Rodeo has a long and proud history in Alberta.
The first official Canadian rodeo was held in Raymond in 1903. In 1912, the Calgary Stampede was created, and from there, Alberta became a hub for rodeos, elevating it to the global stage.
Rodeo was introduced to North America by Mexican explorers in the late 1680s. It was adopted in the working practices of cowboys and ranchers because the skills of riding, roping and herding were handy for managing livestock.
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The sport arrived in what is now the Canadian Prairies in the latter half of the 1880s. Cowboy culture was a considered a great match for the Alberta countryside and ranching.
Chad Byrne spent 17 years as a partner in Outlaw Buckers Rodeo, a company that supplies stock for rodeo events. He says the province plays a huge role in the rodeo scene throughout North America.
“Rural passion for who we are as Albertans and the strong agricultural sector, that fuels the love of rodeo and the western lifestyle,” he says.
Heart of rodeo
It’s nearly impossible to talk about rodeo in Alberta without talking about rodeo stock contractors. They are the backbone of rodeo events, working with organizers to match animals to events and maintaining a thrilling experience for competitors, audiences and stock.
Rodeo stock contractors supply and care for the livestock used in rodeo events: bucking horses, bulls, calves and steers. They specialize in breeding, raising and training elite rodeo animals, often through managed programs like the Calgary Stampede’s “Born to Buck.” This demands expertise in genetics, animal behaviour and health to meet athletic and ethical standards.
Taking stock
Stock contractors are similar to ranches in their priority to animal care but raise their animals for use in rodeo events. They focus on breeding and nurturing the next generations to strengthen their program and develop animals to succeed in the rodeo business.
Byrne says the most important factors in breeding rodeo stock are genetics, athletics and conformation from both sides.
“The old days of a sour saddle horse or a mean herd bull being successful in the business are extremely rare,” he says. “We always tried to give our animals the time to grow up and mature properly before asking them to buck.
“You can’t make them buck; they either want to or don’t. We believed in them being physically mature enough to not hurt themselves before we asked them to try, because they don’t know enough to ease into it. It’s what they’re bred to do.”
James Foley and Kiara Stasiuk of Foley Bucking Bulls of Lloydminster, Alta., raise registered American bucking bull cattle. They agree that genetics only go so far.
“We start bucking these calves (heifers and bulls) as yearlings, with a 10-pound dummy on their back, and we are looking for their intensity, kick, spin and try,” they wrote in an email.
Ethical responsibility
Contractors must adhere to strict regulations to ensure the safety and humane treatment of livestock. Their reputation hinges on balancing the animals’ well-being with the demands of rodeo performance.
“We have a herd health program that follows the guidance of our vet. We have a nutritionist for our feed, which is specifically designed for our rodeo cattle,” wrote Foley and Stasiuk.
For competition preparation, animals are trained to get used to the motions and stimuli of rodeo events. Before riders are introduced, a “dummy” with a remote-controlled release is used to simulate bucking. Animals are observed closely, with adjustments made if they show signs of discomfort or issues with performance.
Partnership
Most pro rodeo contracts in Alberta are initially awarded on a bid. Once a contractor business has established a relationship and proved itself, contracts will often extend without the need to bid again.
Stasiuk and Foley say stock contractors put on most bull riding events in Western Canada and the bull riders choose which bulls go to the finals. Byrne expanded on the relationship between stock contractors and rodeo athletes.
“You spend so much time with the contestants that you become good friends,” he says. “The guys will come to you before the rodeo and ask specific details about the animal they’ve drawn. You want to be as upfront and honest about their tendencies and traits as possible because you want them to showcase your animal, and both have a successful day.
“The more successful the contestants are on your animals, the more they will want to come to the rodeos (where you are) supplying stock.”
One of the names synonymous with rodeo stock in Alberta is Kesler.
The Kesler family’s legacy began with Reg Kesler (1919–2001) and Reg’s son, Greg Kesler, expanded the family business. After Greg’s death in 2016, and after his wife Judy’s death in 2020, the Brewin family bought the rodeo stock and carried on the tradition.
“Greg cared for his livestock like family. He would do anything for those horses and bulls,” said Roy Brewin.
Roy’s daughter, Tami-Jo Brewin added, “when someone else’s family has put in so many generations of hard work, it kind of hits us in the heart. So it was a pretty easy decision.”
Stasiuk and Foley say there is no better community than ranching and rodeo. Byrne’s most memorable experience as a partner of Outlaw Buckers was “having our animals selected to perform on the biggest stages in North America.
“Being with your animals and watching them succeed at elite places like the NFR (National Finals Rodeo), CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo), Calgary and Ponoka Stampedes and Pendleton Round Up made it all worthwhile. It’s like watching your kids excel, and it makes you very proud. It’s not about you. It’s about their accomplishments.”
