story by Lily Weinacht
Shaun Ebert – Double K Diamond Photography
Shaun Ebert of Cochise, Ariz., has been busting saddle broncs in the GCPRA since 2000, but his history with the sport reaches back to childhood. Watching his dad, Bob Ebert, compete in all three roughstock events, Shaun, now 30, made his own mark on the sport. Roping by the time he was five, he got on his first saddle bronc when he was 13, and three years later, added steer wrestling to his rodeo résumé. “I just love rodeo!” Shaun exclaims. “I like the people and the travelling, and I’m very competitive, so it keeps me coming back!” Shaun’s competitiveness took him to the NHSFR all four years of high school in saddle bronc riding, and twice in the steer wrestling, earning him state high school saddle bronc riding champion and all-around cowboy during his 2002 – 2003 rodeo season. His competition went even further college rodeoing for Cochise College in Douglas, Ariz., where he was the region’s all-around cowboy and saddle bronc riding champion during the 2004-2005 season.
Following college rodeo, Shaun decided to quit steer wrestling and hone his saddle bronc riding skills further. “I was winning more in the bronc riding, and it was a lot easier to get in with a group of guys and their bronc saddle, rather than haul horses,” he says. He continued to rodeo with the GCPRA, which he had joined during high school, and the PRCA Turquoise Circuit, which he joined promptly at 18. Since joining the two associations, not once has he missed qualifying for their finals. Shaun attributes much of his success to his parents’ influence, particularly his dad. “He’s always positive and he pushed me and my brothers to be the best in the arena and out of the arena.” Shaun’s two brothers, Cameron and Shane, continue to rodeo, with Cameron living and rodeoing in Arkansas, and Shane roping with the World Series of Team Roping.
Shaun and his wife, Shannon, have remained in Arizona, and make their home near Cochise, a rural area that has proved ideal for raising their two children, Keeley and Rope. “Keeley is eight years old, and we’re taking her to junior rodeos for the barrel racing and pole bending,” says Shaun. “Rope is doing flag racing and dummy roping right now, and he’s very much interested in rodeo!” Shannon is a former high school and college rodeo competitor and barrel racer. Shaun also works as a pickup man for stock contractor Scott McDaniels, who bucks at least 20 head of horses at the Ebert’s arena every weekend. “The guys from the college come out and get on some horses, and so do my travelling partners – it works good and keeps us tuned up,” explains Shaun.
Shaun’s work and rodeo schedule fit together quite nicely as he travels around Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, working for Southwest Irrigation. “I sell parts to the gold and copper mines,” Shaun says. “I’m able to make my own schedule, and if I have rodeos in a certain state, I’ll set up my appointments there.” Shaun also loves travelling with his family, and this summer, they plan to go fishing in northern Arizona, see the sights of Colorado, and visit Cheyenne Frontier Days, which Shaun will be entering in the saddle bronc riding. His favorite rodeo, however, is held in Sonoita, Ariz., every Labor Day Weekend, a memorial rodeo for one of Shaun’s lifelong friends, Gene Forrest, who passed away several years ago. Shaun is also looking forward to the GCPRA and Turquoise Circuit finals, and has year-end championship buckles in mind every time he lowers himself into the chutes.
