Smoky, the Cowhorse by Will James
"Smoky, the Cowhorse" is a renowned children's novel by Will James, first published in 1926 and awarded the Newbery Medal for its distinguished contribution to American literature. The story centers on a wild colt named Smoky, who is born in the Montana wilderness and learns survival skills from his mother. As he grows, Smoky is trained by a kind cowboy named Clint, who transforms him into a skilled cow pony, fostering a deep bond between them. However, Smoky's life takes a turn when he is kidnapped by a cruel thief, leading to a series of harsh experiences that cause him to lose his spirit and become an uncontrollable "outlaw."
Eventually, Smoky finds himself performing in rodeos and enduring a life of abuse until Clint rescues him once more, bringing him back to the open range to heal. The narrative reflects themes of growth and resilience, mirroring the struggles of youth, thereby making it relatable to young readers. James's work is notable for its authentic depiction of cowboy life and the use of "cowboy vernacular," which adds to the realism of the setting. The book's lasting popularity is attributed not only to its compelling story but also to James’s own illustrations that enhance the storytelling experience.
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Subject Terms
Smoky, the Cowhorse by Will James
First published: 1926; illustrated
Type of work: Adventure tale
Themes: Animals, nature, friendship, and education
Time of work: The early twentieth century
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: Western Montana
Principal Characters:
Smoky , a mouse-colored colt, who experiences a series of adventures on the Western RangeClint , a kind and dedicated cowboy who trains Smoky to be the most skilled cow pony in the country
The Story
Smoky, the Cowhorse depicts the lifelong education of a common range colt named Smoky. Foaled on a wild Montana hillside, Smoky is educated first by his loving “mammy,” who teaches him how to survive in the wilderness by pawing for grass in the snow and avoiding dangerous “critters.” As he runs free on the range, Smoky’s early life is nearly idyllic. It is important to note that Smoky’s contentment is derived mostly from the freedom of the open range, a factor that continues to influence Smoky throughout his life.
Later, when Smoky is nearly five years old, Clint assumes the task of training the buckskin gelding to be a working cow pony. At first, Smoky resists his “education,” but because he is especially fond of Smoky, Clint painstakingly works with him until he is the best cow pony at the Rocking R Ranch. While herding cattle together on the range, Clint and Smoky develop a strong bond of friendship, and Smoky is happy to be Clint’s favorite mount. Unfortunately, Smoky’s happiness is shattered when a half-breed thief kidnaps him and takes him to Arizona. Unlike Clint, the half-breed is cruel and often beats Smoky to subdue him. Because Smoky must fight to defend himself, the half-breed indirectly teaches Smoky how to be vicious. Indeed, far away from the open range, Smoky’s character slowly deteriorates until he turns into an uncontrollable “outlaw.” Soon Smoky is sold to a rodeo, where he is billed as the ferocious “Cougar.” For several years the Cougar bucks high in the rodeo ring, until his strength is spent. At that point Smoky is sold to a livery stable, where he is ridden by anyone who can afford the fee. After carrying hundreds of anonymous riders who all urge him to gallop, Smoky grows very tired, and his health begins to fail.
Long removed from the open range, Smoky’s free-roaming spirit sinks to the bottom of his soul when he is turned over to a chicken-feed dealer and hitched to an open wagon. The cruel “black-whiskered” wagon driver likes to whip Smoky, who is now too weak and brokenhearted to resist. The once sleek and proud gelding is now a dull-eyed bag of bones. Sadly, the only lesson Smoky learns from the wagon driver is how to surrender his spirit. Thus, during a particularly harsh beating one day, Smoky lies down on the street for what appears to be the last time. Luckily, Clint suddenly appears on the scene and rescues Smoky from a certain death. Clint hopes to cure Smoky by shipping him home to the open range of Montana. There, Smoky gradually returns to good health. More important, however, Smoky’s spirit is renewed, thereby allowing his heart “to come to life again.”
Context
Smoky, the Cowhorse won the Newbery Medal in 1926 as the year’s most distinguished contribution to American literature for children and has been in print continuously since 1926. The New York Times once referred to Smoky, the Cowhorse as “the Black Beauty of the cow country.” Indeed, the two works share a theme of growth toward maturity which at least partially accounts for their classic status and lasting popularity among the young. Smoky, for example, passes through experiences resembling those of a young child: His mother rejects him, Clint trains or “schools” him, and he ultimately must learn to accept discipline and perform useful work. Young readers are probably attracted to Smoky, the Cowhorse because they can easily identify with Smoky as a youth suffering through the trials of growing up.
Without a doubt, Smoky, the Cowhorse is Will James’s most successful book among all readers, young and old alike. Much of the book’s success can be attributed to its authentic Western language, its realistic setting, and James’s skillful illustrations. James wrote his book in the only words he knew, a jargon that is now referred to as “cowboy vernacular.” According to James, his vernacular was simply the way “anybody would talk who got his raising and education outside, where the roofs is the sky and the floors prairie sod.”
Smoky, the Cowhorse is set during the days before World War I, when most of the terrain from the Great Plains to the Pacific Ocean was livestock country. It was an era dominated by cattle, horses, and leather-clad cowboys, not the cowboys glamorized by Hollywood myth, but the actual working wranglers of the open range. James expertly re-creates this bygone era by meticulously recounting Clint and Smoky’s everyday cattle-raising activities.
Finally, James placed Smoky, the Cowhorse in a special class among books about the West by including his own illustrations. Before becoming a writer James was an artist, and he originally sold his stories in order to make his artwork more marketable. As in the case of his writing, James’s experiences of the range contribute to the detailed realism of his paintings.