Descent

Descent was a bucking horse who was specialized in saddle bronc riding and competed in the Rodeo Cowboys Association. He is a six-time Bucking Horse of the Year awardee. He won the award in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, and 1972. He is also a 1979 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inaugural inductee.

Background Descent was a Palomino gelding. He was raised on Art Douglas's Ranch in Browning, Montana. On his sire side, his pedigree is traced to Thoroughbreds such as Cavalry remount horses. On his dan's side, his pedigree is Morgan breeding. Mike Cervi purchased what is now known as Cervi Rodeo but formerly Beuller Brothers in 1967. For a time they were known as Beutler Brothers Cervi. In modern times, Cervi Rodeo is one of the largest rodeo companies in the business. Descent was one of their top horses in the 1960s.

Career

When the Beutler Brothers bought Descent, that's when he started bucking in rodoeos. He bucked off every cowboy until 1965. Bobby Berger was the first cowboy to ride Descent. Berger, from Kansas, drew Descent at the Black Hills Roundup, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Descent went on to buck off many more champions. Names like Larry Mahan, Guy Weeks, Alvin Nelson, Ross Loney, Shawn Davis, and Bill Smith. He won the Saddle Bronc of the Year six times, two times more than fellow ProRodeo Hall of Fame horse, Medicine Woman.

Awards 1966 Saddle Bronc of the Year

1967 Saddle Bronc of the Year

1968 Saddle Bronc of the Year

1969 Saddle Bronc of the Year

1971 Saddle Bronc of the Year

1972 Saddle Bronc of the Year

Retirement and death Descent was retired to the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colorado, in 1975.

"When they retired Descent at Denver (National Western Stock Show and Rodeo)", Bill continues, "I stood there with tears running down my face. When he walked into the arena, I just couldn't hold them back".

Recently, Ivan Daines, who is a Red Deer, Alberta, cowboy sings tribute to the horse who bucked him off, Descent. Ivan Daines wrote and sang a new song for Descent. When Daines was a world champion saddle bronc rider, in the 1970s, he was competing across America. "He bucked me off once — but then he threw everyone". said Daines, who claims he shared a touching moment with the horse not long after he was retired. Daines claimed Descent looked at him as if he knew it was the last time they would meet.