War Paint (horse) facts for kids
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| Breed | Paint x Pinto horse |
|---|---|
| Discipline | Saddle bronc |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | c. 1945 |
| Country | United States |
| Color | pinto |
| Owner | Orrie Sommers, Christensen Brothers |
| Honors | |
| Honors | |
| ProRodeo Hall of Fame Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame |
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War Paint (around 1945 – 1975) was a famous saddle bronc horse. He was named the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Bucking Horse of the Year three times. He won this award in 1956, 1957, and shared the title in 1958. War Paint was so good that he was inducted into three halls of fame, including the important ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2011. He was known for his amazing bucking skills, throwing off nearly 90 percent of the cowboys who tried to ride him.
Contents
Early Life of War Paint
War Paint was born around 1945 in the Klamath marsh, which is part of the Klamath Indian Reservation in Oregon. A member of the Klamath Tribe, Ora Summers, raised him. War Paint's father was a large Paint stallion, and his mother was a wild Pinto mare. Ora Summers gave War Paint a Klamath name meaning "painted horse." Summers trained many bucking horses, and War Paint was one of them. When War Paint was three years old, two brothers, Hank and Bob Christensen, who were stock contractors (people who provide animals for rodeos), bought him.
War Paint's Rodeo Career
War Paint competed at the highest level of professional rodeo, which was then called the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA). This organization later became the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 1975.
The Christensen Brothers first tried War Paint, who weighed about 1,400 pounds, in bareback bronc riding. But they soon moved him to saddle bronc riding, where he was truly amazing. In the 1950s, he became famous worldwide for how well he bucked. Many bronc riders wanted to try riding him. However, after they actually got on him, they often found themselves on the ground very quickly!
War Paint was a special horse for the Christensen Brothers from the start. He quickly became known for his powerful first jump out of the chute, followed by a high, strong kick. For his first few years, no cowboy could stay on him past his second jump. Manuel Enos was the first cowboy to successfully complete an 8-second ride on War Paint.
Denny Jones, a pickup man at the Pendleton Round-Up rodeo, compared War Paint to other legendary bucking horses. Jones said that War Paint was still bucking when he was 20 years old! War Paint was a favorite at the Ellensburg Rodeo, where crowds loved watching him. World champion saddle bronc rider Deb Copenhaver said, "That pinto is a sure day-money horse. He just bucks hard and keeps trying."
Bucking Horse of the Year Awards
In 1956, world champion saddle bronc rider Casey Tibbs suggested creating an award for the best bucking horses. War Paint was chosen as the very first RCA "Bucking Horse of the Year" in 1956. He received the award in January 1957 at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. The Rodeo Sports News newspaper gave the winner a special silver halter.
War Paint won the award again in 1957. The ceremony was held in January 1958. The Christensen Brothers brought War Paint to the event, and many reporters were there to see him.
At the 1958 award ceremony, the 1957 World Champion Saddle Bronc rider, Alvin Nelson, was present. Nelson and War Paint had never met in competition. An exhibition ride was planned for the presentation. When the chute gate opened, War Paint burst out with his typical high jump. Nelson was bucked off in just two seconds. Casey Tibbs once said about War Paint, "He was a horse that allows you no mistakes." This ride showed everyone why War Paint kept winning the title.
In 1958, War Paint shared the "Bucking Horse of the Year" award with another horse named Joker.
War Paint's Rides and Buck-Offs
An "out" is when a horse comes out of the bucking chute. A "qualified ride" means the cowboy stayed on for 8 seconds. War Paint had a very high buck-off rate, meaning he threw off most of his riders.
Some cowboys who managed to make a qualified ride on War Paint include Manuel Enos, who rode him a few times. Other successful riders were Kenny McLena, Cecil Bedford, Tuffy Federer, Bud Linderman, Bill Ward, Les Johnson, and Jackie Wright.
Many famous cowboys tried to ride War Paint but were unsuccessful. These included Dick Pasco, Bill Linderman, Jim Nunes, Bob Bailey, Arlo Curtiss, Joe Chase, and even champions like Casey Tibbs and Deb Copenhaver.
End of a Great Career
By 1958, War Paint was about 11 years old. He had been bucking for the Christensen Brothers for eight years, mostly in California and the states north of it. Hank Christensen often said that War Paint didn't have a special bucking pattern; he just tried his hardest every time. The stock contractor even spent $10,000 to insure War Paint, which was a lot of money back then.
In 1959, War Paint competed at the first-ever National Finals Rodeo (NFR). He was ridden twice there, helping two cowboys, Jim Tescher and Les Johnson, finish well in the competition. War Paint's career lasted for almost two decades. He ended his career with a buck-off rate of nearly 90 percent. Bobby Christensen Jr. explained, "He came out so high and came down so hard those first three jumps; not many of them got past those."
Retirement and Legacy
In 1966, at the Emerald Empire RoundUp in Eugene, Oregon, War Paint bucked off Jim Botham. After this, his owners announced that he was officially retired. During his career, War Paint traveled an incredible 540,000 miles. In his last season, he had 28 outs and bucked off riders 25 times.
War Paint lived to be over 30 years old. Even in retirement, the Christensen Brothers would bring him along to major rodeos like the California Rodeo Salinas, St. Paul Rodeo, and Pendleton Round-Up. Fans loved taking pictures with War Paint, and he seemed to enjoy the attention. When he became very old and his health declined, his owners decided to euthanize him gently so he wouldn't suffer through another cold winter. A rancher named Kent Rothrock suggested preserving War Paint's body.
War Paint passed away in October 1975. His owners agreed to Rothrock's idea, and his body was preserved by a taxidermist.
War Paint's Lasting Legacy
War Paint's preserved body is now on display at the museum in the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame in Oregon. He has been inducted into several halls of fame:
- The Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2019.
- The ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2011.
- The Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2001.
- The Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame in 1969.
War Paint bucked off 90 percent of his riders over his two-decade career. He was known for a special "dive" move within his first three jumps. Only a few riders figured out how to get past this move. He was very popular with everyone in rodeo, from announcers who loved calling his name to fans who sent him mail from all over.
