Images by Lone Oak Western Productions
So far, it’ s been a wonderful time to be involved with the sport. Due to Covid and shows like
Yellowstone, there has been a resurgence of interest in returning to nature and learning the cowboy way of life. Kids and adults alike have contacted Elliot to learn how to become bronc riders, and attendance and entries for the Bucking Bash and other events have been skyrocketing. It means a lot to Elliot to teach this new generation, watch them compete, and to see people’ s enthusiasm at events.“ There’ s so many other things a person can do. They can stay at home on their phone and be entertained. So for them to get out of the house and come to a rodeo and pack the stands is incredible,” he said.
But increased popularity comes with its fair share of scrutiny. As Lone Oak’ s social media manager, Emily often encounters misinformation, usually from animal rights groups, about how the animals are being treated. Assumptions for why the horses buck range anywhere from them being purposely scared or agitated to them being abused with equipment like flank straps.“ These horses aren’ t just livestock to us. We love and care for them a lot and they’ re treated accordingly,” Emily said. Elliot suspects many of the people making these accusations have never been to a rodeo and are operating strictly from fabricated horror stories.“ The PRCA sets strict standards and there’ s huge penalties and fines. If there was a bad apple in the industry, they’ d be kicked out,” he explained.
In reality, bucking is just a part of the horse’ s nature. It’ s a trait that traces back to wild horses and is selectively bred for. Lone Oak prides itself in its responsible breeding program that raises horses to be gentle, so that later, if the horse doesn’ t want to buck as a job, it can become a trail horse or a companion horse.( Continued...)
gmhtoday. com Gilroy • Morgan Hill TODAY Magazine: Go. Make history... SUMMER 2025 23