It’s one thing to watch cowboys at work in Hollywood movies, which are jam-packed with well-coordinated gunfights and horse tricks. In the last decade alone, we’ve had Django Unchained, Hell or High Water, The Lone Ranger, and The Magnificent Seven. That’s not to mention all the Western TV shows that have recently come out as well!
But strip away the Hollywood glamor and the western world is a different story altogether. In the real world, cowboys aren’t all about gunfights, knife fights, and the rodeo.
So, to get a better idea of what the life of a full-fledged cowboy is really like, consider watching any (or all – we won’t judge) of these awesome cowboy reality shows!
The Cowboy Way, INSP (2016 – 2020)
Set in Alabama, INSP’s The Cowboy Way is a look into the day-to-day of three modern-day, real-life cowboys: Bubba Thompson, Cody Harris, and Booger Brown.
heir relationship is kept solid by the Cowboy Code that they live by – which is precisely what defines the “cowboy way”.
Where they first started as cowboys who raise herds, they start the final season by shifting their business to buying and selling herds and trying to further grow the Faith Cattle Company.
Ultimate Cowboy Showdown, INSP (2019 – present)
Another entry into the cowboy reality TV genre from INSP is their reality competition series Ultimate Cowboy Showdown.
Hosted by country music icon Trace Adkins, Ultimate Cowboy Showdown sees fourteen strong-willed cowboys compete for the ultimate prize – a herd of cattle and a lifetime of bragging rights.
The group of men and women with diverse backgrounds from all across the US complete grueling challenges and face eliminations until only one contestant is left – the Ultimate Cowboy.
The Last Cowboy, Paramount Network/CMT (2019 – present)
Next up, we have The Last Cowboy, which provides an addictive look into the competitive and thoroughly entertaining sport of horse reining.
For the unfamiliar, this is when riders guide their horses through a very precise series of spins, stops, and patterns, which requires intense training in order for both the horse and its rider to be in complete sync with each other.
In The Last Cowboy, we meet eight cowboys and cowgirls dedicated to the sport. And get to watch as they prepare for the “Run for a Million” event, the first million-dollar prize competition created to culminate the series’ first season.
From flooded training arenas to sick horses, these dedicated men and women persevere through the challenges in order to keep the cowboy tradition alive.
The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys, Peacock (2024 – present)
The newest series on this countdown is Peacock’s reality series The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys.
Set in the Missouri heartland, the show dives into the high-stakes world of modern farming and cattle ranching by following the McBee family business, the McBee Farm and Cattle, on the verge of a billion-dollar deal.
Leading the business is Steve McBee, the recently divorced patriarch of the family with a controversial past that threatens the family’s legacy.
Alongside him, we follow Steve’s four sons: Steven Jr., the ambitious heir apparent, vying for control with his father; Cole, the hardworking underdog, struggles to prove himself; Jesse, the quiet cowboy, wrestles with family expectations; and Brayden, the youngest, grapples with following in his brothers’ footsteps.
How to Be a Cowboy, Netflix (2021)
How To Be A Cowboy is one of the rare Netflix reality series on this list. While it only had one season, it’s still a fun ride full of cowboys and ranch life.
At the forefront of How To Be A Cowboy is Dale Brisby, rodeo champion and owner of the Radiator Ranch in West Texas.
During the six episodes of the show, we not only meet Brisby interns, the hopefuls who are training to be the next generation of cowboys but also the many colorful personalities of Radiator Ranch.
The show is a goofy mix of reality TV and sitcom-like scripted series that you’ll either love or love to hate.
Cash Cowboys, Pop TV (2017 – 2018)
It makes complete sense that cowboys and nature go hand-in-hand, right? Well, the Huwas family, the stars of Cash Cowboys, takes it to a whole other level.
Based out of Keenesburg, Colorado, the Huwas are a group of farmers, cowboys, and entrepreneurs running a land reclamation company that works on large pieces of land previously destroyed by natural disasters.
This particular part of their story started in 2002 after one of Colorado’s worst forest fires, where they were tasked to clean up the land to mitigate the risk of contaminating the water supply of over 1.5 million people in Colorado.
In Cash Cowboys, we get to watch Brent Huwas and his wife Tonya, brothers Tyrun and Corey, and his father Rich, alongside their crew and extended family, dedicate their time, talents, and expertise to protect and save the American landscape.
Last American Cowboy, Animal Planet (2010)
Animal Planet may not be the first place you’d visit for a series about cowboys, but it certainly provides a raw and beautiful look into the lives of hard-working cowboys whose livelihood lies in operating family-owned cattle ranches.
Last American Cowboy hones in on three families – the Hughs, Galts, and Stuckys – as they live out their lives on their respective cattle ranches.
Much like the cowboys in the previous shows, these families have to fight through all sorts of obstacles to keep their business and this age-old Western tradition afloat. Be it epidemics, predators, natural disasters, and freak storms.
Their personal stories are compelling and show loyalty, strength, and nostalgic family values that really bring this show to the forefront.
Cowboy U, CMT (2003 – 2007)
Cowboy U is one of the best cowboy TV shows to watch if you or anyone you may know has ever thought that being a cowboy was just about the awesome hat, spurs on your boots, and horses.
It’s so much more than that, and the contestants in CMT’s Cowboy U have to learn that the hard way!
For all six seasons, eight “city slickers” undergo several weeks of cowboy boot camp comprised of various competitions. For example, calf scrambling, barrel racing, wild cow riding, eating contests, and steer wrestling, among other things.
With all the best parts of a competition, like eliminations, punishments, rewards, and prize money, you’re bound to have a good laugh watching these city folk battle it out in the Wild West!
Highway Cowboys, GAC (2014)
Highway Cowboys was born as a solution to an epidemic that was spreading throughout Texas: loose livestock on the state’s highways, raising the risk of road accidents.
It premiered on GAC in 2014 and ran for 16 episodes, following the family that the authorities knew could handle the job of herding the errant livestock off the roads: the Champions.
Yes, Champion really is their family name, and get this: the show’s main focus is a man named National!
Known in the Leon County area as a world-class rodeo cowboy, National Champion, and every member of his family has received awards in the arena.
In Highway Cowboys, they use their phenomenal roping and riding tricks to get the job done.
Rodeo Girls, A&E Network (2013 – 2014)
The rodeo may be a male-dominated arena, but that doesn’t mean girls don’t excel in it as well. Just with more rhinestones, drama, and cattiness!
Whether they’re fighting over their mansions or over their horses, these ladies definitely add a touch of color to the rodeo world.
Although A&E Network’s rodeo reality show, Rodeo Girls, only ran for one season, watching these awesome female athletes excel in such a physically demanding competitive sport is all the entertainment that you’ll need (spoiler: one episode features a racy bikini rodeo!).