History rides in Sisters Rodeo poster

Sisters Rodeo 75th Anniversary poster art was unveiled at the monthly meeting of the rodeo association.

The Dennis McGregor poster depicts the era of the first of Sisters Rodeo in 1940. The saddlebronc cowboy is reminiscent of mustached characters of the Old West, dressed in a throwback loose-fitting shirt and baggy dungarees.

"I talked to a lot of people about this painting," McGregor said. "I wanted to give a true historical representation of Sisters Rodeo in 1940."

The painting clarifies why McGregor has become a premier poster artist in Central Oregon. The richness of stars in a blue-black sky above sundown colors over the Three Sisters sets off the boldness of the sorrel paint horse and its rider. There is detailed accuracy in the gear, from the horse's halter to the horsehair rope gripped by the cowboy.

According to celebrated Sisters-based hat-maker Gene Baldwin, the hat McGregor chose for the cowboy is a "Tom Horn hat," customized by the legendary cowboy detective with a crease down the middle that extended to the back of the hat, dented on the sides.

"Most cowboys put some sort of identifying crease or tuck on their hats to individualize them," said Baldwin. "This was Horn's."

McGregor was not aware of the significance of his choice.

"Tom Horn rode with Roosevelt in Cuba," Baldwin added, " and became a Pinkerton detective. He worked for the Wyoming Cattlemen's Association controlling rustlers. On his big black horse with his distinctive hat, people were struck with fear when they saw him riding in."

Horn was paid a $750 bounty for rustlers, and his kills were noted by his placement of a rock under the rustler's head. The colorful cowboy of American West history was wrongfully convicted and hung in 1901 for the death of a boy, according to Western historians. Romantic entanglement was suspected as the cause of the conviction.

"He was set up," Baldwin said.

Even the saddlebronc in the poster depicts an era 75 years past. The big-jawed paint horse has old scars and ragged unshod hooves in a nod to historical reality. Rough stock, as bucking stock is known, was exactly that, rough, even in appearance. Scar tissue and damaged hides were non-issues. As long as the animal wasn't lame and could buck, cosmetics be damned.

From Gene Autry's Champion to Tom Mix's mount, Tony, there was not much attention given to the care of horses' feet in the time period through the 1940s, including being fitted with horseshoes. Rodeo horses wore their hooves down moving over rocky ground in the off-season. To this day, bucking horses are not shod, although they may get their hooves trimmed if they don't get a natural leveling wear as they move across ranch lands.

This commemorative poster is available at several locations, including the rodeo ticket office, Leavitt's, Open Range, Stitchin' Post and many other outlets in Central Oregon.

Sisters Rodeo will begin June 10 with Xtreme Bulls followed by four rodeo performances June 12-14. For tickets and information, call the ticket hotline at 541-549-0121 or 1-800-827-7522, or visit the ticket office at 220 W. Cascade Ave. in Sisters. For more information visit www.sistersrodeo.com.