OK, How was it? Everyone have a good time? Anyone go to jail?

Maybe they are still in jail.
I had read that the sales were up this year. Thats GREAT!
Did MC have some really good musical entertainment?

There's a fine feature of the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale on page 3 of the Washington Post this morning (Monday morning edition, 5/17/04) written by Bill Souder. To read the article, visit www.washingtonpost.com and register (it's free). Then search the site for either "miles city" or "william souder".

Joe, thanks for the tip on the Washington Post Article. Very well written. Mike's Article in the Star was interesting in of the fact that most people steer clear of talking about the fact that the BHS is a drink fest. Not complaining though I spent many years trying to out drink everyone at the Sale. This year we watched movies-it was just as fun and a hell of alot cheaper.

I was wondering if people had any new ideas for the Bucking Horse Sale?? The quick draw seems to be a great atraction. Maybe people could take this oppertunity to add new ideas and thoughts about the Sale.

Just to let everyone know. The bucking horse sale looks like another success. Ticket sales for the three days was up over last year. Early calculations have concessions also up. The pari-mutuel handle for the horse racing for the three days was over sixty thousand and close to seventy thousand. That is good. We had a lot of race horses this year and some really good feature races. Lot's of photo finsihes which makes for a lot of excitement. It also provided some big payoffs. The one area that seems to be having trouble now is the bucking stock. We had a lot of horses but not good bucking horses. People were bringing them in to sell them hoping they would bring a good price as a rodeo horse. Just like all good athletes only a few are cut out for the professional ranks. I think we only had three or four that probably go on to be good rodeo horses this year. The bull situation is even worse. It takes a big strong will dispositioned bull to make it to the big time. I mean he has to be mean. That part of the event is going to take some fine tuning. I have said for the past three years we could increase attendance to the sale by ten to twenty percent if we had more Motel rooms or places for people to stay. Maybe we could set up portable bunk houses just for the third weekend in May.
The article in the Washington Post is a good one. The picture is really good. It was a flowerery article with a lot of story book discriptions. The writer is from Minnesota. All he ever sees is water. Good quotes however from the visitors. It get that a lot in my position so I know that is how outsiders view the Bucking Horse Sale. It is a great event. Everyone should exprience it again for the first time.

I just want to know, when did they start calling it the Cowboy Marti-gra? This showing your ---- for beads thing really blew my mind. I was really good though, and did not fall into peer pressure, and eventually I got a ring and necklas for just giving a hug.
Anyone else get a necklas for showing you know what? Please tell.... or maybe you don't even remember how you got it. HA, HA, HA
It was a good time and good to see people I haven't seen in a while. Looking forward to next year.
By the way, the article in the Washington Post was a good one.

I had a great time, even though the only BHS events I attended were the parade and the Range Riders breakfast. Though I have to admit, the "burn out" competition in the parade seemed toxic, pointless and obnoxious - the sort of thing geared towards NASCAR dads, I guess.

I can report that the catfish were biting well on the Yellowstone Saturday afternoon.

Two other items of interest from the BHS~

* The Montana PBS documentary, "Last Stronghold: The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale", is now available in DVD/VHS formats. Featuring John Moore as an historian of the event and Wallace McRae as the narrator, it screened to an enthusiastic crowd last Sunday morning at the Custer County Art Center. It's filmed locally and would be considered money well-spent by many Miles City BHS fans.

* Photographer Michael Coles shot the BHS last year and printed a fine limited-edition 18x25 tinted black & white litho of the wild horse race. Lots of action, great lighting, and a first-rate print run.

For more info on either of these items, please contact me off-list by clicking my name above this item.

Its been awhile since I've come home for the bucking horse sale weekend. But I remember it being "A GREAT TIME FOR ALL".

I really hope that Miles City is not doing the "Cowboy Marti-gra" thing. I used to go to New Orleans all the time for the Marti-gra, but now with everyone flashing everyone, it just ruins it for everyone involved.

Call me a square if you want, I love to party along with the best of them but "This showing your ---- for beads thing" is really a put off. And if thats what the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale weekend has become, Count me out for EVER showing up for it.


[This message has been edited by Dwight Hinkle (edited 5/21/2004).]

Dwight,
I would have to agree with you on this one. I think that the Mardi Gras thing takes away from the "Cowboy Theme" it has always had in the past. The Bucking Horse Sale and Mardi Gras are two different animals all together.
I know that there is a lot of drinking involved over the bucking horse sale but there are also family things to do. Having my kids see someone flash for beads is something I do not care for them to see. If I wanted them to see that I would take them to New Orleans.
Anyway, its just my opinion. Thought I would share it.

Have a great day

The Billings Gazette has a "Miles City Bucking Horse Sale" photo gallery on its web site. Here is the link:

http://www.billingsgazett...index1.php

I have been to BHS for years and no one flashed there ---'s at me. Maybe it is the size of my beads. I better get out more.

Brady, you don't remember? And you said you'd respect me in the morning!

Rick, I guess it was the dress that you were wearing with your five o'clock shadow. You had me at, show me your ---'s.

I just got back from the waiting room at the Clinic here and to my "glee" there was a magazine called "Western Horseman" - the March 2004 edition - A wonderful story about the Bucking Horse Sale held in Miles City. It gave thanks to Amorette Allison, Sonja Woods and Bob Barthelmess for information given them. Also told how it was started in 1950 with 35 head of horses that Les Boe had - but added some more "wild" ones to them - so that was the beginning of the sale. A very interesting article - I imediately picked it up as it had Miles City, Montana on the front of it.

Betty O'Brien

Just had to bring this article back up to the top since the BHS is on this week-end. A friendly reminder of the magazine I found at the clinic here in Othello, WA.

Thanks - Betty Carter O'Brien

How the Bucking Horse Sale got started in Miles City - hope it will come up since the Sale is coming shortly. I felt it was interesting so am trying to bring it up to the top.

Betty Carter O'Brien