Which TV Cowboys Can Really Ride? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tv star collector · 10-01-2006, 07:42 PM

From TV GUIDE magazine (May 7, 1960):

[These opinions are from "the men who know horseflesh best, the old-time
wranglers and horsemen who for fifty-odd years have been supplying Hollywood
movie and, more recently, TV horses."]

Almost all the horsemen agree that the greatest rider ever to grace any kind of
screen was Tom Mix. Mix was brought up on a horse, rode professionally in
rodeos long before he ever starred in movies, was absolutely fearless, and
could "horseback" any horse. Ken Maynard was almost as good.

From there on in, to quote one disenchanted oldtimer, "Horsebacking went
strictly downhill. By the time Autry and Rogers were kingpins, there was nobody
who, by our standards (Ed note: admittedly high.) could handle a horse well.

"'Course, Roy got to be a pretty fair rider. He improved a lot. But he'd never
take the chances on a horse--not the way Mix did. Then came TV."

Here is how the wranglers rate the TV riders: Dale Robertson (Jim Hardie of
TALES OF WELLS FARGO), George Montgomery (CIMARRON CITY's Matt
Rockford), Dennis Weaver (GUNSMOKE's Chester) and Richard (HAVE GUN,
WILL TRAVEL) Boone (although we found one violent dissenter on Boone)
are regarded as horsewise.

Hugh O'Brian (WYATT EARP), Rory Calhoun (THE TEXAN), Will Hutchins
(SUGARFOOT), Fess Parker (Davy Crockett), Chuck Connors (THE RIFLEMAN), Jack Kelly (Bart Maverick) and John Payne (Vint Bonner in THE RESTLESS
GUN) rate the appelation "pretty fair."

Some, like Jim Garner (Bret Maverick), have been trained "in English riding."
"He sometimes posts," complains one wrangler. "That's the opposite of Western. It's real funny." And Jim Arness (GUNSMOKE's Matt Dillon) is "too
big to be a really first-rate horseman."

And then of course there are the ladies: Amanda Blake and Gail Davis. Each
is an adequate rider but neither is a great one, in the opinion of the experts,
but "They sure do wear their hearts out trying. And show a lot of courage,
too."

TJL · 10-01-2006, 09:35 PM

toebig · 12-16-2006, 03:37 PM

I love the scene in Quigly Down Under, where Tom Selleck has left the woman and little boy behind and is riding to town for supplies. I think it's a great riding scene.

Then there was Glenn Ford, who I think was born on a ranch in Canada. He looked like a great rider.

Course, I'm not a great rider so everyone who can stay on a horse looks great to me LOL.

toebig

ponytail · 04-07-2008, 06:07 AM

Doug McClure was an excellent rider.

MickeyMac · 03-07-2009, 02:08 PM

What about Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels??????

tdr · 03-18-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

What about Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels??????

I don't know for sure, but didn't they both start as stuntmen and circus performers? That probably indicates they were good riders because they would have been tough, confident, and unafraid of being thrown.

Marvo301 · 03-18-2009, 10:14 PM

What about the Cartwrights? Does anyone know if Pa and his boys were good riders?

10-01-2006, 07:42 PM	#1
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	Which TV Cowboys Can Really Ride? From TV GUIDE magazine (May 7, 1960): [These opinions are from "the men who know horseflesh best, the old-time wranglers and horsemen who for fifty-odd years have been supplying Hollywood movie and, more recently, TV horses."] Almost all the horsemen agree that the greatest rider ever to grace any kind of screen was Tom Mix. Mix was brought up on a horse, rode professionally in rodeos long before he ever starred in movies, was absolutely fearless, and could "horseback" any horse. Ken Maynard was almost as good. From there on in, to quote one disenchanted oldtimer, "Horsebacking went strictly downhill. By the time Autry and Rogers were kingpins, there was nobody who, by our standards (Ed note: admittedly high.) could handle a horse well. "'Course, Roy got to be a pretty fair rider. He improved a lot. But he'd never take the chances on a horse--not the way Mix did. Then came TV." Here is how the wranglers rate the TV riders: Dale Robertson (Jim Hardie of TALES OF WELLS FARGO), George Montgomery (CIMARRON CITY's Matt Rockford), Dennis Weaver (GUNSMOKE's Chester) and Richard (HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL) Boone (although we found one violent dissenter on Boone) are regarded as horsewise. Hugh O'Brian (WYATT EARP), Rory Calhoun (THE TEXAN), Will Hutchins (SUGARFOOT), Fess Parker (Davy Crockett), Chuck Connors (THE RIFLEMAN), Jack Kelly (Bart Maverick) and John Payne (Vint Bonner in THE RESTLESS GUN) rate the appelation "pretty fair." Some, like Jim Garner (Bret Maverick), have been trained "in English riding." "He sometimes posts," complains one wrangler. "That's the opposite of Western. It's real funny." And Jim Arness (GUNSMOKE's Matt Dillon) is "too big to be a really first-rate horseman." And then of course there are the ladies: Amanda Blake and Gail Davis. Each is an adequate rider but neither is a great one, in the opinion of the experts, but "They sure do wear their hearts out trying. And show a lot of courage, too."

10-01-2006, 09:35 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591
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03-18-2009, 10:14 PM	#7
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	What about the Cartwrights? Does anyone know if Pa and his boys were good riders?
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

12-16-2006, 03:37 PM	#3
toebig Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 11, 2005 Location: California Posts: 51	I love the scene in Quigly Down Under, where Tom Selleck has left the woman and little boy behind and is riding to town for supplies. I think it's a great riding scene. Then there was Glenn Ford, who I think was born on a ranch in Canada. He looked like a great rider. Course, I'm not a great rider so everyone who can stay on a horse looks great to me LOL. toebig

04-07-2008, 06:07 AM	#4
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	Doug McClure was an excellent rider.

03-07-2009, 02:08 PM	#5
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	What about Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels??????