride a horse with both legs on one side of the horse, but it wasn't "practical" (able to be used in a real way) for working on a ranch.

Around 1900, cowgirls began wearing "slit skirts" (pants with very wide legs that appeared to be a skirt), which let them ride horses "in public" (where they could be seen by other people). Around the "turn of the century" (late 1800s and early 1900s), Wild West Shows became popular. At these shows, people could watch cowboys and cowgirls "show off" (demonstrate) their skills. One cowgirl in particular, Annie Oakley, became very well known for her "shooting skills" (ability to shoot a gun).

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas tries to collect stories about cowgirls' "role" (what one does and is expected to do) in the Old West and educate people about their "contributions" (how someone helps a group achieve some goal).