Cowgirl Quotes Every Woman Should Know
Cowboy wisdom is in a class of its own. There is a lot to be learned about what really matters in life when you are spending your days in the saddle and your nights under the stars. But prairie insight isn’t just for the guys – we cowgirls can dish out the sage advice just as well as anyone else!
What are some of the top cowgirl quotes and sayings? Cowgirls have true grit in their veins, and most haven’t met a challenge they weren’t willing to face head-on. As Marilyn Monroe says, “Give a girl the right pair of boots and she can conquer the world.” Whether you’re looking for a quote that offers wisdom or inspires strength, a cowgirl is where you’ll want to turn.
Keep reading for fifty of the greatest cowgirl quotes and sayings!
Cowgirl Quotes: Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley is one of the most famous cowgirls in history. She learned to shoot as a child while hunting for food for her family and later became the highest-earning sharpshooter on Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. She’s known for pulling such stunts as splitting a playing card edge-on at 30 paces and shooting a cigar out of her husband’s hand. While Mrs. Oakley long ago left this earth, her wisdom has lived on through her quotes:
“God intended women to be outside as well as men, and they do not know what they are missing when they stay cooped up in the house.”
“Aim for the high mark and you will hit it. No, not the first time, not the second time, and maybe not the third. But keep on aiming and keep on shooting for only practice will make you perfect. Finally, you’ll hit the bull’s eye of success.”
“I would like to see every woman know how to handle guns as naturally as they know how to handle babies.”
“For me, sitting still is harder than any kind of work.”
Cowgirl Quotes: Calamity Jane
Another cowgirl who gained recognition for her impressive sharpshooting skills through Buffalo Bill, Calamity Jane was a frontierswoman and close acquaintance of the one and only Wild Bill Hickok. Calamity Jane left the world a wealth of great quotes, including the following:
“I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should just go ahead and be one.”
“I may not be the prettiest flower in the garden, but I sure am a wild one.”
“Being fearless isn’t the absence of fear, it’s having the courage to face it head-on.”
“The world may try to tame me, but I refuse to be anything other than wild and free.”
“I may be a rough diamond, but I sparkle just the same.”
Cowgirl Quote: Dale Evans
Dale Evans was a western actress, singer, and songwriter known not only for her talent on the screen and on the stage but also for her witty sayings (and her marriage to Roy Rogers). Here are a few of her best quotes:
“It’s the way you ride the trail that counts.”
“The cowgirl faces life head-on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses.”
“Cowgirl is an attitude, really, a pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage.”
Cowgirl Quotes: Dolly Parton
Is it any surprise that Dolly Parton has not only made this list but has the most quotes of anyone on it? Dolly Parton is famous for not only her thoughtful view of the world but also for her straightforward and humorous way of telling it like it is. Here are some of her greatest quotes:
“Don’t be a lady, be a legend.”
“Storms make trees take deeper roots.”
“When I wake up, I expect things to be good. If they’re not, then I try to set about trying to make them as good as I can ‘cause I know I’m gonna have to live that day anyway. So why not try to make the most of it if you can?”
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”
Cowgirl Quotes from Television
Westerns have been popular with the masses for generations, and that was no truer in the past than it is now. Below are some thought-provoking quotes from Amy Fleming of Heartland and Beth Dutton of Yellowstone – two women who, while they couldn’t be any different from one another, can both dish out some sage life advice.
“Horses will forgive practically anything. If you work at it.” Amy Fleming (Heartland)
“We don’t whisper things to horses. We let them speak to us.” Amy Fleming (Heartland)
“My horses are my friends, not my slaves.” Amy Fleming (Heartland)
“I believe in lovin’ with your whole soul and destroying anything that wants to kill what you love. That’s it. That’s all there is.” Beth Dutton (Yellowstone)
“You know, life isn’t a longevity contest; it’s a contest in quality.” Beth Dutton (Yellowstone)
Cowgirl Quotes: Honorable Mentions
There are plenty more noteworthy one-liners that exude cowgirl strength. Here are some of the best ones:
“Cowgirls don’t cry, they just dust off and ride.” Brooks & Dunn
“Boots, class, and a little sass, that’s what cowgirls are made of.” Candice Nichols
“Give a girl the right pair of boots and she can conquer the world.” Marilyn Monroe
“For one to fly, one needs only to take the reins.” Melissa James
“Dirt is cowgirl glitter.” Fallon Taylor
“If a cowgirl is smiling she’s thinking of doing something crazy, if she’s laughing she’s already done it.” Cassidy Magazine
“Good girls are made of sugar and spice, cowgirls are made of whiskey on ice.” Rita Cynder
“Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, and work like a dog.” Caroline Simon
“A woman never looks better than on horseback.” Jane Austen
“I’ve known a lot of cowboys and a few cowgirls. They’re, by and large, some of the smartest, funniest, most courteous, generous, and hard-working people you’d ever want to know.” Nancy Pickard
“You trust your horse with your life, and they’re trusting you with theirs. It’s a team effort – you have to have a certain communication.” Zoie Brogdon
“Horse training is not about fixing the horse. It’s about fixing your leadership.” Linda Parelli (horse trainer)
“Horsemanship, good horsemanship, is intuition combined with knowledge and wisdom. Having only one of these three is like a butterfly without wings. It can’t go anywhere, it can’t complete ‘normal’ tasks and when it wants to fly, it can’t get off the ground. It can’t do anything but hop around on the ground for a while.” Gwenyth Browning Jones Santagate (horse trainer)
“A pony is a childhood dream. A horse is an adulthood treasure.” Rebecca Carroll
“The horse, with beauty unsurpassed, strength immeasurable, and grace unlike any other, still remains humble enough to carry a man upon his back.” Amber Senti
“A horse can lend its rider the speed and strength he or she lacks – but the rider who is wise remembers it is no more than a loan.” Pam Brown
“There is freedom waiting for you, on the breezes of the sky. And you ask “what if I fall?” Oh my darling, “what if you fly?” Erin Hanson
“A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.” Pam Brown
“In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.” Helen Thomson
Cowgirl Quotes by Unknown Authors
Some of the best quotes also happen to be anonymous. It’s unfortunate that the authors of the below quotes are unknown because they deserve recognition for these absolute gems.
“I’d rather ride on a Mustang than in one.”
“The only drama a cowgirl needs is in her saddle.”
“I am a free spirit – either admire me from the ground or fly with me, but don’t ever try to change me.”
“Forget glass slippers, this princess wears cowboy boots.”
“Cowgirls may not have wings, but they have horses, and that’s close enough.”
“A good rider can hear her horse speak to her. A great rider can hear her horse whisper.”
“Some horses will test you, some will teach you, and some will bring out the best in you”
“A cowgirl stands up for what’s right, even if she stands up alone.”
There’s a Cowgirl Quote for Every Situation
Whatever it is you need at the moment, there is likely a quote from a cowgirl you can relate to. There’s a cowgirl quote when you need serious get-back-in-the-saddle courage, there’s a cowgirl quote that can apply when you’ve had your heart broken, and there’s a cowgirl quote when you need some experienced guidance to get you started on the right path. Cowgirls are tough for a reason – they both take control and give up control every time they grasp the reins, and both require a special kind of heart.
If you’re looking for more good horse quotes, check out my article The Best Horse Quotes (Picked By an Actual Equestrian.)
