Trailblazers

Earl Bascom

When Earl Bascom’s mother died in 1906 his dad moved the family of five kids from Vernal, Utah to the newly settled town of Raymond, Alberta.

The site of the legendary Knight Ranch where Earl’s dad landed the job of foreman for the owner, Ray Knight. With thousands of horses to practice on, Earl and his brothers had a lot of success in rodeos. For 23 seasons he hit the pay window in Canada and the U.S.

He designed and built rodeo’s first hornless bronc saddle in 1922 and the first one-handed bareback rigging in 1924.

Earl and his brothers designed and invented the first side delivered rodeo shoot with the hinges at the bronc’s head, making it safer for horses and cowboys.

His masterful bronze sculptures are displayed in 36 museums.

Earl saw the last of the Old West as a bronc rider, cowboy trail-driver, and finally Hollywood movie actor playing alongside Roy Rogers who called Earl, “the king of the cowboy artists”.

Earl Bascom received countless honours during his life; he rode across the great divide August 28, 1995.

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