Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Old Steamboat: Famous Bucking Horse of the Old West
The bucking horse and rider seen on the Wyoming state quarter is a registered trademark of both the state of Wyoming and the University of Wyoming. It has become a recognizable symbol of Wyoming, and is more often referred to as the BH & R (bucking horse and rider) symbol. One of the best-known bucking horses of all time named "Old Steamboat" is said to be the horse behind this icon.
Old Steamboat was born on the Foss Ranch in Wyoming in 1894. The black bronco grew big and strong. His owners say he bucked from the time he was a colt. After several unsuccessful attempts at breaking the horse, in 1898 he was sold to the Two Bar Ranch.
The top Two Bar bronc rider stayed on him for about two seconds. An injury created an obstruction in his nose, and from that point on, whenever the horse went to bucking, they say he whistled like a steamboat. He thus became known as "Steamboat, the whistlin' hoss." Steamboat was later sold to a horseman who felt he would make a great rodeo horse.
