Descent (horse)

Last updated
Descent
Discipline Saddle bronc
Sex Gelding
CountryUnited States
Color Palomino
BreederArt Douglas
Owner
  • Cervi
  • Beutler
  • Bud Kramer
  • Eddie Vaugn
  • Art Douglas
Honors
1979 ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Descent was a bucking horse who was specialized in saddle bronc riding and competed in the Rodeo Cowboys Association. He is a six-time Bucking Horse of the Year awardee. He won the award in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, and 1972. He is also a 1979 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inaugural inductee.

Contents

Background

Descent was a Palomino horse gelding. He was raised on Art Douglas's Ranch in Browning, Montana. On his sire side, his pedigree is traced to Thoroughbreds such as Calvary remount horses. On his dan's side, his pedigree is Morgan breeding. [1] Douglas sold Descent along with some wild horses to Eddie Vaugn. Vaughn sold the horses to Bud Kramer. Beutler Brothers Rodeo supplied the stock for the State Fair and Rodeo at Great Falls, Montana. Kramer took the horses for a try-out. Leonard Nelson got on the young Descent, and he bucked quite strongly. Descent bucked Leonard high enough that announcer Pete Logan looked up and saw a plane in descent, so Sonny Linger and Pete christened him Descent. [1] In 1964, Lynn Beutler bought Descent when he was 5 years old. [2] In 1964, Lynn Beutler bought Descent when he was 5 years old. [2] Mike Cervi purchased what is now known as Cervi Rodeo but formerly Beuller Brothers in 1967. For a time they were known as Beutler Brothers Cervi. In modern times, Cervi Rodeo is one of the largest rodeo companies in the business. Descent was one of their top horses in the 1960s. [3]

Career

When the Beutler Brothers bought Descent, that's when he started bucking in rodoeos. He bucked off every cowboy until 1965. Bobby Berger was the first cowboy to ride Descent. Berger, from Kansas, drew Descent at the Black Hills Roundup, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Descent went on to buck off many more champions. Names like Larry Mahan, Guy Weeks, Alvin Nelson, Ross Loney, Shawn Davis, and Bill Smith. [1] He won the Saddle Bronc of the Year 6 times, two times more than fellow ProRodeo Hall of Fame horse, Medicine Woman. [4]

Awards

1966 Saddle Bronc of the Year

1967 Saddle Bronc of the Year

1968 Saddle Bronc of the Year

1969 Saddle Bronc of the Year

1971 Saddle Bronc of the Year

1972 Saddle Bronc of the Year [5]

Retirement and death

Descent was retired to the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colorado, in 1975. [2] Then he lived in contentment at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame until he died in 1983, at Larry Mahan's Ranch. [2] [1] Three-time world champion Bill Smith of Thermopolis, Wyoming, who owned Descent for a time, paid a tribute to him. He had nine opportunities to ride Descent. Descent bucked him off five times. Smith got a qualified ride from him four times. "He’s the greatest horse who ever lived-bar none", Bill says, "right up there with Secretariat". Smith has a Quarter Horse Ranch which sells trained geldings. [6]

Legacy

"The rankest Descent ever bucked with me, I rode him, and I don’t know how I did", Bill says. "But it was, by far, the best bronc ride I ever made on the best horse I ever rode. He nearly bucked me off every jump, and I can remember every jump. I’d give my life to be able to do it one more time-even if he threw me the first jump. Descent was one of the horses that really makes life worthwhile." [6]

"When they retired Descent at Denver (National Western Stock Show and Rodeo)", Bill continues, "I stood there with tears running down my face. When he walked into the arena, I just couldn’t hold them back". [6]

In 1979, the two met again as retirees. It was at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The horse was on exhibit to the public. Descent was known for rebuffing adult visitors, but if there was a child, he might come near the fence.When personnel had revealed that to Bill and his wife Carole, Bill commented, to their amusement, that even though Descent had bucked him off numerous times, the old horse would still come near him." [6]

"It would seem a lie if Carole hadn’t taken that picture", Bill says. "That old horse walked right over and stood there while I scratched him, just like I would one of my riding horses. He was not gentle, and he didn’t just come up to me-he stayed there. That would be just another big, windy story without that picture". [6]

"It was,” Carole says, “a really neat, neat moment". "Some might have thought it was two champs meeting on their own turf, but not Bill." "That was two souls meeting-never mind the champs. He was the winner". [6]

