The Active Historian

Mabel DeLong was born in 1897 and raised in Walla Walla, Washington. In high school, she began trick riding and relay racing which set off her twenty-five-year career. 

She married Hugh Strickland who was an all-around hand and they traveled together on the rodeo circuit for the next two decades.

Standing a little over five feet tall, Mabel was small but extremely tough. She competed in multiple events including Relay Races, Steer Roping, Steer and Bronc Riding, and Trick Riding. Mabel was even known to jump her horse over a car in exhibitions!

A talented competitor, she won many titles throughout her career and was named the All-Around Champion Cowgirl in 1922.

Mabel dressed very classy and stood out in an arena. Known for her grace, many people remember her kindness and gentle, but tough spirit.

Mabel moved to stunt work in Hollywood in the 1930s as women’s events in rodeo began to wane. She co-founded the Association of Film Equestriennes after finding success in Hollywood.

Mabel and Hugh Strickland separated in the 1940s.

She married Sam Woodward in 1948 and they moved to Arizona. Mabel passed away in 1976.

Mabel Strickland was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1981 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. She was inducted into the National Cowgirl and Hall of Fame in 1992. Additionally, she has been inducted into several other individual rodeo halls of fame.

Concluding Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed reading about Mabel Strickland and will join me tomorrow as we look at another woman from the American West during this Women’s History Month series. I’ll talk to ya soon!

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Sources

“Arena Legacy: The Heritage of American Rodeo” by Richard C. Rattenbury. [Pages 17, 18-19, 48, 50, 63, 66, 251]

Websites

“Mabel DeLong Strickland.” National Rodeo Hall of Fame. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

“Mabel Strickland Woodward.” National Cowgirl Museum and Hall Fame.

“Mabel Strickland.” Texas Trail of Fame.

“Mabel Strickland.” IMDb.

Chris Enss. “The Legendary All- Around Cowgirl Mabel Strickland.” COWGIRL Magazine. July 23, 2018.

Michael Allen. “Mabel Strickland to be inducted into Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame.” Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington) August 20, 2020.

Newspapers

“World’s Most Famous Rides and Ropers Winter In Fort Worth.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), January 23, 1921.

“Real Stars Riding for the Riding Prince.” Birmingham Post-Herald (Birmingham, Alabama) April 20, 1924.

“Big Legion Rodeo Is On In Omaha.” Norfolk Daily News (Norfolk, Nebraska) May 12, 1925.

“Will Be Star of Tucson Rodeo.” Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona) February 17, 1928.

“Mabel Strickland, Rodeo Star, Poses.” Lincoln Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska) July 1, 1932.

“Mabel Strickland, Tad Lucas in Race.” Lincoln Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska) July 1, 1932.

“Grand Old Lady of Rodeo, Appaloosa Horses To Be Here.” The Dakota Star (South Sioux City, Nebraska) June 9, 1960.

*All newspaper clippings in this blog post were pulled from newspapers.com. I am not affiliated with this website. I just wanted to let you know where I found my digitized sources.