It all started with a horse named Sunshine.
“Sunshine, my first horse, changed my life,” said Sandy Horn.
Horn was a horseman all his life. When he was a young boy, he would meet Dick, a big red draft horse who pulled the milk wagon.
Horn said, “I used to meet the wagon about four houses before ours and feed Dick a treat, usually a cookie, apple, or carrot. I’d pet Dick for a moment and then go to my stop and wait for the wagon to arrive.”
SC Resident Sandy Horn began working with horses when he was a boy. A career later and he’d ridden in over 100 rodeos. (Photo by Christine Such/My Sun Day News)
Horn’s dad would take him horseback riding at a local stable. “We did this often over the years and even without lessons, I became a very good horseman,” he said.
Horn met Sunshine at a job as the riding master at a summer camp near Eagle River, Wisconsin. Horn had to part with Sunshine when a camper’s parents bought the horse. Horn said, “For some reason, Sunshine didn’t work out, and they asked if I would take Sunshine. I thought about it for one second and said, YES.”
Horn boarded Sunshine at the Flying W and that was the start of seven years riding in the rodeos.
Where was his first rodeo?
Horn said, “I entered a rodeo in Milan, Illinois. I had borrowed equipment and had no idea what I was doing. Someone with the know-how, set my bull rope and I eased myself down onto the bull’s back and I thought, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ I rode that bull and took fourth place and I was hooked. I rode in over 100 rodeos.”
During Horn’s time, to open the chute, the rider would say ‘outside.’
Horn said, “Today, cowboys can’t do that because they wear mouth guards. They just give a quick nod, and the gateman swings the gate open. They wear specially made helmets with face guards and flak jackets. I remember when I was riding, someone wore a football helmet and we mercilessly made fun of him. Times have changed.”
Horn’s secret to staying on the bull might have been due to his skills as a gymnast. Horn earned the title of Champion State gymnast.
Horn riding a bull. (Photo provided)
He said, “In 2006 I was inducted into the Hall of Fame at University of Illinois at Chicago Athletic Hall of Fame. I was the first gymnast to perform a certain variation of the iron cross on the still rings. They called this move an Olympic Cross at the time.”
Does Horn miss it all?
Horn said, “I still have all my old equipment. Bull rope, bareback rig, spurs, and even my original cowboy hat. They remind me of what a great time I had and bring back old memories.”
