The Lady Rode Bucking Horses: The Story of Fannie Sperry Steele, Woman of the West [Paperback]

Dee Marvine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2005

This is the story of legendary rancher and women bronc rider Fannie Sperry Steele.
Fannie was born on a Montana homestead in 1887. At the age of two, Fannie declared "I gonna catch me a white-face horsie." Even as a child, Fannie knew what she wanted.

Fannie was a remarkable woman who became a world champion. She raced thoroughbreds with a women's relay team known as the Montana Girls, twice won the title of Lady Bucking Horse Champion of the World, rode with Buffalo Bill Cody and other top western performers, became the first woman in the state of Montana to be granted an outfitters license, and was named a charter member of the Cowboy Hall of Fame.

The Lady Rode Bucking Horses depicts an era of the American West when capturing renegade horses from the hills above the homestead served as training ground for extraordinary horsemanship. It documents the life of the outstanding girl who outrode them all at stampedes and roundups and the woman she became, her spirit undaunted throughout a life marked with courage and adventure, triumph and heartache.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Long before rodeo, when bucking-horse contests were held at stampedes and roundups, Fannie Sperry Steele stepped into the bronco-riding arena-and won. The Lady Rode Bucking Horses tells the remarkable story of the girl who became Lady Bucking Horse Champion of the World-twice-and went on to become a western performer and legendary rancher.
Born on a Montana homestead in 1887, Fannie knew what she wanted from the age of two, when she declared, "I gonna catch me a white-face horsie." During her long and colorful life, Fannie competed on bucking broncos; raced Thoroughbreds with the Montana Girls relay team; organized a Wild West Show with cowboy husband Bill Steele; performed with the likes of Buffalo Bill Cody; became the first Montana woman to be licensed as a wilderness outfitter; and was named a charter member of the Cowboy Hall of Fame and, later, the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
The Lady Rode Bucking Horses is a creative retelling of Fannie's life based on family archives, newspaper articles, and personal interviews. This dramatic narrative presents a fascinating look at the pre-rodeo era and the extraordinary woman who became a world champion.

About the Author

Dee Marvine spent fifteen years in Chicago as a corporate and magazine writer/editor before she moved to Montana to devote her time to writing. Her first book Last Chance (hardcover from Doubleday; paperback, Leisure Books) was nominated by Western Writers of America for their 1994 Best First Novel award. Her second novel, Sweet Grass (Five Star), takes place in 1886 Sweet Grass County and Butte, Montana. She has also written short stories, articles, and poetry. She also works as a freelance editor and conducts editing workshops for writers. A member of Western Writers of America and a founding member of Women Writing the West, she lives in Big Timber, Montana, with her artist husband, Don Marvine.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: TwoDot; Stated First Edition edition (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762731338
• ISBN-13: 978-0762731336
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Americana

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, especially for teenage girls, March 16, 2007

By 

Elise - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Lady Rode Bucking Horses: The Story of Fannie Sperry Steele, Woman of the West (Paperback)

This is an amazing book, the true story of Fannie Sperry Steele, a legendary rodeo rider who was raised on a homestead in north-central Montana during the late 1880s. The book chronicles her career in numerous Wild West shows, her remarkable personal life, and what it was like to live in the West at that time.

Fannie's family had very little money and earned extra cash by selling wild horses, which they captured and trained. By the time she was fourteen, Fannie was riding bucking horses to entertain spectators at local gatherings. Soon she was hired to perform in various traveling Wild West shows, where she participated in bronc riding, relay races, and sharpshooting exhibitions. In 1912 she earned the title "Lady Bucking Horse Champion of the World."

She was such a good rider that men were afraid to compete against her. Apparently male chauvinism was one of the main obstacles faced by dozens of women who competed in these shows, which were the precursors of today's modern rodeos.

For many years Fannie continued to ride broncs, despite pressure to get married and start raising a family. Eventually she did marry a cowboy who operated a Wild West show (unfortunately, the marriage was somewhat tempestuous), and finally they started a dude ranch in western Montana. She lived there until shortly before her death in 1983.

The book is written in such a smooth, interesting way, it's almost like reading a novel. The writer interviewed Fannie repeatedly and had access to her collection of letters, newspaper clippings, etc., which enabled the author to add a multitude of personal details that bring the story alive. The book includes about a dozen photographs: the primitive homestead where Fannie spent her childhood; Fannie on a bronc at the Calgary Stampede, her long dress flapping and her long braids flying out behind; and Fannie in her seventies, confidently riding one of her prized Paint horses.

Surely almost anyone (especially teenage girls) would be fascinated by this tale of a young woman who knew what she wanted to do with her life, and made it happen, in spite of all the people who kept telling her that it was not possible and not wise. This is one of the most inspiring stories I've read in a long time.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful western experience, February 16, 2012

By 

Stanley Kasperski (Round Rock, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Lady Rode Bucking Horses: The Story of Fannie Sperry Steele, Woman of the West (Paperback)

This book was a real treasure. It documented the life of a real western heroine. Fannie Sperry Steele was a real person of extremely modest means who lived the authentic western lifestyle without regard to her gender, gaining the title of Woman Bucking Horse Champion of the world...twice. I was fascinated by her exploits of participating in various western shows including one with Buffalo Bill. Her exploits with horsemanship were spectacular but she also was a a very capable demonstrator of fine firearms marksmanship,comparable to Annie Oakley, especially on horseback. Anyone reading this book will appreciate the life of a family living on the western Montana wilderness in the early 20th century. I highly recommend this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, Entertaining & Inspiring, October 10, 2011

By 

cs - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lady Rode Bucking Horses: The Story of Fannie Sperry Steele, Woman of the West (Paperback)

This well written account of an amazing woman reminds us of how easy our lives are today compared to the era Fannie Sperry lived. She was a tough, thoughtful and forward thinking woman whose horsemanship skills inspire. The novel is exciting and I felt as though I lived the through the pioneering journey along side of her. The writer and researchers of this story should be commended. With the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede taking place in 2012, this should be featured there for all interested in the heritage of rodeo. I also recommend this read to non-rodeo folk as it is a wonderful personal account of life in Montana in the past 100 years.