As a young girl I envisioned myself as a cowgirl. Our family didn’t own a horse ranch, nor did either of my parents grow up with horses, but they supported my dream to own a horse. From my first Quarter Horse in the fifth grade, to my last horse before I went off to college, I saw myself as a cowgirl. I didn’t wear my cowboy boots or silver belt buckle to school, but classmates knew me as the horse crazy girl. To this day, all of my problems slip away when I’m on the back of a horse.
With that in mind, I’d like to share a poem with you. I was introduced to Kathleen West’s The Cowgirl Way poem on a Montana Rocky Mountain Rendezvous horseback riding vacation at Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana.
COWGIRL WAY
by Kathleen West
Cowgirls are special and work hard every day
They feed their horses, and stack their own hay
They know who they are, and where they are from
Their family comes first, but when the chores are all done
We get in the saddle in rain or in shine
It’s not the destination, but the thrill of the ride!
On horseback all our problems just slip away
Just workin’ and playin’ the cowgirl way.
Insider Tip:
If you are a fan of cowboy poetry, you are probably familiar with Cowboy Poet Waddie Mitchell. I was fortunate to have met Mitchell when he was being inducted into the Walk of Western Stars at the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival in Newhall, California. You can read my complete review of the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival here. For additional insider tips follow @Nancydbrown on Twitter.