Category archives for: Western

Marc Herman’s Final Send-Off

Marc and Royan Herman post near a powder-blue 1950s Chevy.

Approximately 200 guests showed up at Peacock Hill Ranch Saturday night to bid a fond farewell to Marc Herman, a beloved figure in the Sunland-Tujunga equestrian community. As husband of 35 years to Royan Herman, Marc was half the team responsible for turning Peacock Hill into a little oasis for those horses lucky enough to […]

Livermore Rodeo in the Pink

Tough enough to wear pink? That was the provocative question posed by the Livermore Stockmen’s Rodeo Association, which hosted a “Give Cancer the Boot” fundraiser as part of the 95th Annual Livermore Rodeo, June 7-9 in Robertson Park, Livermore, CA. Cowboys and cowgirls donned ribbons and kicked up their heels to raise funds for breast […]

The Cowboy Hat

Montgomery Clift sports a classic cowboy hat in The Misfits.

Where did the idea for the cowboy hat come from?. There are three answers to this question, each more provocative than the last. The textbook answer is that John Batterson Stetson invented the cowboy hat in the 1860s after joining the gold rush to Colorado. The son of a hatter, Stetson noticed the Wild West […]

Branquinho Tops Cal Circuit

Saddle bronc champ Joaquin Real lets 'er rip on a Paint mount.

Already assured of his record eighth year-end title as the biggest winner on the 43-rodeo California Circuit, steer wrestler Luke Branquinho took top honors at the Oct. 19-21 Lancaster rodeo that was also the Ram California Circuit Finals Championship. He is among five Cali cowboys, and one cowgirl, that made the cut to compete at […]

Cresta Dead at 25

Broc Cresta

California has lost one of its brightest rodeo stars, Broc Cresta, who was found dead on July 28 in his mobile home at the Frontier Days Rodeo in Cheyenne, WY. Cresta, who was only 25, was a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo contender in the team roping category. Cresta’s cause of death was subsequently ruled […]

Cowboys Steer Clear

Luke Branquinho hoers in mid-air between his horse and a steer.

Ethen Thouvenell loves to win rodeos – but he especially loves to win them when he’s in his home state of California. The Napa  native turned in a 6.7-second effort to edge past Ty Gonsalves and Billy        Bugenig and win the Woodlake Lions Rodeo, May 12-13, earning $1,083. This vaults Thouvenell to the top of […]

Matson Projects ‘Cowboy’ Image

Winner and reserve champ astride their horses at Project Cowboy.

  A freestyle with flying changes that had the crowd whooping, smooth moves on the dance floor and a thumbs-up on his screen test earned Temecula horseman Mark Matson the Project Cowboy championship title: Great American Horseman. The competition took place over five rounds Feb. 2-3 at the Pomona Horse Expo, the debut Southern California […]

Brazile a Record-Breaker at NFR

Trevor Brazile hops off his horse while roping a calf.

  LAS VEGAS – If ever there was a reason for Luke Branquinho to shake his booty at the Thomas & Mack Center, this was it. The Los Alamos, CA-based Branquinho―who routinely performs the celebration dance in the arena following fast times―won his third steer wrestling world championship title and the first since 2008. The […]

Oregon’s Carr Miss Rodeo America

Miss Rodeo America headshot

LAS VEGAS, NV – The results are in and the 2012 Miss Rodeo America has been crowned: Mackenzie Carr, of Vernonia, Oregon. Carr served as Miss Rodeo Oregon 2011, and during the new year, she will travel more than 100,000 miles representing Miss Rodeo America, Inc. and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Contestants were judged […]

Thouvenell, Branquinho triumph at Circuit Finals

Cowboy Ethen Thouvenell poses with his trophy saddle.

LANCASTER, Calif. – Steer wrestling was in the spotlight at the Ram California Circuit Finals Rodeo in Lancaster, where Luke Branquinho took top honors for best average and Ethen Thouvenell was crowned the year-end California Circuit Champion with earnings of $15,203 (landing seventh place nationally). Both cowboys qualify for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, […]

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