Larry Mahan was known for treating Descent as if he owned the horse. He hooked the horse R.C.A. style until the signal horn. He then fanned with his hat and stepped down from him, the old-time cowboy way. [7]

Recently, Ivan Daines, who is a Red Deer, Alberta, cowboy sings tribute to the horse who bucked him off, Descent. Ivan Daines wrote and sang a new song for Descent. When Daines was a world champion saddle bronc rider, in the 1970s, he was competing across America. "He bucked me off once — but then he threw everyone". said Daines, who claims he shared a touching moment with the horse not long after he was retired. Daines claimed Descent looked at him as if he knew it was the last time they would meet. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronc riding</span> Rodeo event that involves riding a bucking horse

Bronc riding, either bareback bronc or saddle bronc competition, is a rodeo event that involves a rodeo participant riding a bucking horse that attempts to throw or buck off the rider. Originally based on the necessary buck breaking skills of a working cowboy, the event is now a highly stylized competition that utilizes horses that often are specially bred for strength, agility, and bucking ability. It is recognized by the main rodeo organizations such as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodacious (bull)</span> American bucking bull

Bodacious #J-31 was an American bucking bull. He was known throughout the rodeo world as "the world's most dangerous bull". He was also known as "the greatest bull ever to buck". During his rodeo career, he was the 1994 and 1995 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) Bucking Bull of the Year, as well as the 1995 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion Bull. He and Bruiser are the only bulls who have won bucking bull world championship titles in both organizations. Bodacious is best known for his serious injury to bull riding icon Tuff Hedeman. Not long after, Bodacious also seriously injured Scott Breding. His owner, Sammy Andrews, then retired Bodacious. In 1999, Bodacious was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, and in 2017 into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame. In 2019, the PBR inducted Bodacious into the Brand of Honor, which is part of the PBR's Heroes and Legends Celebration, the PBR's unique way of honoring outstanding individuals and livestock in the sport of rodeo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association</span> American rodeo organization

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is the largest rodeo organization in the world. It sanctions events in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with members from said countries, as well as others. Its championship event is the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). The PRCA is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ProRodeo Hall of Fame</span> Hall of fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado

The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy was opened in August 1979 as a museum designed to "preserve the legacy of the cowboy contests, the heritage and culture of those original competitions, and the champions of the past, present and future." It is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and only inducts Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women's Professional Rodeo Association members. It is the "only museum in the world devoted exclusively to the sport of professional rodeo."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Murray</span> American rodeo cowboy

Ty Monroe Murray, is an American nine-time World Champion professional rodeo cowboy. He was one of the top rodeo contestants in the world from the late 1980s to early 2000s. He is one of the co-founders and a board adviser of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). From 2005 to 2020, he was also a regular color commentator for several televised PBR events.

Lewis Feild was an American professional rodeo cowboy. He specialized in bareback bronc riding and saddle bronc riding and competed on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit. He was the World All-Around Cowboy Champion from 1985 to 1987 at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). He was also the World Bareback Riding Champion from 1985 to 1986. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame inducted him in 1992 in the all-around category.

Billy Etbauer is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in saddle bronc riding. He competed on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit along with his two brothers, Robert and Dan. He won the PRCA saddle bronc riding world championship five times.

Warren Granger "Freckles" Brown was a hall of fame American rodeo cowboy from Wheatland, Wyoming. His career spanned from 1937 to 1974, competing in bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, team roping, and steer wrestling. He was the World Bull Riding Champion in 1962. Brown was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for bull riding in 1979. He was also inducted into the inaugural class of the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2015. Brown was most famous for riding Tornado, who had an undefeated record of 220 riders. Brown was also a close friend and mentor of Lane Frost.

The Heart of the North Rodeo is located in Spooner, Wisconsin, United States. The rodeo takes place the first full weekend in July every year since 1954, except 2020. It is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Fans from all over come to watch the professional cowboys and cowgirls compete in the seven main events of rodeo, and even some up-and-coming little cowboys and cowgirls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skoal Pacific Bell</span> American bucking bull

Skoal Pacific Bell #14 was an American bucking bull best known for being the only three-time consecutive Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Bucking Bull of the Year and for only being ridden 5 times in 150 attempts. In 2007, he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. As of 2016, he was the seventh and most recent bull so honored. The PRCA said in an official YouTube induction video that "Skoal Pacific Bell was a crowd pleaser and a cowboy challenger."

