story by Lily Weinacht
Last year was Jackson Schuldt-Ward’s rookie year in the KJHSRA, and he punched his ticket to the 2017 NJHFR in saddle bronc steer riding, bull riding, and bareback steer riding. The cowboy from Wichita, Kansas, turned 14 while competing at Nationals, covering both his saddle bronc steers and finishing fifth in the nation. “It was fun!” says Jackson, who is starting high school rodeo this fall, competing in saddle bronc riding and bull riding. “I probably like bull riding the best. I’ve been around it the longest, and my dad is always there teaching me new stuff. In saddle bronc riding, I need to try and get my feet to the front better, and work out more and be more dedicated to the sport now that I’m getting older.”
Before Jackson started his rodeo career when he was 4 or 5, he traveled all over the country with his dad, Jed Ward, who rode bulls in the PBR and competed in the PBR World Finals twice. “I grew up around it and a lot of bull riders, and I decided I liked it,” Jackson explains. “I like the competition and the thrill, and getting to meet a lot of new people. It’s real fun going down the road and there’s a lot of country to be traveled. I’ve competed down in Texas and as far up as Iowa. In Kansas and Missouri there are a lot of bull ridings within two or three hours of where we live.” Along with the KHSRA, Jackson also competes in open rodeos, Kraft Rodeo Company’s events, Shad Smith’s bull ridings, the Kansas Junior Bull Riders Association, and the Extreme Bull Riding Tour.
In addition to his dad, Jackson is inspired by his fellow bull riding friends Tate and his dad, Mark Pollmeier; and Trey Holston, who is the 2017 NHSFR Bull Riding Champion. “They help me a lot and we practice together whenever I’m up in Fort Scott. If I can’t get somewhere, they come and pick me up and do whatever needs to happen.” When Jackson’s friend Tate Pollmeier was invited to ride mini bulls at a PBR event in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a few years ago, Jackson was able to join him behind the scenes and visit with the bull riders. “We got to meet JB Mauney – I like to follow him – and in saddle bronc riding, I like to follow Wade Sundell.”
A freshman at Eisenhower High School, Jackson enjoys P.E., especially weight lifting. “It helps me stay strong, and I do a lot of cardio and core workouts. I normally wrestle every year, but this year I might just focus on rodeo.” Jackson also like hunting, fishing, and riding his dirt bike, or going into Wichita for a movie or go cart racing. He has horses to keep legged up at both his dad’s house and his mom’s (Jill Schuldt) house. “I love to ride, and my dad trains horses for a living, so I help him break a lot of colts. There’s always a horse I can jump on and help with, and we have about ten colts of our own that need to be ridden. They’re all mostly bred for barrel racing.” Jackson helps his twin 4-year-old half brother and half sister, Leyla and Lukasey, practice since they started rodeoing. Lukasey rides sheep and Leyla runs barrels.
“Here in the near future, I’d like to try to win two events at Nationals – the saddle bronc riding and bull riding. That would be cool to be the only kid who’s done that,” Jackson finishes. “After that, I want to win the NFR and try to win the PBR World Finals a couple of times.”
