These Rodeo Horses Were Born to Buck

For over four decades, Three Hills Rodeo has been dedicated to rodeo production, entertainment and animal care. 

The family run business spans three generations of the Morehead family. 

“We’ve made a living with this for 49 years and we are farmers and ranchers primarily,” says Three Hills Rodeo owner and partner David Morehead. 

A key component of the business’ success is their Born to Buck program, which focuses on breeding and raising high-performing bucking horses, many of which appear in the Three Hills Rodeo FFA Edition each year. 

Through the program, horses are raised from foal to adulthood, allowing them to become the best bucking horse possible. 

“They’re weaned from three to six months of age and they’re fed a very high protein fat diet for the first year of their life until they get their growth,” David says. “Of course they’re wormed and vaccinated for everything and mothers live out on big pastures and they are just very well cared for.”

For FFA members interested in animal systems, this program highlights the work that goes into a career in the field.

“They have to be able to learn how to get out of bed in the morning; the animals eat before we do. And you gotta know how to drive a truck,” says Jake Morehead, another Three Hills Rodeo owner and partner. “If there’s anything in agriculture, it basically boils down to knowing how to work hard and pay attention.”

Aside from the dedication, admiration for the industry is a key to success.. 

“We do it because we love them, we care about them,”David says.“It’s been our life.”

The work put in behind the scenes of the Born to Buck program will be shown off during the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo at the sold-out Three Hills Rodeo FFA Edition.