Midnight (1916–1936) was a bucking horse who in 1979 was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Rock (bull)</span> American bucking bull

Red Rock #007 was an American bucking bull. He competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Bull riders attempted to ride Red Rock 309 times and not one rider was able to ride him until the eight-second whistle in his professional career. His owners brought Red Rock out of retirement in 1988 for a match against Lane Frost. He was also chosen as the PRCA 1987 Bucking Bull of the Year. However, Red Rock is most famous for his association with 1987 PRCA World Champion bull rider Lane Frost and their famous matchup called the Challenge of the Champions. In 1990, both Frost and Red Rock were inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. In 1994, Hollywood released 8 Seconds, a biopic based on Lane Frost's life, which includes his duel with Red Rock. He was the first livestock inducted into the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V-61 (bull)</span> American bucking bull

V-61 was a hall of fame bucking bull known only by his brand, V-61. In 1970, he was the Bucking Bull of the NFR. In 2012, the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inducted V-61. In 2015, the Bull Riding Hall of Fame inducted him into its inaugural class. In 930 attempts, only four bull riders managed to complete rides on him for a total of five qualified rides. His owner retired him in January 1974 and he died later that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar (bull)</span> American bucking bull

Oscar #16 was a ProRodeo Hall of Fame bucking bull. The hall of fame inducted Oscar in its 1979 inaugural class of inductees. To date, only seven bulls have been inducted, which is the highest honor a bucking bull can receive in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). The California Rodeo Salinas inducted Oscar into its hall of fame in 2013. In 2018, the Bull Riding Hall of Fame inducted Oscar. In over 300 attempts, only eight bull riders made qualified rides of the requisite eight seconds on Oscar. Eight-time world champion bull rider Don Gay made the highest-scored ride on him at the time, earning 97 points, just 3 points short of a perfect score. Oscar's owners retired him in 1979 as a living exhibit to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He remained at the hall until his death in 1983.

Three Bars was a Canadian rodeo bucking horse that was specialized in bareback bronc riding. She was the Bareback Horse of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) three times in 1967, 1973, and 1980. She was inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) in 1989, and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War Paint (horse)</span> Saddle bronc riding horse

War Paint was a saddle bronc who was a three-time Rodeo Cowboys Association Bucking Horse of the Year. He won the award in 1956, 1957, and in 1958 he tied with another horse. He was inducted into four halls of fame, the most prominent being the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2011. War Paint was known for his bucking ability and his buck-off record, which was close to 90 percent.

Grated Coconut #G-65 (1997-2024) was a Canadian rodeo bucking horse that was specialized in bareback bronc riding. He was a six-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Bareback Horse of the Year. He was also a six-time Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) Bareback Horse of the Year from. He was inducted into three halls of fame, including the ProRodeo Hall of Fame of the PRCA, the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame of the CPRA, and the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame of the PRCA-sanctioned Ellensburg Rodeo.

Virgil F13 is a rodeo bucking horse. He is specialized mainly in bareback bronc riding, but is sometimes used in saddle bronc riding. Although born in North Dakota, United States, he has lived most of his life in Alberta, Canada. Virgil is a two-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Bareback Horse of the Year, as well as a two-time Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) Bareback Bucking Horse of the Year. He won the award in both organizations in the same years; 2017 and 2018. He was also awarded the Bareback Horse of the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) four times from 2015 to 2018, as well as the Bareback Horse of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 2017. He is also the horse that was ridden for the highest-scored bareback ride in PRCA history, which occurred in 2022.

Medicine Woman #302 was an American rodeo bucking horse that specialized in saddle bronc riding. She competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and was a four-time PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year. She won the award in 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2016. She also was the Saddle Bronc Horse of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 2010 and 2015. In 2022, she was posthumously inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

Dirty Jacket #474 is an American rodeo bucking horse that is specialized in saddle bronc riding. He competes in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and won the 2014 and 2015 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year award.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Larsen, Cheryl Leverton (July 16, 2015). "Bobby Berger, Descent and the Black Hills Roundup". Tri-State Livestock News. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Vicroy, Kevin. "Descent". ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  3. ↑ "What We Do". Cervi Championship Rodeo. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  4. ↑ "2022 ProRodeo Hall of Fame Class Unveiled". Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ PRCA Awards, Stock of the Year, 1956-1973, p. 4.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 ""Cody" Bill Smith Pays Tribute to Descent". Western Horseman. May 31, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  7. ↑ "National Finals Rodeo 1967". Western Horseman. December 5, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Red Deer cowboy singer inspired by Shatner's space flight". Red Deer Advocate. December 18, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2022.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.