04/15/2026
STOP EXCLUDING BEGINNERS OR THE “WANNABE”
In a world where everyone take offence to everything, I see the horse world following the same trend. I see people being deeply offended by beginners dressing up with jeans and boots, and calling themselves cowboys on their instagram post.
By definition cowboy means — a person, especially in the western north america, whose job is to take care of cattle, and who usually rides a horse
Now, I personally don’t think that cowboy is something you just call yourself, it’s a title you earn. But does it offend me when people calls themselves just that? No, why should it?
I fear a lot of people fail to understand that those people fuel our industry, they buy tickets at rodeos, shop at the small boutique on site, they buy beers at the beer garden and a poutine at the food truck, they go the local tack store and pick themselves a pair of boots and wranglers. Then those same businesses go on and sponsor the same event we love to compete at so much for added money. But yet some insist that they don’t have place in this world, they make fun of them and are deeply offended by the way they dress and talk.
What would be a rodeo if no one was there to watch it? What would our local store do if only the “real” cowboys could shop there? Would producer organize those big events hiring bands and performers if only the competing cowboys would be there to watch?
I was once that kids who smelled like horses at school because I snuck in a ride before taking the bus and I got the weird look from my classmates. But I was also the kids with skinny jeans and crappy boots because my parents didn’t want to buy me the “cool” jeans, and I’m sure glad I didn’t open facebook and instagram to see people making fun of me.
In a world where everyone is offended by everything, don’t be. That person wearing skinny jeans and funny looking cowboy boots might book lessons from your neighbours because they thought the county fair was so cool, they might buy a horse from your trainer friend and board it at one of the local barn, they might get a custom hat done locally because the one they got from the generic store is not near as beautiful as yours.
Be the teacher, be the inspiration, educate people about what it’s like to work with horses, share your passion, refer your friends and most importantly be kind to everyone. You never know who’s gonna be your next client.
