Ep. 20 - John Franzen of Powder River Rodeo Company
Born to Buck
John Franzen of Powder River Rodeo Company
October 23, 2019 (Riverton, Wyoming) - John Franzen, the son of Lori & Hank Franzen, jumps on the podcast with us to chat about all things raising bucking horses, being a stock contractor and producing rodeos, on top of competing as a PRCA steer wrestler. An insightful podcast that breaks down the intense strategy in breeding, training and preparing buck horses, as well as producing a rodeo - you won't want to miss this!
Photos provided by john franzen of powder river rodeo company.
Stock Contracting
How You Got Started
Basically by accident, a friend-of-a-friend helped Lori & Hank get started. Just out of college, Lori was selling insurance, while Hank was working in the coal mine and rodeoing when he could. When the opportunity to buy out a gentleman of a rodeo company in 1986 came up, it was the shot that they needed.
Despite the trials and tribulations over the years, they have been putting some rodeos on since that first year (i.e. Plains, Montana). Staying true to their roots and giving the credit to his family on the farm.
Day to Day Operations
Hank, John, Craig Rowe and an occasional other individual is all that fills the roster for the Powder River Rodeo roster.
“We have the right kind of guys,” says John. All of those on the ranch have hands on experience with each of the nearly 400 head of animals from the time that they are born to the time that they are world champions.
In 2018, they bred around 80 mares which shows that their genetic success has proven that the mares of quality need to be bred to studs of quality to continue the bucking horse lineage. Specifying what you want, the traits that you need, and not being too close is really important. John likens it to breeding high-end racehorses or cutting horses. Mothers will pass on traits and personalities to their foals, especially in their bucking styles.
The Perfect Bucking Horse
“We want them big and we want the athletic,” says John about bucking horses. Smaller, compact horses typically take better care of themselves.
“When the gate opens, it is all that horse! It is their mind and what they want to do! We talk about the flank strap and the cowboy, but it doesn’t matter,” says John. “When you’re riding a horse, you ask them for the performance… what makes a bucking horse’s performance special is that it’s all heart. They aren’t scared - it’s heart.
If a bucking horse doesn’t want to buck, they don’t have too. There is some training for the colts, but it’s mainly allowing the horse to do exactly what it wants to do. You don’t want a wild, crazy bucking horse. You want an animal that stays in the chute calmly and keep the cowboy safe and then come alive when the gate opens with their feet under them. You have to have that feel, even if it is bred into you.
Two year-olds get gentled.
Three year-olds get started in the dummy bucking program.
“I don’t care how they do,” John says about the dummy bucking program. The purpose of the program is to help the horse learn how to get their feet underneath them. They’ll repeat this later in their three year-old year as well.
Horses don’t typically go to the rodeo performances until they are around five years-old. The reason for this is that they want to make sure the animal isn’t thrown off balance when a cowboy comes off. By the time they get to the big rodeos with lights and music, they are gentled down and ready to go!
Cloning Bucking Horses
In Canyon, Texas, Dr. Greg has been doing leaps and bounds in the bucking horse industry cloning some of the greatest bucking horses to have ever lived. Through this, they have been able to take genetics from other people’s companies that we weren’t ever able to do for logistical issues of distance and insurance reasons, and put them on other great stock.
These bloodlines are from Calgary, Canada, Frontier Rodeo, and more; all of them are coming together to trade genetics for future generations of bucking horses.
More on the Podcast
How Craig at Midnight got his name.
What makes a great rodeo committee.
Producing a rodeo from both the rough stock and timed events end.
Future goals for John Franzen and Powder River Rodeo Company.
How to get your hands on some merchandise from Powder River for the 2019 National Finals Rodeo.
On the Rodeo Trail
“Find something in your life that you are passionate about and then just always strive to be better than you were the day before, and, if you do that, and find something that you love …. Whatever it is in you life that you do, find something you love and just go for it!” ~ John Henry Franzen
You can follow Powder River Rodeo on Facebook, Instagram, or shop their merchandise here.
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Photo sent to That Western Life by Matt Cohen.
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