Buckin’ Horses

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Capone 7 yr old The famed lyrics sang in the noted Willie Nelson song, “Mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys,” may be relatable for some moms, but in the bucking horse world, owner and breeder Tim Bridwell’s goal is exactly the opposite. His case in point, his homegrown rising star saddle bronc bucker branded #902 and slyly named Capone. Capone was born on the Bridwell Ranch 7 seven years ago to 10-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) bareback horse, #017 Raggidy Ann. As the lone son of the standout mare, he has dawned a tough-spirited mentality since birth. And he has the scar to prove it. At 6 months of age he was found with his head slashed open. The conclusion was the injury had occurred as the result of running under a low hanging tree branch or perhaps a guide wire from nearby power lines in the pasture of which the mares and colts were grazing. Measures were taken to care for the injury, but regardless of the object, the outcome was a life-long scar that now notably stands out from between his dark eyes and striking white face. It is a piece of his personality that mirrors his bucking style; mysterious and exotic. “Capone’s bucking ability is always changing. He doesn’t really have a set pattern or style, but he is going to try to buck cowboys off for the whole 8 seconds…. every time,” says Bridwell. Though Bridwell may be quick to note Capone’s bucking style, his true pride lies in the often unnoticed statistics that began at 6 years old when Capone was chosen for the notorious Calgary Stampede; a feat which he duplicated the following year. He was selected to his first WNFR in 2015 right alongside his mother in the bareback riding. Since the 2015 WNFR he has marked another milestone moving from the bareback riding to the saddle bronc riding event. It is a feat that most mature older horses aren’t able to handle due to the different natural abilities, both mental and physical, required by an animal athlete. Bridwell states, “It’s difficult for some horses to make the switch because of their size, but Capone is a big, stout horse. He is similar to a football player who can play both sides of the ball…. like offense and defense.” Capone validated the move as he was selected to his 2 nd consecutive WNFR in 2016, only this time it was in the saddle bronc riding. His 2016 WNFR performance was a glimpse of what his bright future holds as he bucked off Chuck Kite and was scored the 2 nd rankest horse of the night. He also was ridden by Sterling Crawley for a 2 nd place finish which earned Crawley nearly $20,000 for the effort. While Capone may show a maturity way beyond his years in the arena, his demeanors in the pastures of his home near Red Bluff, California say otherwise. On any given day as the wind cools the air and causes the tall grasses to sway in Northern California, Capone can be found not with the herd of horses his own age, but rather near his mother. He is not the one that is easily startled. His quiet confidence lends his curiosity to wander every now and again, but never too far from the watchful eye of mom. And even though she has given him the genetics he needs to be great, she continues to nurture him. Proving that even with bucking horses, it is a family affair!