Description
At age 17, Fannie Sperry Steele won the Women’s Bucking Horse Championship of Montana. In 1912, at the first Calgary Stampede, she became the Lady Bucking Horse Champion of the World. She was the only women competitor of that era to ride her entire career without tying her stirrups together under the horse᾽s belly. This was a common practice at the time and allowed only in women᾽s bronc riding and helped them sit out a ride by clamping their legs in the stirrups. In 1913, she married Bill Steele, who worked as a rodeo clown and bronc rider. The couple ran their own Wild West show, performing feats of horsemanship and shooting. An excellent markswoman, Fannie would shoot cigars out of Bill’s mouth. She continued doing riding exhibitions well into the 1940s.
This Fannie Sperry Steele History Mug is part of our Rodeo series which includes many unique rodeo stars. Activities involved in the practice of herding cattle were the basis of what became modern day rodeos. Nowadays cowboys and cowgirls compete in steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, team roping, tie-down roping, bull riding and barrel racing.
The biographical History Mugs were created to teach and inspire individuals to learn about our diverse and interesting history. The biographies were researched and written by history enthusiast, Robert Compton. He colorized most of the historic photos and images used on the mugs, which were originally black and white or sepia tone. The images and biographies are imprinted on mugs at his studio in rural Vermont.
- Mugs are food and microwave safe.
- To preserve photographic quality we recommend hand washing.
- Mugs are usually shipped within 3-5 days.
