Cowboys Roughriders & Rodeos

Q: Why has Australia produced so many world-class rodeo athletes?

A: Because of its long history and rock-solid traditions.

In 1788 the First Fleet landed men, cattle and horses in Australia.  The fledgling cattle industry bred hardy horses and hardy riders.  Untameable horses presented an entertaining challenge; those that rose to the challenge were called roughriders.  By the turn of the century there were organised roughriding competitions... and for the rest of the story, Australian Cowboys, Roughriders and Rodeos will keep you on the edge of your seat.

In this seminal work you will find:

- a treasure trove of folklore, anecdotes and facts

- oral accounts distilled from interviews with 130 'old-timers'

- over 100 photos, some dating back to the 1800s

- stories of great athletes, unsung heroes, rogues and villains

Meet a colourful cast of characters, like the legendary Lance Skuthorpe, who seemed to 'cast a spell over wild animals'; 'Miss Kemp', the lady rider with the shady past; non-law-abiding showman John Daly of the many aliases; and the Gills, Australian rodeo's most abiding dynasty.

Author Jenny Hicks is a city girl who learnt to ride at age five. 'I was always mad on horses'. Fascinated by the rodeo scene in the United States (Hicks lived there for four years, furthering her career in the film industry), she returned home hungering to learn about Australia's rich but little-known rodeo culture. 'Australian rodeo evolved out of the frontier cattle industry, the circus and travelling Wild West shows, she says, 'and no other sport reflects Australia's heritage better'

Secondhand, good condition with some foxing and minor damage to cover.