Giddy Up!

Boots, chaps and cowboy hats…A cowgirl kids costume is all she’ll need to maneuver through the rough terrain of the Wild West, trick ride at the rodeo and more.

The term “Cowgirl” originally referred only to women who performed in Wild West shows or competed in rodeos. Nowadays, however, cowgirl also refers to a woman who herds and tends cattle on a ranch, esp. in the western U.S., and who traditionally goes about most of her work on horseback.

Classic cowgirl attire is designed to bring out the fun and style in any girl. Dressing like a cute cowgirl isn’t difficult at all. For your little one, a pretty pink cow print cowgirl kids costume will do. The Wild West Cutie Toddler Costume consists of a dress with attached vest and attached belt with silver buckle, a matching hat and detachable wrist cuffs with fringe. You’ll only need to add boots to get her ready for her Wild West debut.

In the early Wild West shows and rodeos, women competed in all events, sometimes against other women, sometimes with the men. Cowgirls such as Fannie Sperry Steele rode the same “rough stock” and took the same risks as the men (and all while wearing a heavy split skirt that was still more encumbering than men’s trousers) and competed at major rodeos such as the Calgary Stampede and Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Thankfully, the split skirts are a thing of the past. Cowgirl outfits now include modern day pants with all the frills a girl can imagine. Take the Pink Cowgirl Costume for example. This costume includes a fancy pink shirt with silver fringe, and pink chaps with fringe.

With the advent of Wild West Shows cowgirls came into their own. These women were skilled performers, demonstrating riding, expert marksmanship, and trick roping that entertained audiences around the world. Women such as Annie Oakley became household names.

Your little Annie Oakley can prove her horseback riding skills as she performs her roping tricks in the Gun Slinger Child Costume. This cowgirl kids costume features a tan vest with gold buttons and attached red and white checkered shirt with matching bows. Also included is a brown skirt with attached matching belt buckle and rope, red bandanna with white design and brown hat.

After driving cattle up the trails of the Old West, your adorable cowgirl will be ready for a night of square dancing until the cows come home. That’s where the Planet Pop Star Child Costume comes in. This fashionable outfit brings out the diva in any girl. Whether she has dreams of becoming a Pop Star or Rodeo Star, she can do so in this pink and white shirt with horse print, pink frilly skirt and pink cowboy hat. Add pink spurs and boots to complete a fantastic look.

Kids cowgirl costumes get all the attention. And for good reason too! They represent women who were gutsy, tough, hardworking and honest. They had to buck all societal norms to be cowgirls. Putting on pants or riding astride could get them put in jail, run out of town or—least of all—scorned.

The cowgirls of the Wild West weren’t just tough, but they pursued their dreams of being cowgirls. They showed women everywhere how to make their dreams of freedom come true—freedom from the confinements of Victorian society and the feel of freedom while riding full gallop through wide open spaces. Cowgirls knew that from the back of a horse, the world looked wider. And because cowgirls were a generous bunch, they were kind enough to take their eastern sisters along for the ride of their lives. With that, we have…

Dating back to the early years when Buffalo Bill Cody brought popularity to the Wild West Shows, women began participating in rodeos. Annie Oakley was one of the first, when Cody discovered her in 1885. The public loved Annie’s feisty antic and soon Cody got a group of female ropers and riders together for the show. Steer riding, bronc riding, calf roping, cutting, barrel racing, trick riding, sharp shooting contests were the events used to display their talents.

After the Great Depression, women’s involvement in the rodeo almost disappeared. But with the help of Gene Autry, women were brought to his show as paid performers, wearing flashy costumes and showing off their horse skills. And in 1948, Nancy Binford and Thena Mae Farr created the Girl’s Rodeo Association (GRA). The GRA was dedicated to the advancement and promotion of women in the sport of rodeo. In 1981, the name was changed to Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.

Through it all, the definition of a cowgirl remains the same … A Better Looking Cowboy With Brains.

Cowgirls Rule!

photo credit: skedonk