Bronc Riding is a Family Tradition
story by Lori O’Harver
Clint Lindenfeld nodded for his first bucking horse at the tender age of 13, although to him, just doing that felt like he’d grown up. He’s a native son of Texas, moved to Oklahoma to ramrod his cousin’s cutting horse operation.
His daddy before him and his daddy before him both had romances with bucking horses and felt the call to find the best of the best to test themselves on.
“Ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to get on the biggest, baddest, ugliest broncs out there,” said Lindenfeld. “Just recently, I drew Capone of Andrews Rodeo Company at Abilene, Kansas. I’d dreamed of him for a long time and was thrilled to finally have a chance at him. I lost the contest. Gave him too much rein and he got me at about 6 seconds. Now I’m dreaming of a rematch because he taught me what not to do.”
In the world of saddle bronc riders, there are a lot of stories about family traditions but almost as many in the ranks of the up and comers who just want to ride the feather footed buckers because they crave it. In Lindenfeld’s case, the family tradition is there. He sees it appearing in his daughters; Talan, the 6 year old and Chloe, the 3 year old. Just born on July 3rd of this year, Baby Chaynee hasn’t declared herself yet.
“Chloe appears to be Samantha and my ‘wild one’. She just recently graduated from our baby sitter pony to an equally good baby sitter horse. We were all in the arena riding the other night when Chloe screwed her helmet down a little tighter and sent her horse off to the first barrel pretty hard. Well, he turned out from underneath her. Goodness! There were tears but they were hot, mad tears over getting her new boots dirty,” Lindenfeld said. “We dusted her off, boosted her back up on her horse and the only thing left of those tears were cute little dirt streaks down her cheeks.”
“I’m a fan of the TBRA for a lot of reasons, but the biggest is what the organization is doing for kids. From the scholarship program to the mini bares and broncs, it’s giving kids a chance to grow up in the sport; an opportunity I wish would have been there when I was a kid.”
“I joined the TBRA last year with the goal of winning the saddle bronc riding championship,” said Lindenfeld. “I was honored when I achieved that. Their finals was great and the awards were outstanding.”
“I worked for Bennie Beutler of Beutler & Son Rodeo company for several years and learned a lot. I picked up, flanked, sorted, entered some,” said Lindenfeld. “One day, my dream is to have my own string of bucking horses from the Commotion line over Burch’s Lunatic Fringe and Sutton’s Chuckulator mares. I know that’s not going to be easy, but nothing that’s good ever is.”
