In reality, cowboys were hardworking and dedicated to their work. Their jobs took strength and motivation, it was definitely not for the weak hearted. Usually, the men who took up the job of becoming a cowboy were young and singe, as being a cowboy meant being away from home, and living a life of loneliness. Their jobs called for them to travel from place to place. These men were efficient, and truly dedicated their lives to their work. They definitely did not have it easy. They worked long and hard for what they earned..
The workload for cowboys was enormous, from herding cattle, to roping broncos, these were dangerous and risky tasks. The task of cow herding and handling was a tough one, they had to travel far and long to find the cattle, and then traveling with the cattle's was not easy either. There were long breaks that had to be taken, and it was a tiring and time consuming task. With this job, patience is virtue. Also, if the cowboy was not traveling with the cows, then he had to load them on a train, which was also an extremely difficult task.
Also, their lifestyles came along with potential health dangers, as there were no real doctors at the time, so if they were hurt on the job, it would be difficult to find a doctor, and contracting diseases was widespread during this time. The doctors in the 1800's form of sterilization was alcohol, and insufficient cleanings lead to further infection. The conditions that cowboys worked through were rough too, dry climates, cold nights, boiling days. It's not like they had the amenities and facilities of a holiday inn.
So, I'm guessing you also think that the cowboy thought his gun was his most important piece of equipment, and his clothes were nicely pressed, and expensive looking. Well, no... actually a cowboy was practical about his equipment, and carried only what he needed. Wool shirt, spurs, leather boots, a gun, and his horses saddle and other equipment. That's all, there was no fanciness to it. He definitely did not bedazzle his clothing.
Rodeo was also an important part of a cowboys life. The purpose was to show their talents and skills. It was their version of fun, and gave them a little bit of a break from their tedious jobs.
Hollywood has clearly misguided you from what a real cowboy is to their glammed up version, well at least now you know. A cowboys life was rough. They were dedicated agile, and hard workers who got the job done.
Image: http://www.cartermuseum.org/collections/smith/collection.php?asn=LC-S6-232&mcat=9&scat=35
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