Although cowboys have many qualities that are easy to fall in love with, bride beware before tying the knot.
A cowboy on a horse cuts a dashing figure irresistible to many members of the fairer sex. Maybe it’s the hat, or the chaps, or the sight of him riding a bronco first thing in the morning that makes you think about how your first name would sound paired with his last name.
Whatever your motivation for wanting to marry a cowboy (if any), there are many misconceptions. Here are a few reasons to NOT marry one.
1. You think he looks really sexy in those dark blue, crisply pressed jeans.
Don’t be fooled. If you met him at a rodeo or bar, that is his only pair of go-to-town jeans. He probably wears them twice a year. The rest of the time he can be found in Levi’s that are shiny and dark from dirt, sweat and saddle oil. After several weeks, they develop a hard, slick surface similar to Naugahyde. Once they reach this stage, he declares them his favorite jeans and wears them every day. As the owner of the pants, he is naturally immune to their odor. The jeans will repel water, blood, laundry detergent and polite company.
But when he puts on his good Levi’s and takes you out to dinner, the two of you will make a handsome couple. You likely won’t go out to dinner very often, though, because you married a cowboy, which is a subspecies of the human race who is allergic to both town and money.
2. You want to ride and rope all day.
If you want to do cowboy stuff all day, you should hire onto the cowboy crew — not marry one of its members. Cowboys’ wives ride at every gather and rope at every branding only if they don’t have kids living at home. Living on a remote ranch has its perks, but access to childcare isn’t one of them. So, tag — Mom is it. All day. Every day.
If you marry a considerate cowboy (which you totally should), he will keep a nice horse around for you to ride and swap out childcare duties when he can. Despite gender equality, it isn’t a 50/50 deal, though, because if he’s on the payroll, he has an obligation to work full-time for the outfit.
3. You want to live in a big house with a wraparound porch and acres of hay meadows out the back door.
If this sounds like your dream home, you should marry a ranch owner. Which is a totally achievable; ranchers need lovin’, too. Cowboys usually live in something more humble than a big white house on a hill, though. More like a 1975 single-wide trailer with no screens on the windows or insulation in the walls. Sometimes they live in a 100-year-old wooden shack with no electricity or insulation. Basically, bring a coat.
Regardless of the quality or dwelling you inhabit, though, you are guaranteed to live in some breathtakingly beautiful locales that most people only get to briefly experience while on vacation.
4. You want an adventurous life filled with horses, cows, rodeos, and Wild West stories most people won’t believe.
Then you’ve chosen your spouse wisely, because this is exactly what comes with the title “Mrs. Cowboy.” You’ll live an unusual life, but it will be exciting and fulfilling.
Also, there will be a lot of dirt. So maybe throw a broom in along with that coat.
8 Comments
Smiles!
Ain’t to better match for a cowboy than a cowgirl .
Smiles!
Good write-up stressing that “not all that glitters is gold”
Loved it! My mom worked at Stetson Hat Co. back in the day, in the bookkeeping dept and art department. She did not design “The Last Drop” but fell in love with that hat liner and decided she wanted to marry a cowboy. Long story short, she went to a USO party during WWII and met this tall handsome soldier from Texas and by the way he was a cowboy and ended up being my dad. He swept her off her feet and to Texas…sixty miles from the nearest town, no electricity, no running water, no indoor plumbing and a wood stove. And one day I will get all their adventures on paper to include variations of your “Four Reasons Not to Marry a Cowboy”!
From a guy who always wanted to be a real cowboy, there is a lot of truth here! Great Article! P S. Ibraisedcsnd trained some fine Quarter Horses for over 30 years!!
The cowboy life is not for everyone. Some ladies love it. You can find cowgirls all over the world who will marry the cowboy for his hard work ethics and his charm and good looks. The dirt is free!
Front and Center
I need a rancher. I want to live on the farm and tend to the animals
Amen
I always loved a cowgirl, she is someone that is not afraid to get dirty , can ride a horse and can sit around a fire and talk about the days work, and I think they are the prettiest gals around, and they try their hardest to make each other happy. HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY I’LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE SOMEDAY. JUST SAYING.
I’m marrying my cowboy that I met 35 years ago. We were apart until 6 years ago he found me on FB. He is my soul mate. Yes it is a different lifestyle getting hitched or date a cowboy. But, I wouldn’t trade him and our lifestyle together. July 24, 2021 is the day I marry my soul mate. I also will inherit several rodeo and day work cowboy brothers. Again, I wouldn’t trade them for the world either. Oh and by the way if you get with a cowboy, invest in a pair of rubber boots, fencing pliers, leather gloves, cap/hat, etc. You never know where life will take you from day to day! Anyhow, blessings!