Priya Kapoor
War Paint, the famous rodeo horse, was voted the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's Bucking Horse of the Year three times in a row, from 1956 to 1958. He was known for his bucking ability, with a buck-off rate of almost 90%. During his nearly two-decade-long career, War Paint performed at various rodeos, including the Ellensburg Rodeo and the Pendleton Round-Up. He was ridden by cowboys like Manual Enos, Jim Tescher, and Les Johnson, and helped them achieve notable finishes in their races. Harry Noble, a rodeo rider, rode War Paint four times, finally achieving an 8-second ride in the mid-1960s. War Paint's exceptional skills and long career have earned him a place in multiple Rodeo Halls of Fame.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1945–1966 (retired) |
| Career length | Almost two decades |
| First owner | Orrie Sommers |
| Known owners | Harry Noble, Christensen Brothers |
| Awards | 3-time Rodeo Cowboys Association Bucking Horse of the Year (1956, 1957, 1958) |
| Award presentations | National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado (1957) |
| Notable performances | National Finals Rodeo (1959) |
| Buck-off rate | Close to 90% |
| Weight | 1,400 pounds (640 kg) |
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What You'll Learn
War Paint's bucking ability
War Paint was a saddle bronc horse known for his bucking ability. He was a three-time Rodeo Cowboys Association Bucking Horse of the Year, winning the award in 1956, 1957, and tying with another horse in 1958. With a buck-off rate of almost 90 percent, War Paint was a force to be reckoned with in the rodeo world.
The key to War Paint's success was his unpredictable bucking pattern. According to Hank Christensen, the horse had no set pattern but simply tried his hardest. This made it extremely challenging for riders to maintain their seat. War Paint's bucking prowess was so renowned that he was insured for $10,000 with Lloyd's of London, a significant amount at the time.
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Riders' experiences
War Paint was a saddle bronc horse, known for his bucking ability and buck-off record, which was close to 90%. The horse was so good at bucking that he was awarded the Rodeo Cowboys Association Bucking Horse of the Year title three times—in 1956, 1957, and 1958 (tied with another horse).
Harry Noble, an 82-year-old from Hermiston, rode War Paint four times in total. He described his experience:
> "I was on him four times and I finally got him rode the last time. He'd rear up and bounce off the side and bounce off the back end, and he'd foul you before you could ever get out. And then he'd buck you off."
Noble's description of War Paint's bucking technique is corroborated by another rider, Manual Enos, who rode War Paint a few times, including once in Redmond, California, in 1959. Enos described his experience:
> "His first jump out of the chute was potent, and he followed it up with a high, forceful kick. No cowboy could get past the second jump for his first few years of bucking."
War Paint's bucking ability was so renowned that he was insured for $10,000 with Lloyd's of London—a substantial amount at the time. The horse competed in the National Finals Rodeo in 1959, where he was ridden twice, helping his riders finish 1-2 in the Average race.
War Paint's career lasted almost two decades, and he finished with an impressive 90% buck-off rate. The horse was so skilled that even experienced riders found it challenging to stay on for the required 8 seconds to qualify for a ride. As one rider, Casey Tibbs, famously said, "He was a horse that allows you no mistakes."
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Awards and recognition
War Paint, the famous rodeo horse, was a three-time Rodeo Cowboys Association Bucking Horse of the Year, winning the award in 1956, 1957, and tying with another horse, Joker, owned by Harry Knight & Company, in 1958. War Paint was known for his bucking ability, with a buck-off rate of almost 90%, and was an elite prospect from the beginning.
War Paint was inducted into four halls of fame, including the most prominent, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, in 2011. He was also inducted into the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame, where he is celebrated as one of the top rodeo animals. War Paint was further honoured with an induction into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, recognising his exceptional career in the sport.
The horse was ridden by many notable cowboys, including Manual Enos, who rode him for qualified rides in Prineville, Oregon, in 1955, and in Redmond, California, in 1959. Harry Noble, an 82-year-old from Hermiston, rode War Paint four times, finally achieving an 8-second ride in the mid-1960s. War Paint's power and bucking style were so renowned that cowboys who could ride him often went on to win.
War Paint's legacy is celebrated even beyond the world of rodeo. The Kansas City Chiefs National Football League team featured a pinto horse named Warpaint as their original mascot from 1963 until 2020. The horse was ridden by a man named Bob Johnson, who wore Native American clothing, including a full headdress. Johnson rode Warpaint for 20 years, including at the first Super Bowl in 1966.
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War Paint's career
War Paint was a saddle bronc horse and a three-time Rodeo Cowboys Association Bucking Horse of the Year with a career spanning almost two decades. He won the award in 1956 and 1957, and in 1958, he tied with another horse named Joker, owned by Harry Knight & Company.
War Paint was foaled around 1945 in the Klamath marsh on the Klamath Indian Reservation in Northern Klamath County, Oregon. He was raised by a Klamath Tribe member named Orrie Sommers (or Orie Summers), who gave him a Klamath name that means "painted horse". War Paint was the product of a registered Quarter Horse stud and a wild pinto mare. He was first tried out by the Christensen Brothers in a bareback bronc riding competition, but he soon moved to saddle bronc riding, where he excelled and became known worldwide for his bucking ability.
War Paint performed many times at the Ellensburg Rodeo and was a crowd favourite. He was known for his bucking ability and his buck-off record, which was close to 90 percent. In 1959, War Paint competed at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) for the first and only time, where he was ridden twice. He helped Jim Tescher and Les Johnson finish 1–2 in the Average race.
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War Paint's legacy
War Paint, the famous rodeo horse, was a three-time Rodeo Cowboys Association Bucking Horse of the Year, winning the award in 1956, 1957, and tying with another horse, Joker, owned by Harry Knight, in 1958. War Paint was known for his bucking ability, with a buck-off record of almost 90 percent.
War Paint was foaled around 1945 in the Klamath marsh on the Klamath Indian Reservation in Northern Klamath County, Oregon, and was raised by a Klamath Tribe member, Orrie Sommers, or Orie Summers. War Paint's sire was a big-boned Paint stallion, and his dam was a wild and grumpy old Pinto mare. Sommers gave the foal a Klamath name that means "painted horse".
War Paint was first tried out by the Christensen Brothers in a bareback bronc riding competition, but he soon moved to saddle bronc riding, where he excelled. He became known worldwide for his bucking ability in the 1950s, and his reputation grew. He had no distinctive bucking pattern but just tried his hardest. He was insured for $10,000 with Lloyd's of London, a significant amount at the time.
War Paint competed in his first and only National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 1959, where he was ridden twice, helping Jim Tescher and Les Johnson finish 1–2 in the Average race. His career lasted almost two decades, and he performed many times at the Ellensburg Rodeo, where he was always appreciated by the crowd.
War Paint was inducted into four halls of fame, including the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2011, and the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame. He is celebrated as one of the top animals in rodeo and the greatest saddle bronc horse of his generation.
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Frequently asked questions
War Paint competed in the NFR only once, in 1959.
War Paint was ridden in rodeos at least 5 times. He was ridden by Harry Noble 4 times, with the last ride being in 1965. He was also ridden by Manual Enos a few times, including once in Prineville, Oregon, in 1955, and once in Redmond, California, in 1959.
Yes, War Paint won the Rodeo Cowboys Association Bucking Horse of the Year award three times. He won the award in 1956 and 1957, and tied with another horse, Joker, in 1958.
