Cowgirl Up!

by Heidi M. Thomas

 When someone says "Cowgirl Up!" it means rise to the occasion, don't give up, and  do it all without whining or complaining. And the cowgirls of the early twentieth century did it all, just like the men, only wearing skirts and sometimes with a baby waiting behind the chutes. Women learned to rope and ride out of necessity, helping their fathers, brothers, and husbands with the ranch work. But for some women, it went further than that. They caught the fever of freedom, the thirst for adrenaline, and the thrill of competition, and many started their rodeo careers as early as age fourteen. From Alice and Margie Greenough of Red Lodge, whose father told them “If you can’t ride ’em, walk,” to Jane Burnett Smith of Gilt Edge who sneaked off to ride in rodeos at age eleven, women made wide inroads into the masculine world of rodeo. Montana boasts its share of women who “busted broncs” and broke ranks in the macho world of rodeo during the early to mid-1900s. Cowgirl Up! is the history of these cowgirls, their courage, and their accomplishments. 

Genres: Nonfiction, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

I'm a Montana native, and recently moved from the Pacific Northwest to northwest Arizona. I have a journalism degree, teach memoirs and beginning fiction classes and do freelance editing. I have published the "Cowgirl Dreams" novel trilogy: Cowgirl Dreams (EPIC Award Winner), Follow the Dream, a WILLA-Award Winner, and Dare to Dream (Finalist International Book Awards); a non-fiction book Cowgirl Up! A History of Rodeo Women (Winner Global E-book Awards); and two books in the "American Dreams" series, Seeking the American Dream and Finding True Home.

Reviews

[Ray Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cowgirl Up! A History of Rodeoing Women by Heidi M. Thomas captures a small piece of American history that might otherwise be forgotten. I’m talking about the contribution of women to the world of Rodeo. Cowgirl up specifically concentrates on the contribution of women from Montana during the golden age of Rodeo in America. Montana became one of the states holding commercial rodeos in 1896 but rodeo derived from the working world of ranching and long before the commercial rodeos sprang into being there were informal local contests to see who was best at roping, riding, and bronco busting. Conditions were terrible sometimes and the pay was not good by today’s standard but that didn’t stop women from wanting to compete.

Cowgirl Up! Takes this early history and weaves it into colorful legend. There are many famous names from American history here. Theodore Roosevelt, Will Rogers, Dale Evans, and Annie Oakley are the ones I knew. If you are a real Rodeo fan you will probably recognize names like Lucille Mulhall, Prairie Rose Henderson, and Fanny Sperry. The characters, both men, and women are colorful. The history is rich, and the anecdotes, facts, and biography, very well written. It is obvious that Heidi M. Thomas loves her subject and if you are a fan of the American West and American history, you do not want to miss Cowgirl UP! It should be on the bookshelf in every school library across America, but especially in states where Rodeo played an important part in their history. These women and this sport should not be forgotten.

[Kristi Thielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly engaging book about 20th century women of rodeo - primarily those from Montana - and a bit about female rodeo stars of today. All of these ladies defied convention and none fit a stereotype: there were as many kinds of women who sought out the tough life of riding rough stock as there were women who did it.

The book is frank about the diminution of their opportunities: once they rode in the same rodeos as men, appearing on bucking broncos and menacing bulls. By mid-century, however, they were denied a place in these events by the men who ran the increasingly regimented rodeo associations. Why? A doubling down on conservative beliefs in rural America but also because women (like Mabel Strickland) were so good - and won major honors so often - that they were threatening to the egos of male cowboys.

But take heart: there are a few fearless females, like Kaila Mussell, who are turning up the heat on cowboys by qualifying to compete as bronc riders in the PRCA.

Apparently traveling the country constantly, riding dangerous animals and suffering innumerable injuries is good for your lifespan. It is amazing how many of these rodeo women lived to see 90 or more! Yee haw!

[Brenda Whiteside · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Ms. Thomas's three novels about Nettie Brady, a real Montana rodeo cowgirl. I don't normally read non-fiction, but I so enjoyed her fiction I thought I'd try this book. I found it fascinating. I highly recommend this book for anyone remotely interested in women of the west.