The Wild West

The western way of life is very old and rich. Another term used to describe this way of life is the cowboy way. This way of life goes back a long time, and is still in use today. Of course, the modern world has changed it some, but it remains much the same still.

The cowboy began as a herder of cattle and horses. They live on huge ranches. Ranch life is difficult, requiring long hours and hard work. They live off the land and love the outdoors. Some were called wranglers, which specifically tend the horses used to manage the cattle. The cowgirl came around in the 19th century. Not as well respected or given credit for their role, now in the modern world their accomplishments are well recognized for being able to do virtually the same work just as well as a cowboy. The cowboy has deep historical roots tracing back to Spain.

This way of life includes many things, like tending and raising horses and cattle. Some compete in what is called rodeos. This is where cowboy and cowgirl alike can come show off there skills of horsemanship and cattle wrangling. Some even ride bulls.

When thinking of the West, some people think of gun fights. In the Old West, cowboys used to settle arguments this way. The faster the draw a person had, the better off they were. After all, the loser was not going to walk away. Some of these historical places where battles took place still stand today.

Once, the West was ruled by the gun. Once, cowboys had huge ranches to tend their cattle and horses. Today, this has largely changed, as few cowboys exist outside rodeos.