Montanans certainly don’t have a monopoly on horse culture, but what probably feels like an outlier in most regions is widespread and vibrant here in the Treasure State. This July, the Flathead Valley plays host to a perfect duality of this heritage with two high-stakes equestrian events that, on the surface, are entirely different worlds, but underneath, share the same beating heart.
If you look towards the world of English equestrian precision, you’ll find The Event at Rebecca Farm. Celebrating a quarter-of-a-century milestone this year, it represents the sport of "eventing," a multi-disciplinary test comprised of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. Whereas the cowboy might rely on raw instinct, the eventer relies on a more calculated approach.
“It was about high school where I noticed everything became very horse-centric in my life, and everything after that happened because of horses,” says Sarah Broussard, organizer of The Event.
“I've been in the sport of eventing since I was about nine, so it's very easy for me to understand,” she says. “And when I try to explain it to people, I realize that it is actually kind of a complicated sport.”
What is a little more straightforward, however, is the “Halt Cancer at X” initiative, which Sarah launched in honor of her mother, Rebecca, who passed away in 2010. The charity is closely tied to the Event. So far, they’ve raised over a million dollars for cancer research and patient support.
“We've been doing Halt Cancer for 12 years now. My mother was highly respected in the sport, and a lot of people knew her. I knew the eventing community would support that program,” Sarah says.
If Rebecca Farm is the sky, with all of its grace and measured jumps, then the Bigfork rodeo is the dusty, raw earth, and pure, unfiltered adrenaline.
Entering its eighth year, the Bigfork Rodeo has quickly amassed a massive reputation among riders and tourists alike. It is a celebration of a rodeo culture that feels quintessentially Montanan.
“Montana and rodeo go hand-in-hand,” says Rob Brisendine, co-founder and general manager of the Bigfork Rodeo. “We present rodeo how it used to be presented. It's in your face. It feels dangerous. It feels like you're a part of the event happening. You're sitting right close, you're getting dirt kicked on your face, people screaming around you.”
Where Rebecca Farm draws a dedicated global sporting community, Bigfork channels pure Americana. Landing right on the heels of the USA’s 250th birthday, Rob sees a deep, patriotic significance in this year's timing.
“Have you ever experienced the 4th of July parade here? If you haven't, you need to,” he says. “It makes you proud to be an American when you come to Bigfork and experience the Americana and the love of this country.”
5,000 to 6,000 people are drawn nightly with 40% being locals and 60% out-of-towners. And just as the international riders revere Rebecca Farm, the cowboy community holds the Bigfork Rodeo in identical high regard.
“We bring some of the best cowboys and cowgirls from across the world who want to come to Bigfork,” Rob continues. “We were voted Montana's Medium and Small Rodeo of the Year for the last five years. That’s voted on by the cowboys and cowgirls themselves; that tells you a lot.”
Whether watching a rider guide a horse through a silent, flawless dressage test, or watching a cowboy cling to a bucking bronc in a cloud of dirt, both events are ultimate tests of horsemanship, riding ability, and the ancient kinship between human and beast. No matter how you choose to celebrate Montana’s horse culture this July, whether it’s heads or tails, you’re still looking at two sides of the same beautiful coin.