ONE ARMED BANDIT AND COMPANY
Western Style Entertainment for the Whole FamilyThis act was seen
for the first time in 1987 at the 1010 Ranch Rodeo on Ponca
City, OKA. John joined the P.R.C.A. in 1988. He went under
contract with Walter Alsbaugh during his first year. Walter got
John his first rodeo and since then he has been nominated for
“Specialty Act of the Year.” He won the honor from 1989-1996. He
provides Western style family entertainment using watusi cattle,
horses and Cur Head dogs. All of the animals portrayed in the
show have been trained by John, his son Lynn and daughter
Amanda.
He has done over 1,500 performances in
the last 10 years. He has performed in some of the largest
rodeos in the United States and Canada. Along with rodeo he has
also performed at some of the largest horse shows in America. He
has been in numerous local and national television programs such
as ESPN, TNN and America’s Funniest Home Videos. Street Stories
featured a documentary on John in June, 1993. He has also been
featured in magazines such as Western Horseman, Western Styles,
Quarter Horse Journal and American Cowboy.
During off season John still finds time
to pen wild cattle in remote areas, such as Pikes Peak National
Forest, Mountains if California, and the swamps of Florida. His
efforts in penning cattle would be vain without his black mouth
cur dogs, which he raises and trains himself.
He was raised in Shidler, OK and still
calls Shidler his home. He owes a lot of his success to his wife
Judy, son Lynn, daughter Amanda, parents, four brothers, and all
his faithful animals.
SHIRE HORSES
Rare Shire Thoroughbreds
The Shires,
bred on the Diamond Z Ranch just outside of Cedar City, Utah,
will be brought to the event by handler Chris Hone. Hone,
a past jockey, trains and cares for the Shires full time. The
horses will be pulling a 2500 pound wagon built in 1989 for use
in ceremonial events including parades for the United States
Army, 3rd
Infantry, the Old Guard Caisson Platoon at Ft. Myer, Virginia,
and at the Arlington Cemetery to put our nation’s heroes to
their final rest.
Often mistaken
for Clydesdales, these extraordinary horses are quite rare.
There are fewer than 4,000 registered throughout the world.
Known for their strength and agility despite their large size,
they served as war horses in England, ridden by knights during
the middle ages. Their head is at least eight feet off the
ground. In fact, they may be the tallest and most elegant
of the draft breeds.
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