August 6, 2025

Indie’s “Wild One” Cowgirl Birthday Party

When Indie turned one, we didn’t have a big plan in place — just a wild little girl, a love for horses, and the hope of making her birthday feel special. “Wild One” felt the most applicable for this cowgirl so we ran with it.

In the end, it was the perfect theme: playful, rustic, and right at home on the ranch.

Hosting the Party (and Letting the Horses Crash It)

We originally planned to host it in the backyard, but as the day got closer, we pivoted to the pond. Best decision. There were tables near the pond, a pony tied up by the hay bales, and fun cowgirl party decor all around. At one point the horses actually leaned over the fence to graze just feet away from the party. We couldn’t have planned it better if we tried.

We had around 25 adults and 10 kids — and kept the vibe casual and outdoorsy.

The Theme

The color palette was dusty rose and warm browns, with simple touches that made it feel thoughtful without being overdone.

• Hay bales doubled as barriers for the driveway and props for photos
• Balloon garlands read “Wild One” and “Yee Haw”
• Pink, beige, and brown cowgirl hats (Amazon for the win!) were used for decor and dress-up
• Bandanas in pink and white added to the cowgirl flair
• Flowers for the table cut from the back yard
• We tied Peaches the pony under a big tree between rides — a living party prop if there ever was one

And the best part? Most of it was easy. We pulled hay bales from the haystack, and the rest came from Amazon or the local grocery store.

The Food

We kept the food simple:

• Pulled pork from a local smokehouse
• Frozen corn dogs warmed up and served with ketchup and mustard
• Costco kettle chips
• Water bottles and lemonade for drinks (we put the lemonade in cute cowgirl themed cups for the kids)

The cake was the only “extra” — a custom cowgirl-themed beauty from our local cake lady with an animal cracker middle layer that was a hit. And Indie’s personal favorite? The cupcake. Her first ever. Her face after the first bite of sugar was one for the books and she demolished the entire thing.

Pony Rides Smiles

Peaches is our daughter Tinsley’s first pony and was the star of the show. Broc led pony rides up and down the driveway while the kids lined up with cowgirl hats and bandanas.

Indie loved the rides but she was most excited about her brand-new cowgirl boots (thanks Kenzie!) and that cupcake. Classic.

Why It’s Worth It

I’d like to say I only go all-out for birthdays, but if I’m honest — I go all-out for my kids all the time. That said, birthdays are different. You only get 18 birthdays at home (if you’re lucky), and I want my kids to feel special and celebrated. Even when life is busy (or business is booming), they’re worth the effort. These are the memories they’ll carry with them.

Tips for Making It Special

• Pick your theme (last minute if you need to) — Google is your best friend
• Shop Amazon and reuse where you can (especially if you’ve got more parties ahead)
• Skip the invites and just text a Canva or Etsy template
• Use paper products and don’t overthink the food
• Host it outside if you can to save your house (and your sanity)

We didn’t have a party planner or a big Pinterest board. We had a wild one, a pony named Peaches, and people we love.

And I hope that will always be enough.

Shop our full party supply list for the ultimate Cowgirl Birthday Party on Amazon