D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S P R I N G 2 0 1 6
86
U
BUCKING HORSE SALE ("A Bucking Good Time")
Ask any Montanan what they know about MC, and the
answer surely will be "The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale."
This annual May event started back in 1951 with the sale of
350 "bucking horses" that drew a large crowd. The organiz-
ers paid "mount money" — $5 for bare backs and $10 for
saddle broncs. By the second year, with a crowd of 2,500,
10 buyers and 90 riders, 350 horses went on the auction
block. Sixty-five years later, the beloved Bucking Horse
Sale has become Montana's version of Mardi Gras. While
the need for rodeo stock has diminished (due to strides in
genetic breeding), the four-day event has grown to attract an
enormous and often boisterous crowd. In addition to the auc-
tion of both horses and now bulls, the extravaganza includes
a wild horse race, parade, quick draw art auction, pari-mutu-
al horse racing, street dancing, and trade exposition.
