Virgil

2025 Pendleton Whisky Stock of the Year – C5 Rodeo’s Virgil Earns Top Saddle Bronc Spot

The first time that Vern McDonald laid eyes upon the great bucking horse Virgil, he knew there was something really special about the young gelding. Vern was relatively new to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association as a stock contractor and as the owner of C5 Rodeo He was looking for animals to help open doors for him. 

He was at Dale Kling’s sale in Cody, Wyoming when he saw a gelding with an attitude. The horse jumped out of the arena into the VIP section. He also jumped out of the bucking chutes before they opened the gate. Vern had a relationship with the Klings and already owned a bunch of Virgil’s herd mates. 

“He was just something else,” Vern said. “So athletic.”  

Virgil was born on the Kling Ranch at Grassy Butte, North Dakota in 2008. He is out of an Appaloosa mare named Apples that goes back to Franklin Rodeo Stock’s breeding program. Virgil’s sire was a draft horse named Big John leased from John McNeely. Dale Kling’s breeding program saw all the foals that year branded with an F. Virgil, who had yet to be named, was the 13^th in line so he became F13. 

The agreement for leasing Big John included getting to pick a foal from the mares bred by Big John. John McNeely picked a big blue roan colt. “You don’t want that one. You want that one,” Dale said as he was pointing to a two-year-old gray. That was Virgil. The rest of the F colts were purchased by C5 Rodeo. 

In the fall of 2010, that gray horse was entered in a futurity and was offered for sale at the Breeder’s Classic Bucking Horse Sale in Cody, Wyoming. Vern McDonald was there and really wanted the horse. He was bidding on him and thought he had him bought. When the sale was complete, a man sitting behind Vern was the actual winner. Maury Tate of MoBetta Rodeo purchased the horse and named him Virgil after Maury’s late father. 

Virgil got his seasoning at the Cody Nite Rodeo with Maury and was making heads turn as a five-year-old. Maury had him in the bareback riding at RodeoHouston in 2013. Virgil took Tom McFarland to a 93-point ride. It wasn’t long before Vern was on the phone seeing if he could purchase the horse. 

Virgil headed north to Lac La Biche, Alberta, Canada, and while Vern was hopeful that the horse would give them opportunities as stock contractors, the future with Virgil was greater than anyone could imagine. 

In 2017, he made his first appearance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in  bareback riding. He also earned the first of two consecutive bucking horse of the year titles in that category. Virgil’s career was accomplishing everything that Vern had hoped for and more. 

For the 2025 season, he has primarily been used in the saddle bronc riding. That paid off with the horse of the year title. Virgil’s athletic ability and love of bucking hasn’t skipped a beat. Saddle bronc riders got to the pay window or thrown to the dirt. One of the biggest wins this year was when four-time world champion Zeke Thurston rode him to a 92.5 to win the Calgary Stampede.

Virgil became the fifth horse in the history of the PRCA to win top honors in bareback riding and saddle bronc riding. His last title in the bareback riding was seven years ago. He has won multiple awards in both events in Canada and is one of the most decorated bucking horses in rodeo. For Virgil, it doesn’t matter which event he is entered in, it just matters that he gets to go.

“He’s always the first on the truck and the first to get sorted,” Tyson Cardinal, ranch manager for C5 Rodeo said. Tyson, who is Vern’s nephew, has done everything from grooming to setting the flank on Virgil. He knows the horse inside and out and he also knows that there will never be another one exactly like him. Bareback riders and saddle bronc riders all agree that Virgil has an intimidation factor. 

“He’s big and strong,” Tyson said. “He is good looking and has that hair, and he’s very proud of himself. He loves to do a victory lap after he bucks. It’s pretty cool. He is very confident.” 

Virgil will be making his second appearance in the Thomas & Mack Center in 2025 in the saddle bronc riding. He was also selected in that category in 2021. The next year he was back at the NFR in bareback riding, after taking Rocker Steiner to a world record in the bareback riding at 95 points during the regular season.

There are 15 saddle bronc riders waiting to see who will have their name next to Virgil’s at this year’s NFR and each one of them knows if it happens, they have a chance to go to the South Point for a go-round buckle. And at 17-years-old, anyone that gets on him knows that it might be their last opportunity. Virgil’s career is what legends are made of and the horse has done everything and more than what Vern McDonald hoped that he would do for C5 Rodeo when he bought him. 

Virgil doesn’t know that he is 17 and has remained remarkably healthy his entire career. Tyson credits that to his athletic ability, but his attitude likely has had an impact as well. 

“He is so athletic for how big he is,” Tyson said. “He always seems to know exactly what he is doing and is very sure of himself.” 

At home, Virgil keeps that attitude in place. When visitors arrive at the ranch, he will find a corner to survey what is going on and remains aloof. But when it is just he and Tyson, the unspoken language between them is of friendship. 

“I’m the one that gets him in and cleans him up,” Tyson said. “When it’s just me and him, we’re buddies. He’s gotten gentler through the years, but he really just wants to do his job. He’s a leave me alone kind of guy and I think it’s just because he knows how good he is.” 

For the crew at C5 Rodeo, Virgil has inspired them to keep looking for the next one. They now have about 75 mares of their own that they are breeding. Vern McDonald’s background in construction sees him looking at the foundation. Virgil was the horse that opened doors for them. Now they are keeping those doors open and with their breeding program and experience, they have a firm foundation in the rodeo industry and a promising future because of a big, good-looking, athletic gelding. 

“I know there will never be another one like him,” an emotional Vern McDonald said. “Everybody thought I was stupid for spending the money on him and taking the chance. That horse has opened every door for me. He is so special.”