“Who ARE those guys!?!” Butch and Sundance couldn’t have said it better – those two guys fearlessly moving into a danger zone to take a cowboy to safety are 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 and 𝐓𝐲 𝐀𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧, professional pickup men for the 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲. Ty and Dalton can be found in the midst of the action, taking control in the high-energy chaos of the saddle bronc event.
Safety for riders and bucking horses is a pickup man’s main concern. Any saddle bronc rider will tell you the ride isn’t over when the required eight seconds have elapsed. The Vold pickup men work as a team: both men ride alongside a spirited, bucking horse with one rider assisting the contestant safely to the ground while the other rider removes the flank strap from the horse and moves it safely out of the arena.
Watch the choreography of these skilled athletes as they provide stability while the contestant jumps or swings free from his bucking mount. Adding to the mayhem is the contestant getting tangled or caught up in the equipment, so you may see a pickup rider assisting him in getting released. If a competitor falls off his saddle bronc, a pickup rider may help herd the horse away from the fallen rider.
Long-time professional pickup men like Dalton Ward and Ty Atchison have a deep understanding of rodeo livestock and are respected by contestants and rodeo fans as true cowboys. We look forward to welcoming this dynamic duo back to the World’s Oldest Rodeo, July 1st through July 7th at the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo Grounds.
Caption: Ty, left, and Dalton, far right, ease a cowboy to safety after a ride. Photo/Blushing Cactus Photography