Description: Bronze (1970) | Dimensions: 4 ½”h x 3 ½”w x 3 ¼”d; Edition #16 of 50

In “Wanted” a lawbreaker stops to read a sign outside of the town he’d like to enter. If it’s his picture he sees on it, he’ll be movin’ on to the next town to avoid the risk of being recognized and potentially apprehended.

Description: Bronze (1971) | Dimensions: 3 ½”h x 4 ½”w x 4”d; Edition #9 of 40

Don Polland once again captured the beautiful spirit of a Navajo rider astride his horse and dressed in his traditional attire on his way to a “sing”, a social gathering which may consist of song, dance and community. Culturally significant in most American Indian societies, participation is considered a personal responsibility, one which connotes respect for culture, tradition, community, family and self.

Description: Bronze (1978) | Dimensions: 6 ½”h x 4”w x 4”d; Edition #60 of 350

The final miniature bronze in the Don Polland “Seven Events of Rodeo” series is “Saddle Bronc Rider”. Polland nailed the poetry in motion aspects of this rodeo classic event!



The PRCA Website https://prorodeo.com/prorodeo/rodeo/rodeo101/saddle-bronc-riding shares some excellent information and a wonderful video regarding scoring, style, grace and the nature of the precise timing elements of saddle bronc riding.

Description: Bronze (1978) | Dimensions: 4”h x 13”w x 7”d

In “The Seven Events of Rodeo” miniature bronze series created by Don Polland, “Header and Heeler” or “Team Roping” features the first roper, or header, who ropes the front of the steer and then wraps his rope around his saddle horn prior to using his horse to turn the steer to the left. Then, the second roper, or heeler, ropes the steer by its hind feet. A penalty is assessed if only one of the legs is caught. Team Roping is the only event were men and women compete equally together in sanctioned competition in either single or mixed gender teams.

Description: Bronze (1978) | Dimensions: 4”h x 13”w x 4”d; Edition #60 of 350

In “The Seven Events of Rodeo” miniature bronze series created by Don Polland, “Calf Roper” features a calf and a rider dismounting his horse. The event was derived from working ranches wherein calves were caught and restrained for branding and medical treatment. The goal of the rodeo event is ultimately speed, however, participants must throw their lariats around the calf’s neck while riding at a breakneck pace.

Description: Bronze (1978) | Dimensions: 5”h x 5”w x 3”d; Edition #60 of 350

Another in the rodeo series by Don Polland, Bareback Rider. Riding a bronc bareback isn’t for the faint of heart. It is one of the more physically demanding rodeo events and has a high injury rate. Cowboys must ride one-handed and cannot touch or hang onto anything with their free hand for a full eight seconds if they want the ride judged and scored. Once the eight second ride has completed, the cowboy can then use both hands until pickup riders helps them safely off the bronc. Judging takes into account the control and technique of the rider as well as the power, speed and agility of the horse. The scores are then combined to make the total. The highest possible score is 100.

Description: Bronze | Dimensions: 6”h x 5”w x 4”d; Edition #60 of 350

“Bull Rider” is another bronze in “The Seven Events of Rodeo” 1978 series by Don Polland.
American bull riding has been called "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports." To receive a score, the rider must stay on top of the bull for eight seconds with the use of one hand gripped on a bull rope tied behind the bull's forelegs. Touching the bull or themselves with the free hand, or failing to reach the eight-second mark, results in a no-score ride. Depending on the bull riding organization and the contest, up to four judges might judge the rider and four judge the bull on their performance. For most organizations, a perfect score is 100 points. In general, most professional riders score in the neighborhood of the mid-70s to the high 80s.
Outside of the United States, bull riding traditions with varying rules and histories exist in Canada, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, the Philippines, Japan, South Africa, England, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand with the majority of them following similar rules, especially with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) organization.
Source: Wikipedia

Description: Bronze | Dimensions: 5”h x 7”w x 5 ½”d; Edition #60 of 350

Enjoy another of the 1978 Don Polland “The Seven Events of Rodeo” bronze series … “Barrel Racer”.

Per Wikipedia, Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Though both sexes compete at amateur and youth levels, in collegiate and professional ranks, it is usually a women's event. It requires a combination of the horse's athletic ability and the horsemanship skills of a rider in order to safely and successfully maneuver the horse around three barrels placed in a triangle pattern within a large arena.
Barrel racing originally developed as an event for women. In early barrel racing, the pattern alternated between a figure-eight and a cloverleaf pattern. The figure-eight was eventually dropped in favor of the more difficult cloverleaf.
It is believed that competitive barrel racing was first held in Texas. The Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) was founded in 1948 by a group of women from Texas who were trying to find a place for women in the wider sport of rodeo. When it began, the WPRA was called the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA). It consisted of 74 members, with about 60 approved tour events. The Girls Rodeo Association was the first body of rodeo developed specifically for women. The GRA changed its name to Women's Professional Rodeo Association in 1981, and the WPRA still provides women competition opportunities in several rodeo events, but barrel racing remains the most popular.

Description: Bronze | Dimensions: 7”h x 8”w x 5”d; Edition #60 of 350

In 1978, Don Polland began a miniature series of bronze pieces entitled “The Seven Events of Rodeo” of which “Steer Wrestling” is one piece within the series. Each within the series is titled, bears the artist’s signature, the year and its edition number. And though Polland’s bronzes are quite small, they contain myriad detail and realistic touches that show his familiarity with his subject matter.

Description: Bronze (Miniature) | Dimensions: 5”h x 13”w x 8’d; Edition #10 of 60

This scene was played out often in the wild, rugged west by an unscrupulous cast of characters.

Description: Bronze (1975) | 5”h x 6”w; Edition #2 of 6

Description: Bronze (1976) | Dimensions: 3 ½”h X 6 ½”w X 4”d; Edition #15 of 35

Small bronzes were a specialty of Donald Polland, and though small in size they are no less detailed than a larger bronze. “Looking for Trouble” is an excellent study of western wildlife. Mountain Lion often prey upon javelina though not always successfully. Javelina won’t necessarily back down nor run away since they have a tendency to travel in large family packs and are well equipped to fight with their long, sharp and protruding canine teeth.

Description: Bronze (1975) | 3”h X 7”d x 10”w; Edition #21 of 50

Description: Bronze (1969) | 4” x 5” x 7”; Edition #39 of 50