Harvey is a 2,600lb handsome, gentle bison. You can read more about him and the first Harvey Wallbanger HERE.
Getting to see Harvey and meet T.C Thorstenson, his owner/trainer has been a small dream of mine. So I was very excited to discover that they were going to be in my neighborhood, less than 10 mins from my house.
I was thrilled to be able to get so close to this mighty bison and speak personally with TC Thorstenson as we walked together toward the show arena.
His breath smelled a lot like my mare’s…..sweet hay breath.
Then the show began. TC showed everyone how he side passes with Harvey.
And how he is able to get a 2,600lb behomoth to back up quicker than my own 1,100lb mare will do for me.
TC shared a playful moment showing how a tame bison could be used to keep a man warm during a bitter cold Wyoming snow storm.
They tried to light this hoop on fire, but the wind wouldn’t cooperate and kept blowing it out. So Harvey and TC jumped through it when it was just partially lit, which was still very impressive.
At one time bison roamed from Canada to Mexico and numbered approximately 60 million. But in the late 1800’s, bison were on their way to extinction. Since then, the public has realized what an important part of American history the bison are. And ranchers and breeders have recognized the obvious economic potential of bison, and have expanded their efforts to preserve, protect and reestablish the American Bison.
The National Bison Association estimates approx. 150,000 buffalo in public and private herds currently in the United States. Of these animals the federal government manages approx. 6,000 and tribal authorities at least 5,000. A small number of buffalo are managed by city and state governments but 90% are owned and managed by private entrepreneurs. The largest public herd (approx. 4,500) is in Yellowstone National Park, and the three largest private herds are owned by the Houck family of Pierre, SD, Turner Enterprises and Durham Ranches, Inc.
Pretty amazing, eh? I remember reading somewhere a while back how ironic it would have been, if instead of choosing to ride horses and herd cattle, we would have chosen to ride cattle and herd horses.
Seems silly, I know, but when you meet an intelligent, strong, fast, and powereful animal like a bison, it actually makes sense. Did you know that TC trained the first Harvey Wallbanger to do team roping events as a Heeler? And he was good at it, even outshining the horse-riding cowboys.
And TC also raced his first Harvey Wallbanger….yes, against horses. His bison easily won by two and half lengths! And his total record of winning was 76 out of 92 races all across North America!
Makes me wonder why we didn’t domesticate bison before horses. Probably because horses are prettier, easier to mount, and fit a saddle to. haha!
TC also enjoys mounted shooting off of his ginormous bison.
And TC can get his big friend ready for bed and tuck him in at the end of the day, too.
At the end of the show, TC invited us to come over and give Harvey some scratches and have our photos taken.
Harvey was so calm, gentle and soft. What a sweetie. And what an immense honor. wow.
From the Tower of,
