THOSE RODEO COWGIRLS

Alrighty then...since two of you have asked who the cowgirls in the header picture are... 

 From left to right they are: Reine Hafley, Fox Hastings, Rose Smith, Ruth Roach, Mabel Strickland, Prairie Rose Henderson and Dorothy Morrell.
(side note: I don't think the date on the photo is correct, more likely in the late 1920's)
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An outstanding trick rider and bronc rider and daughter of California Frank Hafley, Reine Hafley Shelton (1902-1979) born Elba Reine Skepper at Janesville, Wisconsin, was called the World’s Greatest Lady Trick Rider. For a time she performed a highly successful act with an Arabian horse named Lurline in which they would jump 50 feet into a tank of water. With California Frank’s show, Shelton performed trick and bronc riding, as an elephant rider and an oriental and flamenco dancer. In 1918 she began her competitive career placing second in the trick riding at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Shelton earned over $125 by winning the bronc riding event at Madison Square Garden in 1924. In 1925 she eloped with Dick Shelton while he was performing with Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show. Shelton was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1983 and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame’s Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1991.
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Eloise Fox Hastings (1882-1948), born Eloise Fox, ran away from a convent school at the age of 16 to marry rodeo cowboy Mike Hastings. Bulldogging was her favorite event. She dropped the name Eloise and remained Fox Hastings her entire career. Fox Hastings performed trick and bronc riding in her early years with the Irwin Brothers’ Wild West Show. Fox first exhibited her bulldogging skills in 1924 at the Fort Worth, Texas Rodeo and established a record time of 17 seconds. She continued to bulldog at more than a dozen rodeos, including the revived 101 Ranch Wild West, in that year. She excelled in this exhibition event and became the foremost cowgirl contract performer in this field. In the 1940s she developed tuberculosis. Shortly after her second husband died in 1948, she died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Hastings was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1987.
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Rose Smith, wife of legendary cowboy Oklahoma Curley Roberts. Hailed as one of the famous cowgirl bronc riders of the 1920s, Rose Smith was also an accomplished trick rider. In 1923 at Ringling’s Madison Square Garden contest, she won $960, including the $600 first prize in bronc riding, $185 day money (daily prizes), and $175 in the costume event.
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Ruth Roach (1896-1986) born Ruth Scantlin, grew up in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Running away from her Missouri home in 1912, Ruth Roach joined the 101 Ranch Wild West Show and later performed with the show in London, England. Her competitive debut came in 1917 at the Fort Worth Roundup, the first indoor rodeo. There she rode the bronc, Memphis Blue, and claimed the $100 first-place prize. In 1919 she captured first-place finishes in the Fort Worth and Cheyenne bronc riding contests and in 1920 was named champion lady bronc rider of Chicago’s 1920 Roundup. She performed before President Warren Harding in 1923 at Washington, DC. The following year she performed in Tex Austin’s rodeo in London, where at Wembley Stadium as many as 92,000 fans attended the first performance. In 1932 she was the cowgirl champion in the bronc riding at Madison Square Garden winning $526. While she continued to rodeo through 1938, this was her last major title. Roach was inducted into both the Rodeo Hall of Fame and National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1989.
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 Mabel De Long Strickland (1897-1976) was born in Washington State. She began her rodeo career in 1912. A winning relay racer, Mabel, won the 1913 through 1915 trick riding competitions at Walla Walla, Washington riding with the Drumhellers, horsemen and rodeo producers. Married to Hugh Strickland, Mabel won her first steer roping contest at the Dewey Roundup with a record time of 21.2 seconds. Winner of the McAlpin trophy for all-around cowgirl at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1922, Strickland won the trick riding competition at Madison Square Garden in 1922, 1923, and 1924. In 1927 she set a steer roping record at the Pendleton Roundup and was named the Roundup Queen. Perhaps the most photographed cowgirl of her era, Strickland played a bit part in a Bing Crosby movie entitled “Rhythm on the Range” in 1936. Later she did “replacement riding” (stunt riding) for actresses in the movies. Strickland was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame’s Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1981 and the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1992
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Prairie Rose Henderson, was declared one of the all-time great winners excelling as a bronc rider. For the details of this twisted tale see:
http://thecowgirlmovie.com/who_was_prairie_rose 
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Dorothy Morrell (1888-?), born Dolla Eichorn in Canada, was judged World’s Champion Cowgirl Bronc Rider in 1914 at the Pendelton Roundup. She was married to “Skeeter” Bill Robbins. For more information see:
http://dorothymorrell.blogspot.com/

Unbroken

The Cowman and his dog's view...
Their ashes were scattered on this hillside over looking the river and the valley. He so loved this valley.  Most of the family was able to come for this special day. Words of hope and goodbye were spoken, tags of remembrance and a picture of he & Max were tied to the pine tree, and wildflower seed balls were scattered on the hillside. And there this story comes full circle.  Looking back I realized that for the most part it was he I wrote about. His stories told thru me. There are still stories to tell, and they are being passed on to his children and grandchildren. The family circle remains unbroken.

Climb on

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." -- John Muir

THE 64TH YEAR

In the beginning there was a young rancher.  He married a country girl. They raised two great children, a lot of cattle, a bunch of dogs, a cat or two, a little hell, and assorted other things.  Life was an adventure with much to learn along the way. Years passed, the kids had kids, the rancher and the country girl grew older. Life was still an adventure but not in ways the country girl could understand. After a time she left the rancher.  It was difficult, they had grown up together the rancher and the country girl, over forty three years of marriage.  They parted as friends she wanted to think, but who really knows.
The rancher passed away last Sunday. He left a brief note about the disposition of his ashes, and chaos behind him.  There remains a daughter shaking with sorrow, a son taking charge of a thousand things, bewildered grandkids, and a country girl caught between madness and sadness.
  

Classification

I keep calling myself an old lady, but I just figured out that I am not old. I am experienced beyond belief.