Morris “Dutch” Corthell was a Laramie resident who played football at the University of Wyoming.

Corthell also loved horses!  In 1910, having never ridden a bronc before, he got his chance to ride on the legendary Steamboat at Cheyenne Frontier Days — and stayed on throughout the entire ride!.

Dutch completed his education at the University of Wyoming and became a prominent lawyer in Laramie involved in the protection and development of water rights in the Laramie Valley.

Learn more about Dutch Corthell, Steamboat and the Wyoming State Quarter.

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Calf roping is a rodeo event featuring  a calf and  horse rider. The goal of this timed event is for the rider to catch the calf by throwing a loop of rope from a lariat around its neck. Then, the rider dismounts from the horse, runs to the calf, and restrains it by tying three of its legs together in as short a time as possible.

Learn more about the history of calf roping and rodeo.

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Trick riding refers to the act of performing stunts while riding a horse, such as the rider standing upright on a galloping horse. Other stunts might include hanging upside down from the side of the horse while remaining attached to a strap, or jumping on and off a galloping horse.

Learn more about the history of rodeo and trick riding. 

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A common practice at a rodeo is bowing to the judges. This photo was taken at a 4^th of July Rodeo Celebration in Laramie in the early 1900s.

Learn more about Laramie Jubilee Days. 

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“Trick” riding refers to the act of performing stunts while riding a horse, such as the rider standing upright on a galloping horse.

“Roman” riding refers to a method of horseback riding in which a person stands astride a pair of horses.

Other stunts might include hanging upside down off of the side of the horse while attached to a strap or jumping on and off a galloping horse.

Learn more about trick riding and roman riding. 

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Few could ride Steamboat without being thrown.  Jake Maring, a Laramie native and championship cowboy rode Steamboat to a standstill in 1905 at the old Albany County Fairgrounds. 

Steamboat the horse is arguably the most famous bucking bronco of all time.  His iconic image — whether in truth or legend — represents the Cowboy State today.

In trying to break the stallion, many a cowboy came up against the toughest bucking horse he had ever attempted to ride. Today, it is said that Wyoming’s Bucking Horse and Rider image — as depicted on Wyoming license plates and throughout the state —  is that of Steamboat.

Learn more about the legend of Steamboat and the Wyoming’s iconic Bucking Horse and Rider. 

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“Mr. T,” a bull, earned his reputation for being mean. Mr. T. was owned by Pete Burns of the Burns Rodeo Company in Laramie who named his prized livestock for the popular television character, Mr. T. However, the difference was that this namesake bull wasn’t acting. He was born mean!

Learn more about Mr. T the bull and Cheyenne Frontier Days. 

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Only three cowboys ever rode Mr. T the bull — Marty Staneart, Raymond Wessel, and Ty Murray — and all of their scores set arena records. Mr. T was voted Bucking Bull of the Year in 1986 by the cowboys and was named Bucking Bull of the National Rodeo Finals in both 1986 and 1989.

Learn more about Mr. T. and Cheyenne Frontier Days. 

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Born of necessity on Old West homesteads and tempered by decades of competition, the rodeo cowgirl comes from a long lineage of pioneering women.

Learn more about the history of women in rodeo. 

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Dorothy Morrell was a bronc rider and trick rider in the early 1900s. She competed with many popular female rodeo stars during a period of time when women were permitted to compete in all the same events as men. Morrell was judged World’s Champion Cowgirl Bronc Rider in 1914 at the Pendleton Roundup in Oregon.

Learn more about Dorothy Morrell and women in rodeo.

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