Family rodeo entertainers thrill Sisters crowd

No one was surprised when Phillip and Julie Kiesner decided in June 2003 to pack their two boys, Rider and Roper, nine horses, a donkey, a cat, two chickens, two dogs and Roper's lizards into a 75-foot rig and travel the rodeo circuit.

Rodeoing is in the Kiesner family's blood, and the family is its happiest when they are performing.

"We are living people's dreams right now," said Julie. "We're having the time of our lives."

The Kiesner family's Wild West Review was this year's Sisters Rodeo featured entertainment act - and entertain is exactly what the Kiesners did. From 15-year-old Rider's trick roping to four-foot-three-inch, 63-pound Roper's trick and Roman riding, to dad's cowboy mounted pistol shooting, crowds were awed.

Although Phillip, Rider and Roper monopolize the act's spotlight, it is mom, Julie, who keeps the show together.

"Without me they wouldn't have an act. I do it all," Julie jested. "On the first day we perform, it's an all-day production to get ready for the show." Phillip agrees. "We dang sure couldn't do it without her. It would fall apart real quick."

"I like it a lot. I get to rope all the time. I team rope, calf rope, and I like to trick rope all the time," said Rider.

The Kiesners call home "wherever they're truck and trailer's parked," said Phillip. When the Kiesners went on the road in 2003, "we got a UPS mailbox ... put every thing we owned in storage," said Phillip.

Since then the Kiesners have performed in all 48 contiguous states, Canada, Mexico and Japan.

"We did a 10-week "Wild West" show in China, and last year we performed in Oman which is south of Saudia Arabia...," performing for dignitaries from five nations, Phillip said.

"It was amazing - probably the most Olympic-like event that we'll ever get to be a part of. It was huge with performers from 29 nations all over the world," said Phillip. Circus performers from France, gypsies from through out Europe, Andalusian riders from Spain, mounted archers from Japan and polo players from Argentina all participated.

Phillip, the Colorado mounted cowboy shooting champion, is a fourth generation horse trainer.

"I grew up showing horses nationally and internationally," he said.

Julie is a second generation horse trainer who grew up in the rodeo business.

"She is a circuit finals qualifier in barrel racing several times," said Phillip.

Rider became passionate about trick roping when he was nine, after his parents gave him a Will Rogers trick roping kit. According to Phillip, Rider has had a rope in his hand almost constantly since that time.

Roper, a fearless daredevil, wanted to be a part of the act as well but did not have the personality to practice thousands of hours as does his brother.

"Roper's personality is to get on and see how fast he can go." He loves the "daredevil stuff, flying around the arena, standing on the backs of ponies or doing trick riding," said Phillip.

The Kiesners came to Sisters directly after two rodeo performances in Roswell, New Mexico. En route they stopped in Laramie, Wyoming to give their horses a rest.

"To get from Laramie, Wyoming to here ..., the horses were on the trailer for 24 hours straight. ... You try to get them to where you are going, so you can get them off the trailer and get them some good, decent rest," Julie said.

After Sisters, the family is traveling to Cody, Wyoming where they will perform in Cody's rodeo over the Fourth of July.

"It's one of the huge rodeos of the year," said Phillip. The plan is for Phillip and Rider to compete in the team roping and for Rider to try his luck at calf roping and break-away roping.

"For us it's an opportunity to let the kids compete," said Phillip.