Arizona in the Saddle Decembver 2016 | Page 30

By Jim Olson, ©2016,
www.TotallyWestern.com
“

I

have never tired of rodeo in my life. I have never seen one show
too many, be it good, bad or middlin’. I hope there’s an arena
in Heaven, that’s where you’ll find me.” Wrote Fannie Sperry
Steele, one of Montana’s most famous Bronc Riders from the early
days of rodeo.

Fannie was born to Datus E. and Rachel Schrader Sperry on March
27, 1887 in the Prickly Pear Valley near Helena, Montana. Her
father did not ride horses (reportedly because of an old injury) but
her mother taught her to ride well. By the time she was sixteen,
she discovered she could earn money riding bucking horses. The
following year, in 1904, she earned the title of Montana’s Women’s
Bucking Horse Champion.

Rodeo historian, Willard Porter once wrote, “Rodeo biographers
generally concede that, out of no more than a dozen turn-of-thecentury lady bronc riders, Fannie Sperry was the best and the most
dedicated to her rough-and-tumble trade.”

Fannie was notable for her different riding style from most lady
bronc riders of the day—she did not ride with hobbled stirrups.
Riding with the stirrups tied together under a horses belly allows
for greater stability and was considered an advantage for the
rider. Judges of the day allowed women to ride this way without
penalty. Fannie became famous for riding her entire career without
hobbled stirrups. She wrote, “Mine is the reputation of being the
only woman rodeo rider who rode her entire career un-hobbled. I
confess it is a record I am proud of!”

Although there were no official World’s Champions recognized in
those days, and several rodeos claimed their champs were indeed
the “World Champion,” Fannie won the Calgary Stampede ladies
bronc riding in both 1912 and 1913, giving her the unofficial title
of Lady Bucking Horse Champion of the World. She competed at
rodeos and performed with Wild West Shows across the country
for years.

On April 30, 1913, she married fellow bronc rider and rodeo
clown, W.S. “Bill” Steele. Together the couple travelled the country
performing in Wild West Shows and rodeos. During their careers,
the couple worked the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, the Miller
Bros. 101 Ranch Wild West Show, The C.B Irwin Wild West Show
and dozens of “contested” rodeos along the way. They even formed
their own Wild West Show for a time, often using wild horses
captured in the hills on their ranch.

Besides being a bronc rider
and relay race rider, Fannie
was said to be a crack shot.
Her and Bill had an act
whereby she would shoot the
ash off the end of a cigar in
his mouth.

One time at Calgary, she drew
a bad bronc called, Red Wing,
who had trampled a rider to
death only a few days prior.
When asked later if she was
afraid of the horse, she replied
“You just forget about being
scared when you ride horses.”

Fannie was known for
Bi ll & Fa nn ie Ste ele
dressing in cowgirl fashion,
with long black braids, a vaquero-styled hat and fancy boots. She
knew that many folks came to watch the women riders and, while
she wanted to ride as well as the cowboys, she did not want to look
like them.

After riding the rodeo circuit for twenty long years, Fannie
competed for the last time in 1925 at Bozeman, Montana.
Although retired form competing, she did continue to ride
exhibition off and on for years afterwards. By the time the Steele’s
retired from rodeo, they had sold the family ranch and started a
guiding outfit near Lincoln, Montana. Fannie continue to run the
pack string after Bill died (in 1939) right on up till she was in her
seventies (she did not completely retire from riding horses until
about 1974).

Fannie Sperry Steele, was one of the first women inducted into the
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum’s, Rodeo Hall of
Fame