No business like it

Todd Peterson

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998 | 2:16 a.m.

Like a car salesman, a grocer or a tailor hawking fine clothing, rodeo stock contractors have a vested interest in insuring the quality of their product, which, in this case, is the well-being of their animals.

Ike Sankey, head of Sankey Rodeo Company, explained it this way: "The performance of those animals is [stock contractors'] livelihood. If they're mistreated, if they're maintained in a poor manner, if they're not physically capable to do their jobs, if it hurts that horse or that bull every time you buck him...they're going to figure it out. If you're doing something that hurts him every time you buck him, he's gonna quit bucking."

The stock contractors are responsible for providing the best and most competitive stock for NFR. All contractors are PRCA certified. Despite the size of the NFR, Sankey said he brings less stock to this event simply because of the number of contractors involved.

"I can't give you the exact number of stock contractors coming this year, it's around 60," said Sankey. With approximately 100 of each roughstock animal (bulls, saddle broncs and barebacks) coming to NFR, that's 300 head.

"If you divide that 300 head of livestock by 60 guys, the average number would be five apiece," he explained.

But Sankey's contribution is much larger. From his ranch in Cody, Wyo., Sankey is bringing 20 horses and three bulls. He's also bringing one alternate horse, two alternate bulls and seven saddle horses for the opening ceremonies.

Sankey takes pride in the fact that his company offers many of the fine details other stock contractors don't. His services include such fineries as black saddle horses complete with white saddles and costumes for the women riding them.

"We're in the show business, entertainment business," said Sankey. "A lot of guys want to say we're in the rodeo business, but I'm in the show business."

Once a saddle bronc and bareback rider himself, Sankey said his experience helps him determine which animals make the best rides for cowboys. Some horses and bulls, he explained, "have got dirty little tricks to them.

"There are animals out there that they buck, but they buck in such a way that it's virtually impossible to make a good ride on," he continued.

"There are horses that the judges just can't mark very much because they make one tremendous move and then several little ducks and dives and scoots. They're usually hard to stay on top of."

Since the events are judged 50 percent on the rider's performance and 50 percent on the animal's, such displays by an animal undercut the entire score.

Rodeo has been the target of many animal right activist organizations, but Sankey explained the explicit PRCA rules exist to illustrate to activists what the stock contractors' interests are.

"Ninety percent of the rules are written for animal activists. They probably don't need to be down for most PRCA stock contractors because those guys make a living with that livestock," he said.

But Sankey, who raises 90 percent of his stock, makes it clear that he sees the animals as much more than tools of his trade.

"They're kind of like my kids, it's pretty hard to pick a favorite. We like them all and I mean, we really do like them," he said. "I really respect the old bucking horses that try their very best every time the gate is opened, and that's the same way with people. You've got to admire somebody like that."