Can you imagine how tough you would have to be as a cowgirl in the 1800s? A woman that loved to shoot, bull ride, rope cattle, trick ride? That right there can be a hard life filled with a lot of hard, hard work and pain (both physical and mental). Add to that, it was a time when most things were definitely run by men and there were very specific gender "rules" about where a woman belonged and where she didn't.
AND..... they weren't always young twenty-somethings either. There are several that were very active riders in their 50s and 60s, with one that died after being thrown from her horse at the age of 101.
You had to be tough if you were a cowgirl!
Now, let's jump back into the 21st century. Cowgirls are still tough, but you know one thing they don't have to be tough about anymore?