See 15 Photos of Real-Life Cowboys and Cowgirls Wrangling Cattle and Riding Bucking Broncos
Herding cattle is a practice that goes back thousands of years, to when humans first realized that controlling large groups of animals could help provide them with steady sources of food. Today, we call those wranglers “cowboys” or “cowgirls.” In the United States, they’re most commonly found in the West, wearing wide-brimmed hats, leather boots, chaps and carrying a lasso or two.
We’ve all seen the Hollywood depiction of a cowboy, but what does a real wrangler look like? Take a look and find out.
A young rider saddles up on a white steed in Chicago—not the first city that comes to mind when one thinks of cowgirls. Michele Lee, Illinois, 2019
Ranch hands observe the rodeo from a safe space behind the action, while one prepares to head to the ring. Dan Toomer, Montana, 2022
While in Mexico, they are known as vaqueros, in Australia and New Zealand, cowboys and girls are called jackaroos and jillaroos. Maria Plotnikova, Mexico, 2017
A horse kicks up a lot of dust as it puts on a show, with the help of a rider. Sarah Rose, South Dakota, 2023
