13 Biggest Cowboy Lies So Persistent They're Considered Fact Today

Most people don't know that their assumptions about the iconic American cowboy are often just Hollywood myths. Don't read on if you want to keep your John Wayne fantasy intact. The truth is not what you thought.

13. Cowboys Always Wore Cowboy Hats and Spurs

Myth: Every cowboy worth their salt rocked a classic cowboy hat and jingled with spurs everywhere they went.

Reality: The iconic wide-brimmed hat wasn't a must-have for all cowboys. Many preferred bowler hats or other styles based on the fashions of that era. And those classic jingly spurs? They were mainly used for specific ranch tasks, not just for looking cool on the dusty trail.

12. Cowboys Were Predominantly White Men

Myth: When you picture a cowboy, you probably imagine a rugged white dude, right?

Reality: That image doesn't tell the full story. The cowboy workforce was way more diverse than Hollywood would have you believe. African Americans, Mexicans, Native Americans, and yes, even trailblazing women worked as skilled cowhands and ranchers back in the day.

11. The Wild West Was Lawless and Full of Gunfights

Myth: No rules, no problem! The Wild West was a total free-for-all where gunfights broke out over every little dispute.

Reality: Most Western towns actually had their own law enforcement to keep things civilized. Sure, gunfights happened, but they were rare. Those dramatic Hollywood-style showdowns at high noon? More myth than reality when it came to settling fights.

10. Cowboys Constantly Engaged in Cattle Drives and Lived a Glamorous, Nomadic Lifestyle

Myth: Cowboys were always on the move, drivin' cattle from ranch to ranch and livin' that super exciting, nomadic lifestyle.

Reality: As badass as that sounds, cattle drives were really just a seasonal gig. A cowboy's day-to-day was often lonely, poorly paid, unglamorous hard work around the ranch.

9. Cowboys and Native Americans Were Always Enemies

Myth: It was an endless gunfight between hostile Native American tribes and those brave cowboys.

Reality: Their relationship was way more complex than just being sworn enemies. Experiences ran the gamut from peaceful cooperation to violent clashes and everything in between.

8. Outlaws Like Billy the Kid Were Heroic Figures

Myth: Outlaws like Billy the Kid were the Robin Hoods of the Wild West - heroic folk legends who stole from the rich and fought for the little guy.

Reality: As glamorous as their stories became later, at the time, these outlaws were usually just straightup criminals looking for an easy score - not heroes.

7. Every Cowboy Carried a Gun

Myth: The cowboy lifestyle required being locked and loaded 24/7 with a trusty six-shooter on your hip.

Reality: Gun ownership and requirements varied. Laws and job duties meant a lot of cowboys didn't actually pack heat regularly.

6. Saloon Brawls and Whiskey Drinking Were Daily Activities

Myth: When they weren't riding the range, cowboys could usually be found shootin' whiskey and getting into insane barroom brawls every chance they got.

Reality: Saloons were popular hangs, sure. But the nonstop, over-the-top drinking and fighting is pure exaggeration for drama's sake. Most days were pretty routine for the average cowpoke.

5. Cowboys Always Rode Horses and Could Perform Any Related Task

Myth: Of course every cowboy was a seasoned pro when it came to riding horses and skills like lassoing or horse training.

Reality: Nope, not every cowboy was a Michael Flatley-level fancy horseman. Some stuck to ground work. Special skills like horse breaking or tracking were expert-level tricks not everyone had.

4. Wild West Shows and Movies Accurately Portrayed Cowboy Life

Myth: TV shows, movies, books - they all gave us an honest glimpse into the daily lives and struggles of real cowboys from back in the day, right?

Reality: As entertaining as they were, these dramas took a looot of creative license with the truth. Most aspects of cowboy living were overly romanticized or sensationalized.

3. The Cowboy Era Lasted a Long Time and Cowboys Always Settled in the West

Myth: The cowboy period spanned decades on end, and anyone in that line of work just planted roots permanently out West once it was over.

Reality: That iconic cowboy era was actually pretty short-lived, peaking between the 1860s-1890s. And many working cowboys eventually migrated elsewhere when it ended or returned to their Eastern home regions.

2. Cowboys Were Always Rugged, Dirty, and Uneducated

Myth: It was a dirty, grimy existence. Cowboys were all just rough, filthy, illiterate men out on the dusty trail.

Reality: Sure, it could get grimy at times. But many cowboys were surprisingly literate and well-spoken. They might've gotten a little ripe, but they tried to keep up on grooming when they could.

1. Cowboys Were Often Involved in Big Shootouts Like at the O.K. Corral

Myth: Every couple weeks, your average cowboy would probably get caught up in a huge, dramatic shootout just like the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Reality: Events that intense were extremely rare. Though it did happen, most cowboys never even had to fire their gun in anger, let alone take part in a crazy, bloody shootout.