Yacht Reins

As we all know children love the world of cowboys. What little boy can resist the opportunity to dress up as a cowboy, in a hat, neckerchief and designer stubble? But girls can be just as enthusiastic on account of the exciting horses associated with the Wild West. So why not organize the next children's birthday party in a traditional Wild Western style?

Invitations and Decorations

It is easy to make an impressive invitation to a western themed birthday party. Stylish designs can be made from colored cardboard cut out in the shape of a horse, cactus or cowboy hat. The invitations can be decorated accordingly, giving details of the theme of the party and the name of the guest. The party room can also be decorated with cardboard and paper to produce a very realistic backdrop to the party room. The party room can be transformed into a saloon by removing the door and replacing it with a swinging door made from cardboard. Other decorations following the same theme as the invitations can also be easily made from cardboard. These can be in the shape of bison, cowboy hats or cacti. Since cowboy saloons are not intended to be the most salubrious of places there is absolutely no need to provide fine tablecloths or other fancy ornaments. A simple wooden table with an oil lamp and a deck of cards for decoration works very effectively. Bales of hay or straw can add authenticity but can be messy for indoor parties. However, they are ideal for outdoor parties and can be used to provide excellent extra seating for the little guests.

Wild cowboys and cowgirls

The best cowboys and cowgirls never appear to be too dressed up. The costume is simple. Team together a pair of jeans, a checked shirt or T-shirt and a neckerchief. Most children probably own these already. Of course, the hat is the most important accessory and these should be provided to the children. However, they can be inexpensively obtained from fancy dress shops or good toy stores. Cowboys and cowgirls also require horses to get around on and a hobbyhorse should be provided to each child. Hobbyhorses can be made easily using a simple wooden broom handle of the type readily available from hardware stores. Old socks can be stuffed with cotton wool to make the head and attached to the pole with some suitable left over fabric cut into strips to make the reins. Remnants of fabric and buttons can then be used to fashion the ears, eyes and nostrils.

What little cowboys like to do

Now that the little partygoers have their hobbyhorses it is important to incorporate them into the party games. Try setting up an obstacle course which the children have to negotiate by climbing over, crawling through or running over - all on their hobbyhorses - the imagination knows no bounds.

Impale a rod in the ground and let the children take it in turns to throw a horseshoe and see if they can circle the rod. Worn horseshoes can often be obtained for free from nearby stables. Games of pin-the-tail-on-the-horse are also great fun. Draw a large picture of a horse (minus its tail of course!) on a piece of cardboard and attach it to the wall or fence as appropriate. Make a tail from some leftover wool and cardboard and run a paper fastener through the base of the tail. The child is then blindfolded and spun around several times to make him or her lose their bearings. The task is for the child to attach the tail to the right place on the horse whilst the other children cheer them on and shout out instructions.

Food for hungry cowboys and cowgirls

Food should be kept simple and rustic. Small grilled steaks and sausages served with a selection of salads are excellent. Finger foods such as chicken wings and chicken nuggets are also very popular. Remember to serve a variety of fruit juices and squashes to drink.