Doug Williamson, an NRCHA Million Dollar Rider, is interviewed by Chris Dawson and Russell Dilday.  

Presented by Saddle House Custom Saddles & West Knives

Doug Williamson has truly lived the Western dream life movies are made from. Born in the Southeast corner of Oregon, Doug was the oldest son of Sylvan and Barbara Williamson. Raised as a cowboy on the family ranch and riding a horse from the time he could crawl, Doug’s first victory came at the age of five while riding behind his Dad in a match race!

Doug’s love for the racehorses grew and it wasn’t long before he was on the tracks, himself. He also participated in Western events, winning his first buckle at the age of 8 in hackamore reining. At thirteen he won his first buckle calf roping, then, a year later when his dad was seriously injured in a riding accident, Doug took over the duties of running the family ranch.

Sylvan Williamson always had an eye for great horses and purchased one that would turn into one of the best horses Doug would every ride. His name was Baldy C. The horse could do anything and let Doug know what a truly great horse felt like. When Baldy C was 16 years old When Doug was 19, he rode Baldy C to become the high point working cow horse in the nation… a title they captured again two years later.

At 17, Doug decided it was time to strike out on his own, and he secured a job as the cattle foreman for the Markham Cattle Company. While Doug was working on the ranches he always had outside horses in training, and he credits many of his skills to the old-timers he learned from. In the mid-sixties, he took a break from training full time and decided to rodeo for a living. On the road for about a decade, Doug calf roped, team roped and rode a few saddle broncs, winning prestigious events all over the West, including the Ellensburg Rodeo.

In1978 Doug went back to training full time in Nampa, Idaho, and for 14 years he trained everything from halter horses and cow horses, to English equitation horses. He made over 30 AQHA Champions in many different events and ranks among the AQHA’s most successful trainers.

In 1987 the world came crashing down on the Williamson family when Doug was diagnosed with cancer. He was near death in the hospital but still had his great horses on his mind.

Doug pulled through cancer, and in classic fashion, was aboard Montana Lynx 7 months later, taking the reserve championship and winning over $20,000 at the Biggest Little Cutting In The World.

In 1990 Doug was hired to help build the horse operation at the Tejon Ranch, so he packed up and headed to California. Being extremely busy he had sent his Dad on a buying trip to look for mares and studs for the ranch, and Doug had ended up with a little black yearling from the King Ranch that no one else wanted… he would turn into Doug’s first Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion. In 1992 Doug and Mr. San Olen captured the Open title, and since 1990 Doug has made the finals nearly every year.

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