Women's Health April 16, 2026 0 Comments

Unlock the Secrets of the Cowgirl Position: 5 Game-Changing Moves That Will Transform Your Bedroom Experience Tonight

Ever caught yourself humming “Save a horse, ride a cowboy” and wondering why that country swagger translates so well between the sheets? Turns out, that iconic cowgirl position isn’t just about style — it’s a powerhouse move packed with perks that can crank your pleasure dial way up. Whether you’re after deeper connection, mind-blowing orgasms, or just a little empowerment, hopping in the saddle might just be your new favorite rodeo. Ready to learn why this classic reigns supreme and how you can ride it like a pro? Let’s dive deep into the wild, wonderful world of cowgirl moves and unlock the secrets to making it even hotter. LEARN MORE

6 min read

You know the phrase “Save a horse, ride a cowboy”? It’s more than just a catchy song lyric—it’s solid sex advice. Why? Well, the cowgirl position is a classic in the bedroom for a (rodeo) barrel of reasons.

First of all, cowgirl gives people with vulvas a better chance of orgasming than many other sex positions, since it’s easy to stimulate the clitoris as they ride their partner. Arousing this area during sex is pretty important considering “96 percent of women need clitoral stimulation—either alone or coupled with penetration—to orgasm,” says Laurie Mintz, PhD, sex therapist and author of Becoming Cliterate.

Consider it a built-in benefit: The cowgirl position naturally “provides the ability to grind the clitoris against the pubic bone for stimulation during the natural motions of sex,” says Jill McDevitt, PhD, sexologist and author of Sex Positions for Every Body. Yeehaw!

Plus, for the person on top, this position “allows for depth [and] control of penetration,” Mintz says. “Some people with vaginas like it deeper, some like it shallow, and there’s also many ways to mix it up.” And because the rider also has total control over the speed and angle of their own body, they can harness the power of the cowgirl position to hit their G-spot. The resulting orgasm can not only boost your mood and improve sleep quality, but the overall sexual arousal you experience in this position may also help reduce stress. (It’s why you feel so relaxed after a roll in the hay.)

Ready to get in the saddle and take the reins? Ahead, sex experts explain everything to know about the cowgirl position, including variations on the classic move and tips to make it even hotter.

How to Do the Cowgirl Sex Position

Emily Schiff-Slater

At Women’s Health, we aim to describe sexual experiences as inclusively as possible. While the cowgirl position has traditionally been associated with penis-in-vagina sex, it can be adapted by couples of all genders and sexual orientations and identities. We encourage readers to modify this position to suit their bodies, preferences, and needs. To avoid making assumptions about gender or anatomy, we use non-gendered language throughout this article. The “giving partner” or “giver” refers to the partner doing the penetrating, whether with a penis, a strap-on, or even fingers. The “receiving partner” or “receiver” refers to the partner being penetrated vaginally or anally.

How to: The penetrating partner lies on their back; then, the receiving partner climbs on top of the them and straddles their genital area. From here, the giver can enter the receiver with their penis or strap-on. True to its name, the position looks a bit like riding a horse, McDevitt says.

To enhance this position, the receiver can use their hands to press on the giver’s chest, play with their partner’s hair, or stimulate their clit while grinding and/or bouncing on their thighs. The person on top can also relieve some of their weight from the giver’s pelvis by leaning back and supporting themselves on their thighs. To discover new sensations for both partners, the receiver can experiment with widening their knees or bringing them closer to their body.

Benefits: Beyond the physical benefits (e.g. clit stimulation, customizable penetration), cowgirl is also an intimate sex position, with both partners able to make eye contact and connect in a sensual moment. This position is also empowering for the rider because they can be in control.

Popular Variations of the Cowgirl Sex Position

Once you feel home, home on the rage with traditional cowgirl, take a wild ride with these variations:

Emily Schiff-Slater

How to: The giving partner lies on their back while the receiving partner straddles them, facing the giver’s feet. From this position, the receiver controls movement, pace, and depth, while the giver remains reclined and supportive, with an incredible view of the receiver’s backside.

Benefits: It’s empowering for the rider and allows them to stimulate their clitoris easily with their fingers or a toy. Plus, “novelty enhances arousal,” which is a major benefit for trying any new sex position, Mintz says.

