Always treat a young lady with respect during Stampede week, or you just might get tossed.
A six-year-old mare has definitely earned the respect of bareback riders as Call Me Kindra was selected the Calgary Stampede Champion Bareback in 2015.
Not bad considering the judges only had eight seconds of viewing time of Kindra’s maiden trip at the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
“She won the bareback horse of the Calgary Stampede on one trip, which is unheard of, you usually have to buck them twice,” said Ward Macza, of Bigstone Rodeo Company. “But she was so sensational that they had to give it to her.”
Luke Creasy couldn’t take advantage of Kindra’s 46.5 score as he tacked on a 32 for a 78.5 in Calgary (both the horse’s and rider’s score is tallied for the final score.)
It was only fitting Kindra is a Stampede champion. She was born near where Stampede founder Guy Weadick is buried.
“She was born just north of High River right across from Cargill,” Macza said. “She was born to buck. Her bloodlines go back to Old Major, which was the son of Custer. Custer was a great stud. Kindra has sensational bloodlines.”
Macza knew he had a good one the first time Kindra came out of the chutes during practices.
“She was good right from the get-go,” Macza said. “I started bucking her as a three year-old. From the first day I cracked her out at Ralph Bergen’s in Nanton at a practice pen, she’s been sensational. She’s never had a bad trip, she’s never let me down.”
She’s a perfect example of how looks and attitude can be deceiving. Kindra has a few extra pounds on her, and she’s as gentle as a kitten.
“She is as quiet as most saddle horses, she is super gentle,” Macza said. “You can pet her, she’ll eat oats out of the bucket. Most buckin’ horses aren’t the friendliest, but she’s the exception.”
Kindra was in the final four of the Ponoka Stampede on Sunday, arguably the third-biggest rodeo in Alberta. Orin Larson scored an 88.25 on Kindra to finish second at Ponoka.
That’s fine with Macza.
Although Macza loves to see Kindra buck, he’s also cheering for the cowboy.
“I’m rooting for a high score, it doesn’t do me any good to jerk them guys down and buck them off,” Macza said. “But it’s probably only five per cent of the cowboys who can make a good ride on her.
“She’s designed for the advanced rider. The good guys will score a bunch, the other guys will be on the ground. In Calgary, they are all going to be advanced riders.”
Kindra got her trip to Calgary last year, the old-fashioned way. Just like a professional baseball player, rarely does a horse make it to the pros in their first year.
Kindra bucked off plenty of amateur cowboys in the Foothills Cowboy Association and other amateur circuits before she turned pro last year.
It’s good work if you can get it.
Macza has Kindra scheduled to buck nine times this season. That’s 72 seconds of work a year, that is, if the cowboys who draw her can hang on for the full eight seconds.
During her down time, Kindra is enjoying the best feed and lounging around taking in the majestic scenery at the Macza ranch just a stone’s throw west of High River.
“I tell this to everybody — a good bucking horse is like a good woman, they are very few and far between,” said Macza, who has been married to Sue for 25 years.
“When you find one, you better take care of them.”
Three-time Canadian bareback champion Jake Vold said Macza has a good one in Call Me Kindra.
“I got on her in the Canadian finals in the eliminator pen,” Vold said. “I started a good ride, but I had some trouble at the end. She’s a really good electric strong mare who really bucks. She’s quite the horse.”
He scored an 81 on Kindra.
“I messed up,” Vold said. “She’s the kind of horse you want to draw.”
Although Call Me Kindra was the bareback champion in Calgary, Macza’s not sure if she is even the best horse in her family.
Her aunt Spilled Perfume was voted third best bareback at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas last December.
“Kindra is my favourite horse, but my best horse I ever had was Spilled Perfume. She is plain and simple rank. She will be in Calgary as well.”
Call Me Kindra will be back in the chutes at the Calgary Stampede for Showdown Sunday on July 17.
Here are the bareback riders Ward Macza believes could score well on his Call Me Kindra at the Calgary Stampede.
1. "Kaycee Feild —"He would be the ultimate pick, just because he spurs so hard."2. "Jake Vold would be another super pick."3. "Ty Taypotat. He just won in High River."
