by Naomi Loomis – WSRRA Representative
King Rodeo Company is home to 200 of the world’s top bucking horses. King Rodeo Company has been in the rodeo business for 15 years and in that time they have provided rodeo stock to numerous rodeos across the United States. In 2017, King Rodeo Company has been one of the WSRRA National finals stock contractors for over 5 years and at the 2017 Western States Ranch Rodeo Association National Finals, held in Winnemucca, Nevada this past fall, won top honors there.
King Rodeo Company is located south west Idaho in a town called Eagle. Gene, his wife Amanda and their five children, Grace who is 16 years old, Gwendolyn 14, Georgia 11, Gladys 6, and Gatlin 1 month old not only raise bucking horses, they also own and operate an excavation company called King Concrete Construction.
“I started raising bucking horses about 15 years ago, it’s something that started as a hobby, is now a lifestyle that my family and I enjoy,” states King. Raising “rough-stock” is not your typical animal. They’re known as “rough-stock” because they are well, rough and King Rodeo Company is raising some of the finest in the business.
“As a kid, my parents had my siblings and I involved with rodeo, but raising rodeo stock was not something I seen my self-doing. It just kind of happened with the help from Jay Hoggan,” King says. Having a mentor throughout your career is a valuable asset to your growth, but there are often things that people forget while searching for and growing relationships with their mentors. “When I wanted in the rodeo company, I bought Jays Rodeo Company. He showed me how to handle the stock, how to rodeo, basically the in and out of owning a rodeo company.”
King Rodeo Company travels to over 20 rodeos and a handful of bucking futurity’s each year. Being a stock contractor comes with a lot of challenges. “ Keeping horse safe and sound, all the traveling and being gone most of the summer, winter time trying to keep horses fed and watered in not desired weather, and trying to making the right decisions with some of our young stock,” is all of the challenges Kings explains. “The spring, when our mommas have their babies, and all the people you get to meet during rodeo season. In the rodeo world, we are all family, everyone is competing against each other but on the other hand we are all there to help each other out.” King explains his favorite part about being a stock contractor.
The bucking horse business has evolved over the years. “I would say the biggest change is everyone’s breeding programs, before it was saddle horses that cowboys couldn’t break. Now days there are big time mares that are now getting embryos flushed and have receipt mares that carry them for them, stud horses that have been to the NFR are now being collected and shipped to people across the states. It’s something that we have not dabbled in “yet” but are not opposed to it either. Another way I think the bucking horses are evolving is the registration of bucking horses and the incentives at the big bucking horse futurities. All these things are a big change for rough stock contractors but I think in the long run it will only make the programs better and the competition tougher” Kings says.
King explains what characteristics distinguish a good bucking horse, “big strong legs, short back, and a little bit of a wild eye. If you ask my wife she would probably say long mane and tail!” Another characteristic of a good bucking horse is how they buck and King Rodeo Company has some of the best. “These horses just love to buck, it is bred into them,” King says.
When it comes to riding bucking horses, King says, “I don’t intentionally ride bucking horses. I would consider myself more of a Cadillac cowboy and only enjoy watching others get on my bucking horses.” Bucking horses are intriguing to me. These horses love to buck. King Rodeo Company talks about how long these bucking horses can compete, “just depends on the horse, we have some old mares that are just as nice and strong as our colts even while carrying babies in their belly. If a horse likes bucking, they will buck as long as they can.”
Just as the traditions of bucking horses continue, so does the next generations of King’s. “With five kids, I am sure it is going to be a wrestling match between them as to who is going to take over. Amanda and I, try and keep the kids involved and have them help as much as possible. The 3 older girls help us gather, sort, load, and at the rodeos help videoing, and hang flanks. All in hopes that one day that one if not all of them want to be a part of the rodeo business we have created,” King states.
At the 2017 WSRRA National Finals King Rodeo Company brought a handful of their up and coming colts for the long- go’s but for the short go, they brought all their favorites. “381 Bloody Bill is our young stud that is a half-brother to Curly bill, 2015 NFR go around winner. # 9 Popeye is our underdog, she is this petite mare that only has one eye but is outstanding bucker and loves her job. #842 Ryan who was awarded bucking horse of the year and highest marked horse of the finals. #200 Paddle Foot, he was the 2016 WSRRA National Finals bronc of the year,” explains King.
“Ryan” of the King Rodeo Company was the highest scoring ranch bronc and ranch bronc of the Finals at the 2017 WSRRA National Finals. Ryan is actually a mare, and she is defiantly one the favorites. “She is a dark bay, with a bald face, one blue eye, and has four white stockings, which makes her really stand out. She is 10 years old and we have 4 babies out of her. She had always been a really good bareback mare and she somehow got sorted to go to a rodeo that has no bareback riding so we decided we would throw her in the ranch bronc riding the first day. When she came out and kicked over her head and bucked the kid off right there we all kinda looked at each other and laughed. We than put her in the short round the next day and they won the rodeo on her. She has just been the cowboy’s favorite since then,” explains King. Aside from all the awards King Rodeo Company received at the WSRRA finals, #381 Bloody Bill won second at the world class bucking horse futurity in Las Vegas (the same time as the WSRRA finals) and #333 Kitty Whistle a gelding they raised and sold won the 9th round of the WNFR with Ryder Wright.
The tradition of ranch rodeo and ranch bronc riding is holding strong and continues to gain popularity. King says, “I think there will always be a place for ranch rodeos and ranch bronc riding, it gives all the working cowboys a place to show their horsemanship and riding ability.” I would agree with King’s statement, the western traditions of stock contractors and ranch rodeos are here to stay.
King Rodeo Company continue to contribute to the growth of the rodeo industry and western heritage, raising superior bucking stock and producing exceptional rodeos around the country with their award winning breeding program on their ranch. Armed with the knowledge gained from a lifetime of ranching and rodeo experience, Gene , Amanda and the Kings children continue to produce rodeo stock for those who choose this great way of life.
“We would like to say thank you to the WSRRA for the great hospitality, and amazing awards at their finals. We truly enjoy going to these events and bringing our stock.” Gene and Amanda King
On behalf of the WSRRA, congratulations for winning 2017 WSRRA NFR Stock Contractor of the Year, 2017 WSRRA NFR Highest Scoring Ranch Bronc “Ryan” and 2017 WSRRA NFR Ranch Bronc of the Finals, “Ryan.”
