Clydesdales, bull riders, broncos and Texas longhorns are at the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo
ABILENE — The 76th annual Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo kicked off with a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Bulls, Broncs and Barrels show Wednesday night complete with clowns, bullfighters and a set of beautiful Clydesdales entertaining the crowd.
An almost prelude to the rest of the events, the bulls, broncs and barrels show Wednesday showcased talent that set a precedent for the rest of the weekend.
"Barrel-racing times, bull riding scores, bronc riding scores, (competitors) will be trying to beat what's set tonight all weekend," said Cash Toews, a bull rider from Canton.
The Wednesday show is also one that brings in just as many fans as the other nights of the rodeo, with people from all over the state and outside Kansas coming to watch.
Competitors love the fans and the organizers in Abilene as well.
"They take care of you here," said Luke Mast, a bull rider from Hutchinson.
Clydesdales arrive and longhorns back
The people of Abilene come out to see this show, which happens alongside the Central Kansas Free Fair, and expect the best not only in competition but in the animals that come.
Part of the entertainment this year was the addition of Clydesdale horses, which were brought in by Broken Spoke Clydesdales of Winfield. Broken Spoke Clydesdales have performed for more than 10 years.
"I bought my first team in October 2011 and didn't know how to harness or drive," said owner Mark DeCoudres.
Though they are from Kansas, the Broken Spoke team has traveled all around the country, including Reno, Nevada; Kissimmee, Florida and Denver.
"We made it to the (Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series) finals twice, in 2016 and 2017," DeCoudres said. "Then we got our PRCA card and just travel the country doing this."
On Wednesday, DeCourdes took the six-horse hitch, with each animal weighing around 2,000 pounds each, around the arena. He then had them make a figure eight and then a move called "spin the top."
Two Clydesdale foals, six-month-old Pearl and four-month-old Wildfire were let loose at the end of the performance to run around the arena with the others, led by a three-year-old mare who DeCourdes said had only been in an arena twice before, both during an event in Fredonia.
"My normal lead horse got (injured) and he's out for about 45 to 60 days," DeCourdes said.
Longhorns come up from Oklahoma
Back for the second year in a row were a herd of longhorns. They came from Sander Ranch near Woodward, Oklahoma.
The longhorns were brought in for the 75th anniversary event last year.
"People really liked them last year, so we brought them back this year," said Larry Brake, one of the rodeo's committee members. "They like to do what longhorns do, walk around."
The longhorns opened the show on Wednesday, moseying around the arena.
Announcer Mike Mathis said the cattle in the arena are a reminder of what the history of Abilene is all about.
"When you talk about the cattle drives that came up from Texas and across the way from New Mexico, there were hundreds of thousands of cattle," Mathis said. "The folks at Sander Ranch...were kind enough to share with us some of those lazy livestock."
He said longhorns are known for their adversity to all sorts of elements and insects, which made them the perfect cattle to drive up the long trails into and through Abilene.
Rodeo and fair continues this weekend
While the festivities are already underway at Eisenhower Park in Abilene, there is still an opportunity to visit the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo and enjoy the Central Kansas Free Fair as well.
The rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with tickets available at the arena gate or on the fair grounds for $13. Youth tickets, for ages four to ten are $7 and kids under four can enter free.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Abilene's Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo begins with Clydesdales and longhorns
