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Wood Mountain Sports & Stampede
26 October 2004

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Depression, War & Recovery

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Harry Houri's Cowboys
1930
R.M. of Old Post No. 43, Saskatchewan, Canada

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When the Depression of the 1930's hit, the Stampede had to be scaled back. Often the only money was the cowboy's own entry fees. Sometimes the prizes were boxes of groceries. The crowd dwindled but the event continued.

"When wages were about $40 a month or less and I could make a $140 at a rodeo, why wouldn't I rodeo? "
- Gene Anderson

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Bison in the Wood Mountain Rodeo Arena
1935
Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan, Canada

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To attract crowds, special features were advertised. In 1935 a stray buffalo was herded into the arena and a fake buffalo hunt was staged.

"Much free publicity was gained by suggesting that a buffalo would be killed with bows and arrows in the arena by Sioux Indians. The Humane Society protested vigorously and the media coverage was better than paid advertising. As a compromise the buffalo was turned out in the arena and then driven back into a corral."
- Pat Fitzpatrick

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Cow Riding
1940
Southern Saskatchewan, Canada

Credits:
Photo by Ted Morgan

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Bareback riding and cow or steer riding became popular events in the 1930's. They didn't require expensive equipment. The cowboy hung on to a surcingle or rope, which went around the animal's girth, with one hand and rode until the judge blew the whistle.

"I rode my first steer at Willow Bunch and then I just kept on riding I often placed first or second in the steer riding at Wood Mountain. And I'd take part in other events, too, like bareback bronc riding and bull riding, or maybe wild horses races and wild cow milking."
- Art Colibaba

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Wild Cow Milking
1940
Southern Saskatchewan, Canada

Credits:
Photo by Ted Morgan

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Wild cow milking was added to the rodeo program. A team of three cowboys roped a cow and one of them milked it while the others held the cow. The winning team was the one that took the first bottle of milk to the judge.

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Wild Horse Race
1943
Southern Saskatchewan, Canada

Credits:
Photo by Ted Morgan

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The complement to wild cow milking was wild horse racing. A team of three cowboys roped a horse and the cowboy who mounted up first won the event for his team.

"I took up the wild horse race in the 1940's. I was the ear man with Nick Nickolson on the anchor and Dan Sovereign would mount up. We won a lot of firsts at Wood Mountain."
- Andrew Caragata

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Rodeo Circuit Cowboys
1944
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

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In the 1930's a lot of young cowboys traveled from rodeo to rodeo. This was the beginning of the rodeo circuit. They'd go from one rodeo to the next and after the last one a circuit champion would be declared. Wood Mountain was part of the circuit.