Shop Our Favorite Clit Vibrator for Reverse Cowgirl

Lelo Lily 3

2. Cowgirl’s Helper

Emily Schiff-Slater

How to: From the cowgirl position, the receiving partner leans forward, so their chest is close to or even touching the giver’s. Meanwhile, the giving partner thrusts their hips up, allowing the receiver to take a little break from bouncing. (The assist is what turns cowgirl into cowgirl’s helper.)

Benefits: It makes traditional cowgirl even more intimate, due to the increased skin-to-skin contact (hello, oxytocin!). Plus, partners can easily kiss while having sex.

3. Cowgirl on a Chair

Emily Schiff-Slater

How to: The giver sits on a chair (or the edge of a bed) with their feet on the ground and the receiver sits on their lap, facing them. Both parties can slowly insert the penis or strap-on into the vagina, and the receiver can begin the riding position, either keeping their feet on the ground or on the chair.

Benefits: Both partners can connect intimately while stimulating the clitoris.

4. Reverse Cowgirl on a Chair

Emily Schiff-Slater

How to: The giver sits on a chair with their feet on the ground, and the receiver sits on their lap, turned away from them. Both parties can slowly insert the penis or strap-on into the vagina, and the receiver can begin the riding position, either keeping their feet on the ground or on the chair. It might be helpful to do this near a table, so the receiver can hold onto it while they ride.

Benefits: It’s a fun position with which to experiment and can be very empowering for the rider.

Tips to Make The Cowgirl Position Even Better

Before you lasso your partner, it might be helpful to brush up on a pointer or two—and these ones come straight from the experts. With this position, the smallest adjustments and additions can improve the sensations in a big way.

1. Stimulate the clit.

A quick biological refresher: The clitoris is a vast internal and external organ that is the equivalent to a penis, and, as previously mentioned, 96 percent of those with vulvas require clit stimulation to orgasm, according to Mintz.

A receiver can stimulate their clit by 1) grinding it against their partner’s pubic bone 2) using their fingers or 3) using a toy, which brings me to…

2. Use a toy.

Mintz recommends using either a handheld clitoral vibrator, which the rider can hold on their clitoris, or couple’s sex toy, like a cock ring, which the giver can wear around their penis or strap-on to provide clit stimulation to the person on top. Trust, it’ll totally *elevate* the cowgirl experience.

Credit: Julia Gartland

The receiver can hold the Moxie+ vibrator against their clit, or strategically place it in a pair of crotchless panties. The giver can also wear the Bond cock ring on their penis or strap-on. Both partners can control the vibrations by syncing the toys to the phone app, so the pleasure possibilities are endless.

3. Adjust your positioning.

“The same position can have different movements that totally change the experience,” McDevitt says. A few adjustments for cowgirl: The receiver can squat with their feet flat on the bed or floor (instead of their knees) for deeper penetration.

Or, if the penetration is too much, the receiver can put pillows under their knees to lift themselves up. Another way to achieve shorter strokes and more clitoral stimulation is for the receiver to kneel and grind their hips against their partner’s pubic bone. Play with these modifications to see which one feels best.

4. Provide support.

If the receiver is feeling tired, they can ask the giver to thrust from below, use their hands for more leverage, or tuck the rider’s legs under theirs for a bit more stability. The person on the bottom can also sit up, giving the clitoris a closer connection with the giver’s pelvis.

5. Grind instead of bouncing.

“In all the cowgirl positions, there’s a potential for the penis to slip out and push against the partner’s pelvis or buttocks, causing a possible penile injury,” Mintz says. To minimize risk, she suggests the rider grinds and rocks their hips, rather than bouncing up and down, because that motion can lead to slippage. She also recommends the giver hold the receiver’s hips to help guide the penetration.

6. Communicate.

Consent is sexy, and so is constant communication about how you’re feeling, what’s working for you, and which adjustments and/or variations you’d like to try. “That is the best safety tip for any sex, and it enhances the pleasure as well,” Mintz says.

Well, there you have it, folks—all the reasons to tip your 10-gallon hat to the cowgirl position. Now, giddy up!