Richardton Saddle Club

Special Achievement

Inducted 2026

“Clover Leaf. Potato Race. Stake Race. Gown Race. Musical Chairs. Pack-up-and-Go.” Those words, handwritten on a stack of old Standard Oil Company loading tickets, are the historical remains of the Richardton Saddle Club’s early youth rodeo competitions, which began in the late 1950s. Today, the club rates as the oldest known saddle club in North Dakota with an unbroken charter.

The club was initiated to promote the cowboy way of life and its principles, while providing activities for youth. Soon, full-fledged rodeos came to provide much excitement and entertainment. “Everybody in Richardton thought it was a good idea,” recalls charter member Chuck Hoff, Richardton. “The doctor, the druggist, the dentist, most of the farmers and ranchers – everybody belonged and when we were over there driving nails they were helping.” The club purchased the old stockyards west of town. The first fully completed arena was made of three strands of woven wire surrounding plank bucking chutes. The original gate hinges were made of old wagon wheel rims.

Charter member Sabbie Fettig, Richardton, maintained a string of bucking horses for the club to use at practice sessions. Horses for saddle club use were trailed in from the Hansen Brothers, Schaffners and even Elbowoods. Some of the most noted horses that bucked in the Richardton Saddle Club arena included: Buckskin Nelly, Red Sails, Mean Boy, Water Works and Humpty Dumpty.

The first youth event was held during Richardton’s 75th Anniversary in July 1958 and the club’s first full-fledged rodeo was held October 16, 1958. The club incorporated on June 12, 1959. Early membership in the Richardton Saddle Club covered the Richardton/Taylor trade area, south to the Heart River and north to the Knife River.

Richardton Saddle Club members began competing in club rodeos in the 1960s and ‘70s with fellow clubs from Glen Ullin, Almont and Elgin. “Sometimes we’d have 35-40 entries in a single kids’ event,” said John Gengler, Richardton, a long-time announcer. With events such as barrel racing, pole bending, sack race and musical chairs, he added, “We’d start around noon and try to get done by dark, but you’d end up holding flashlights by the time you got to the end.” The club continues to participate in annual club rodeos, currently held in Richardton, Hebron, Glen Ullin and New Salem.

Through the years the club has provided practice and competition for numerous cowboys and cowgirls, many of who have garnered success in junior high, high school, college, amateur and even professional rodeo. Four-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Brad Gjermundson, Marshall, recalls, “Some of the first rodeos we went to as kids were association rodeos hosted by the Richardton Saddle Club. That was back when horses were hauled in stock racks on pickups.” He adds, “Some of the first bucking horses I got on were in the Richardton arena.”

The Richardton Saddle Club has held numerous team ropings, NDRA-sanctioned events for more than 40 years and hosted an annual Bull-o-rama from 2002 – 2007. It began hosting Roughrider Rodeo Association (RRA) rodeos in 2008 and North Dakota Junior High Rodeo Division (NDJHRD) Rodeos in 2012, both of which continue today.

The club has over 90 members and is noted for having one of the best small-town arenas around. Members also ride in local, annual parades and are proud of participating in horseback funeral processions that honor members who have passed away.