Spring Fling and Trade Winds Have Nothing To Do With Vacations
I’m Susan Allen inviting you to stay tuned for Open Range, I'll tell you why Spring Fling and Trade Winds have nothing at all to do with vacations, also why the Trail Ends at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. I'm not kidding! When it comes to professional rodeo surprisingly the Northwest is home to renowned stock contractors and rough stock. The Big Ben /Flying 5 Rodeo bulls and broncs have been bucking off cowboys across the country for over seventy years. Initially called Big Bend Rodeo Company after Washington States Plateau region today the Big Bend /Flying 5 is currently owned by the Riley family who run a herd of 300 bulls and typically 600 broncs on their Snake River Ranch. Throughout the years Big Bend/Flying 5 Rodeo horses have made rodeo history. One crowd pleaser was a big stunning bay named Trade Winds a former race horse with a reputation of sending the jockeys high into the wind. Legendary Bronc rider Cody Bill once said he watched Trade Winds consecutively buck off six of the greatest bronc riders including himself in round after round at the NFR in the late 60’s. That was when each broncs competed eavery night. It was said Trade Winds could leap eight feet earning the ex race horse three Saddle Bronc of the Year titles. Spring Fling is not only a college kids dream but the name of another Big Bend Flying 5 horse who won not only top bareback bronc in 97 but in a feat unheard of went on to win the top saddle bronc honors two years latter. The great horse, three time saddle bronc of the year, Trails End led our region to the end of the rodeo trail, all the way to the National Cowboy Hall of fame. Visitors pay tribute to this boncs northwest roots when visiting his grave site where Trade Winds was buried with honors at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City .
