He was foaled in 1984 in the wild north country of the Franklin Ranch near Bonnyville, Alberta. Who could have guessed this tiny grey stud colt would grow up to be one of the all time greatest bucking horses in North America.
His rodeo career started in 1990 as a bareback horse and 7 time World champ Ty Murray claims to be the first man to ever get on him. Getting on him was an ordeal. Airwolf wrecked three bucking chutes in his first year., but Murray managed to hang on long enough to win the Ponoka Stampede. His first year of competition earned him trips to both the Canadian Finals and the National Finals Rodeo. Airwolf eventually became more civil in the chutes, but he was still rank in the arena.
He was named bareback horse of the year in 1992, and in 1993 was named Canadian and World bareback horse of the year. He was converted to a saddle bronc in 1995 and was named champion saddle bronc that year at the Calgary Stampede. In 1996 Glen O’Neil tied Doug Vold’s record setting 95 point score from 1979 at the Innisfail Pro rodeo.
1999 was a big year for Airwolf, Saddle Bronc of the NFR, top horse of the Calgary Stampede and Canadian Saddle bronc of the year. He was NFR saddle bronc of the year again in 2003, ending his career by bucking off Scott Johnston.
Airwolf is now retired on the Franklin Ranch and was inducted into the Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2006.
