Smoky, the cow horse

"Smoky, the Cow Horse" by Will James is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book revolves around the life and adventures of Smoky, a range colt raised in the wild, and his experiences as he matures into a skilled and spirited cow horse. The narrative explores his relationship with other horses, humans, and the challenges he faces in the natural world. At the start of the story, we are introduced to Smoky as he is born on a spring morning, emerging into the vast prairie landscape alongside his mother. The opening chapters detail his early days of exploration, play, and learning about the world around him, including encounters with various animals and the early instinctual lessons that shape his character. As he begins to grow and develop, the reader sees Smoky's adventures unfold, hinting at the challenges he will face and the relationships he will forge as he navigates the complexities of life as a horse in the wild. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Roderick James was a Canadian-American artist and writer of the American West. He is known for writing Smoky the Cowhorse, for which he won the 1927 Newbery Medal, and numerous "cowboy" stories for adults and children. His artwork, which predominantly involved cowboy and rodeo scenes, followed "in the tradition of Charles Russell", and much of it was used to illustrate his books. In 1992, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.