I wonder why there haven't been more Palomino liberty acts? They are sure beautiful. This one, Krones, Knies, Bobby Roberts, Chipperfields, and Steve Robinson's daughters are the only one's I recall at the moment.
Courtesy of Juan de la Cruz
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Col. J. M. Herriott
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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20 comments:
Wade,
Can you tell me more about Mr. Herriot ? Did your recieved my mail some days ago ?
Regards,
Thomas
Glenn Randall trained an eight horse Palomino liberty act for Roy Rogers and another for the Peterson family from Nebraska.
Cecil Cornish trained one.
Bill Buschbom trained one before he had his black and white liberty horse act.
These were all grade horses. Some even Broncs. They did a good liberty routine of my choosing and . color seems to cause a disadvantage in matching it with warf=drobe or tack colors. These horses were started by an Althoff and I enlarged the routine and added a new lead horse in a short time, but did receive the Daniel Delarosa silver medal as the best animal act in Mexico for that year and you will note by the program there was stiff competition. I am proud. To Mr. Curry;The Randall trained horses for the Peterson family were very small quarter horses sorrel in color.johnny
Frank,
I forgot the Roy Rogers liberty act, doh!!!! I didn't realize Buschbom had a Palomino act. His pinto act was sure a dandy. I have always thought an act with loud paint overo's, half black and half sorrel would be a pretty act.
Wade
Col. Herriott,
What "disadvantage?" You looked pretty good in that candy ass, geared up, powder blue jacket. LOL I could only see light blue, white, or forest green looking good on a Palomino. Didn't Christenson use a red/green combination on his palomino's? That looked pretty good in the few color photos available of it.
Wade
Thomas,
I have hung enough paper for my respected friend Col. J. M. Herriott, and I think other folks should or better, I would hope he would introduce himself to a new young generation of circus fan from Europe. Meanwhile, type in John Herriott in the search bar, and you can read about him, when he was "normal" and not trying to be Mr. Nice Guy. LOL I will only say he is one of America's greatest liberty horse trainers.
Wade
This looks like a great harness on the palominos. Unfortunately, I have only seen videos of Col. Herriott and his horses, never a live performance. I have to agree with you Wade, that the Col. is definitely one of the greatest American liberty horse trainers from what I have seen. From his commentary on his acts he has a tremendous wealth of knowledge to share, and I am very grateful that he does so willingly. It means so much to me, a liberty trainer wannabe!
-Chris
To the young man from Europe. You are fortunate that over there you still have the great liberty acts similar to yesteryear. I envy you.
The Cole bros. 12 palominos were grade horses as well. They were a 24 horse liberty act in the nlate thirties put together by Jorgan Cristiansen and in the early forties Adolph Delbosq presented them as 16. I came in the picture around them with my father in 1950. Paul Nelson was acclaimed in the mid forties with twelve that he worked on horse back. Also a shetland pony did a thread the needle when they went two abreast. This bwas always a very good liberty act all thru the years. Sadly most of them were killed around Oil City, Pa. in a runaway truck going down a mountain on the big King Bros. I was on a picture in Calif. but my Dad came on the wreck scene and sadly had to get a state parolman to shoot some of severly injured but alive. A horrible scene and end of a great liberty act.john herriott
Oh come on, John!!!! You can do better then that!!! I open the door for you to hang some serious paper in Europe, and all you did was depress young Thomas with tale's of wreaks and dead horses!!!!! LOL I had forgotten about Paul Nelsons Palomino act. Thanks for the reminder. Paul was sure a great one, who seems to have been lost in history. Shame. So Thomas doesn't think you are just a cranky old man who tells depressing stories of horses getting shot, I will tell him how important you are to some of us(that's me I am talking about.) When people ask me, "What have been your scariest, as well as rewarding moments in show business", I relate to them:
Watching my son Adam doing his first show, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
My performing debut, in 1984 on Ringling Bros. with Charly Bauman, Gunther Gebel Williams, and Daniel Suskow standing beside the arena "eyeballing" me.
Going to my home state, North Dakota in 1985 with Ringling Bros., as "North Dakota's Own Wade Burck."
Learning to waltz John Herriotts horse's out of the ring in 1995, with my whip shoved up my ass, at his suggestion, until I learned to do it right, at which time I took the whip out of my ass, also at his suggestion.
Training a liberty act in 1996, in Venice, with Paul Nelson sitting out side the ring critiquing/advising me.
Practicing the Clyde Bros. elephants in 1975, in Sarasota for Hugo Schmidtt would rank up there also, except I didn't know who he was until later in the day. That's not my fault, because as Col. Herriott is fond of pointing out, I was a "first of may cherry" and didn't know shit to begin with. LOL
So you really understand who John Milton Herriott is Thomas, he is the American Circus equivalent of Europe's Fredy Knie Sr.
