Cowboy Birthday Party Theme

Cowboy Games
Western Dress up relay - Gather two sets of western themed clothes including overalls, cowboy boots, cowboy hat, sunglasses, flannel shirt, etc. and place them in two separate piles a good distance from where the teams will start.  Divide party guests into 2 teams and have them line up behind each other at the start line.  The object is for the first person in line from each team to run to the pile of clothes, put everything on, run back to their team and tag them ... then run back to the pile and take off the items.  They then run back to their line and tag the first person in line and that person continues the relay until everyone has had a turn. 

Hay Bale Obstacle Course - Set up an obstacle course in your backyard or the park using hay bales and other western themed items and make use of swing sets, trampolines, slides, hula hoops, etc.  Set up a course that goes over, under, around and through the area.  You can set up teams to compete against each other or use a stop watch and time each of the party guests.   When they have run through it a few times you can change it by having them run through it backwards, on their hands and knees or walking. 

Horseshoes - Horseshoes is a fun game and one that is easy for everyone to play.  How to play horseshoes.     

Wheelbarrow Race - This is a fun relay type race to play with two teams.  Players choose partners and the first child gets on their hands and knees while the second player grabs their feet and lifts their feet off the ground.  They run wheelbarrow style around a marker (a hay bale would be fun ... use a real one or spray paint a box yellow to look like one) or a cone at the opposite side of the play area and then back to their team so the next pair can go.

Water the Horses  - This is a fun relay and kids love it ... careful, they can get wet!   You will need Two large tubs filled with water and two smaller containers that are equal in size.  The idea is to get water from the larger containers, run across an area (more then 20 feet) and put the water into the smaller containers.  The team that fills their container first wins.  There are several ways to do this - you can transfer the water using spoons, sponges or, our personal favorite, plastic cups with a few holes punched in the bottom.  Divide the guests into two teams and have them line up behind one another.  One by one they take their "water carrier" and dip it into the big bucket - run across the play area and then put the water into the smaller container.  Then they run back and hand off to the next player on their team.  This continues until one team has filled their water container to the top - or to a pre-determined mark.

Cow Patty Toss - You will need brown Frisbees and several hula hoops or large baskets for this game.  Divide the party guests into 2 teams and have them line up behind one another at one side of the play area.  At the other side of the play area place hula hoops or large baskets in a pyramid shape - these are the targets that they will be throwing their "cow patty" into to score points.  Tag each target with a different point value.  Give each player three tries to make as many points as they can.  This game can be played individually too.  * You can use brown bean bags instead of the Frisbees.

Needle in a Haystack - You will need a large container full of hay, Styrofoam peanuts, raffia or shredded newspaper and something for the party guests to find - the "needle" - such as small toys, candies or John Deere stickers on yellow paper.  We do not recommend using a real needle or anything that is sharp and pointy.  Hide the items in the container and let the party guest search for them.  Give them a time limit and see how many they can find.

Cowboy Hat Toss - Cut several stars out of thick cardboard. Place a cowboy hat on the ground about 4 -5 feet from the throw line. Have children line up behind the line and one at a time try and toss their stars into the hat. Variations:
Instead of stars you can tie a bandana around a golf ball.
Instead of one hat place 5 hats in a row and let them try and make it into the #1 hat first, then the #2 hat … etc. ending up with the farthest away #5 hat.

Cowboy Roundup - You’ll need a rope lasso and a children’s ride on horse. Teach the children how to throw a lasso around the horse’s head.

Relay Races Western Style - Make up several relay races and let the children run them with their mop horses. Or buy two stick horses and let the kids trade off with each other.   Divide into teams and have the party guests stand one behind the other.  The first player from each team rides their horse to the opposite end of the playing area, around a cone (or a hay bale) and then back to their line. Then the next person in line repeats.
1st round:  Ride horses to a cone and back to the line.
2nd round: Ride the horses while running backwards.
3rd round:  Ride the horses while running sideways.
4th round:  Two riders must ride the same horse at the same time.