story by Riata Christiansen
Zeke Holcomb, 18-year-old senior from New Harmony, Utah competes in bareback riding in the Utah High School Rodeo Association. Although Zeke is one of seven siblings, only two of them are still living at home. Zeke was born and raised in Texas, not moving to Utah until his dad had a great job opportunity in 2013. Zeke’s family is very close and they are very important to him. His father, Jay, is his idol, because in Zeke’s words, “My dad has the biggest heart. He is so kind and he makes everyone feel important.”
When Zeke was 15, he watched the NFR and told his dad he wanted to be a bareback rider. His dad helped him enroll in a bareback school and Zeke has never looked back. He now has his sights set on making it to the NFR and having his name in the history books. Before every ride, Zeke ties his right boot then his left, shakes his dad’s hand and says, “It’s gonna be a good one!” He finished fifth in the state last year and would like to improve on that finish this year. He has started the year out strong placing solidly in both the first two rodeos. Bareback riding is physically demanding and Zeke has broken his neck twice in the last few years. The first time he didn’t discover it until it had healed itself. He classifies his bareback style as improving.
Zeke works for Montgomery Performances horses where he rides under trainer Jim Montgomery. Zeke loves his time spent riding cutting and reining horses and hopes to keep working for Jim after he graduates from Penn Foster High School. In fact, most of his life revolves around horses, whether they are bareback horses, trail horses, or performance horses. He enjoys spending time riding on his family ranch as well. His favorite ranch horse is Mo, an 18-year-old gelding that used to be a pick up horse for Bar T stock contractors. He also has a mare named Sweet Tea and a Welsh Pony he calls Doug.
If he could spend the day with any celebrity he would pick George Strait. Zeke has acquired many of the traits he admires in his father and is kind, humble, polite and fun to be around. His advice to younger kids starting out in rodeo is “Don’t give up! You can’t reach your goals if you give up. Keep trying and keep hustling.”