Wade
TO John Herriott,
Because I spent eleven years working PRCA Rodeos all over the country,I performed with and knew Glenn Randall,Bill Buschbom and Cecil Cornish.
I saw Glenn training the Peterson liberty act,so I am more than aware of what they look like.
It is too bad that the ambiguity of my comment confused you,but I took it for granted that their color was common knowledge.
However,on the good side,it gave you a platform to show how smart you are.
TO Wade,
This might interest you.
When Bill Buschbom decided to train the Pinto liberty act,he had his good friend Dittman Mitchell,an auctioneer,rodeo producer and announcer,sell each Palomino at a different auction all over the country.
By doing this,he prevented anyone from putting the act back together and competing with him.
Keep up the good work!
Chris,
Nothing wrong with being a wannabe. We all were at one time, even Col. Herriott.
Wade
Frank,
Great "Buschbom" trivia. I only knew the paint act when Johnny Cline had it. I worked with the Cline's a number of times, back in my early days. I remember the lead horse in the act had lost an eye in an accident. Johnny Cline had a black "patch" made with a button sewed on it, that tied to the headstall. From 5 foot away you couldn't tell it was a patch. Lucky they were pintos, and another color.
Was Cecil Cornish, whom you mentioned, inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame?
Regards,
Wade
TO Wade,
Your memory of the liberty horse's eye patch is 100% accurate.
In the summer of 1982, I hired that liberty act for a tented tour of eastern Canada because of my fond memories of Bill Buschbom.
The then owner, Phil Anthony, started to tell me an anecdote about the act,I interrupted him and finished the tale.
Bill and Trudy Strong's liberty act joined us for the second half of the tour. What a joy !!
You were spot on about Cecil Cornish' Hall of Fame inductions.
He also had a trick horse, a trained Brahma bull and a Roman riding team.
Frank,
Do you know if Bill Buschbom had a brother or relative named Jack Buschbom who was a pretty good rough stock/saddle bronc hand, back in the mid 40's?
I hope you didn't go "Herriott" on me, because you have a "platform to show how smart you are" by mentioning Cecil's animals. Because if you did, trying to show the folks here that you are smarter then me, I would be forced to reply back that his trick horse was a tobiano named Smokey, his grey brahma bull was named Danger, and his palomino team of trick riding horse were named the Golden Eagles, other wise the folks would believe you. LOL
Stay safe, Cowboy
Wade
TO "MR.NORTH DAKOTA COWBOY",
I deliberately left out the names of the stock,which are readily available on Google, because I did NOT want to come off sounding like a Professor John Herriott type.
Whose family,by the way,I adore.!!
And,I have had the pleasure of working with every generation.
If you catch me leaning in that direction again, please let me know.
TO "MR.NORTH DAKOTA COWBOY",
The state of North Dakota brings back wonderful memories !!
I had the pleasure of working in every town and city,big and small.
Was even inducted into the Sioux Nation at the annual Pow Wow in New Town,ND.
But the people are the finest memories. The Sentinel Butte boys,Minnewauken,Killdeer,etc.,etc.
TO "COWBOY WADE",
Bill Buschbom had 2 sons in the "life".
Bill,Jr. presented trick horses.
The man you referenced was my good friend,Jack.
You may have seen the classic picture of Jack on Harry Knight's
great bareback bronc "Comeapart" as he leapt out of the chutes.
They used it on the marquee at a motel in Mobridge,SD that they named after Jack.
He was one of the greatest bareback champions of them all.
Last time I was in touch,he was in Springdale,Ark. with a Filipino bride and his stables were never cleaner.
Frank,
Where you get knowledge is not as important as getting it. LOL That said, you can never lean to far, and neither can John. You both have a wealth of knowledge, and I am grateful you share it. You have been there, done it as they say.
I have a picture someplace in storage of the motel and marquee in Mobridge,SD of Jack in my "North Dakota/South Dakota rodeo cowboy collection. I value my North Dakota roots very much, and am grateful I got to grow up there. A special memento is the hand beaded necklace made by a member of the Mandan tribe that Gov. Sinner gifted me with when Ringling showed in Bismark for the first time in 35 years. I don't know if I am going to heaven or not, but I imagine it will look like North Dakota, and the angel's are going to have the personality of North Dakotan's. The finest, friendliest, hardest working, down to earth folks in the world. It would be a great place to spend eternity, with "just plain folk", and nobody putting on air's.
Be safe kola Frank,
Wade
To Wade,
Thank you for your kind thoughts and well put!
Your comments about the people of North Dakota echo my feelings exactly. I miss them. A man's word was his bond. Rarely did I have a written contract, because one was NOT needed.
Vaya con Dios,
Frank
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