Sisters Rodeo brings down Percheron Thunder

Percheron Thunder is a Roman Riding act with Jason Goodman handling six black draft horses in thrilling feats of athleticism. It is making its first appearance in Oregon at the Sisters Rodeo in June.

The act has been recognized as a Top Five Specialty Act by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association three times. Goodman and his huge steeds are the only draft horse act that has ever performed at Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, returning four straight years.

"We are very excited to bring our Roman riding act to Sisters," said Rose Goodman. "The beauty of Sisters is a fantastic backdrop to perform with our majestic Percheron horses."

Goodman started the act in 2006 at the World Percheron Congress in Virginia. He wanted people to remember the importance of draft horses before the automobile assumed the duties of transporting goods and people, and the tractor took on the production of farming. More than this, Goodman wanted the public to be exposed to the amazing speed and gymnastic abilities of these horses, often considered by the under-educated to be a slow, lumbering animal with no spunk or emotion.

As a child, Goodman was responsible for driving the draft horse team to get feed to the family's livestock. His respect was born in those years, and his life work remained with the powerful former beasts of burden. "Once, we ran on real horse power," he likes to say.

The Percheron originated in France, but found work all over the world. They average 2,200 pounds and stand about 18.2 hands tall at the withers. That's over six feet of enormous power, which Goodman handles from the back of a single horse while driving six horses at once.

From their home in Fort Collins, Colorado, Goodman and his wife, Rosie, travel with the Percherons in a custom-built 18-wheeler. They have appeared in San Antonio, Calgary Stampede, Cheyenne Frontier Days and Reno.

Sisters Rodeo has five performances on June 5 and June 7-9. For tickets and information, call the ticket hotline at 541-549-0121 or 1-800-827-7522, or visit the ticket office, 220 W. Cascade Ave. in Sisters. For information, go to http://www.sistersrodeo.com.