Getting on him was like tying an anvil to your arm and throwing it off a three story building. That’s the way 3 time champion Jim Dunn described getting on the great bronc High Chaparral. This super star was born in 1983 on Mike Shapley’s ranch north of Maple Creek. Mike actually broke him to ride, but didn’t have enough work to keep the high-lifed gelding occupied, so when the horse was four, Mike sold him to stock contractor Don Peterson for $1,000 plus a promise that if the grey went to the NFR, Peterson would spring for a trip.
That year, High Chaparral was voted the Canadian Cowboys Association Bareback horse of the Year and in 1988, he was chosen for the NFR, bringing home a plaque proclaiming him the second best horse there. The Shapley’s, courtesy of Don Peterson, were in the stands.
High Chaparral went on to become a two-time world champion.
He was a career bareback horse as he was so well halter broke, in saddle bronc he could be led in and out of the arena. In 1985 he was sold to Mike Cervi of Colorado for 25,000.00, at that time, the world’s highest priced bucking horse.
In 1997, the Maple Creek rodeo grounds were christened High Chaparral Arena in honor of their home-range hero.
In 2003, High Chaparral was inducted into the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame.
