Horse riding in the 1800's in America would likely take anywhere between 30 to 40 miles per day. On hilly terrain, the distance a horse could cover would likely be about 25 to 30 miles per day, while in the mountains 15 to 20 miles par day. Early settlers in the western states and territories used horses as a primary means of transportation, but they didn't just travel with them. The cowboy's horses did more than just transport them from place to place. The animals were used for a wide variety of other tasks including pulling plows and working cattle. In the West, the horse truly became a part of the region’s culture and identity. Cowboy culture in the United States has a long history and a rich tradition of western music and song. The image of the cowboy and his horse has become an iconic representation of the Old West.