The fiercely independent, untamed woman of the old West—the cowgirl—seems to most people a topic more of fiction than real fact. But the West was indeed populated with strong-willed women who worked and played as men did in the saddles of their favorite bucking broncos—women whose sacrifices, hard work, and can-do attitude helped build a nation. Cowgirls celebrates this previously overlooked aspect of the Western experience by bringing together their stories, including their own thoughts about being cowgirls. You’ll meet:

• “Little Joe” Monaghan, the Idaho cowboy who mostly kept to himself, cared nothing for drink or dance-hall girls—and who, on his death, turned out to be a woman.

• Sarah Bowman, the “Great Western” of Texas, whose epic proportions and sexuality, not to mention adeptness with guns, awed Indians and outlaws alike to a respectful distance.

• Fannie Sperry Steele, the first Lady Bucking Horse Champion of the World, who thrilled audiences across Montana and was inducted into both the National Cowboy and Cowgirl halls of fame.