Name: Michael
Terry LeBourdais
Age: 39
Marital Status:
Single
Family/Children:
Lots of family, Charles, Colton and Blaze
Hometown: Kamloops B.C.
Native American Heritage: Secwepemc (Shuswap)
Horses: MooShoo TDR & TR, Yellow Dog TR.
Pets that you own: Billie White Shoes, Border Collie
Rodeo Events Worked: DR, Head & Heel
Association member of: WIREA, PIRA, CRIRCA,
WSIRA, CPRA Permit
Rodeo Accomplishments: Toughest Kid in Pee Wee Barrels for three years…Just kidding.
There are trophy buckles but the best thing I enjoy is teaching roping skills to youth. We host a Youth Rodeo school here
at Whispering Pines BC and it regularly attracts 70-80 students and it is awesome for me and for the youth.
When did you start an interest in rodeo? Since I can
remember. I remember going to rodeos with my Dad like Cloverdale, Williams Lake and Falkland. Falkland always had the bikes
there. I thought everyone rodeoed…everyone I knew rodeoed.
What other sports other than rodeo do you enjoy? I enjoy Snowboarding during the winter. My Rez youth are into it as well. Every year
we spend two weekends at Sun Peaks snowboarding, skiing and tubing.
What is the funniest thing that you have seen or experienced
at a rodeo?
One of my best friends got hung up in bullriding at the Williams Lake
Band rodeo and the bull was spinning into his hand but his leg was over his hand and he won the bullriding cuz he was still
on at the whistle. The bull finally tired and he fell off when he stopped. The force of the spin kept his leg over his hand
which kept it from coming out.
What advice would you give to Indian youth about rodeo or anything
in general? Practice. Learn from a school or clinic. Then Practice.
What advice would you give to Indian youth who wanted to participate
in
rodeo but didn’t have the resources or support to get involved?
Hang in there…Rodeo is an expensive sport to excel at, ask any
roper or barrel racer. Cowboys are usually willing to help another cowboy. However I assure you no one rides my horses with
out respect for those horses. I was taught early to respect and care for my horses. This in turn is reflected in how I treat
others and myself. This respect in turn is reflected to other cowboys and then back on you. And then there are good things
that come from hanging in there.
Are there any songs that inspire or pump you up before you ride
or rope? Nope…too focused on prep, my equipment and my horse.
What would you like to see more of at Indian Rodeos?
Contestants, crowds and sponsorship.
What are/is your favorite western movie(s)? The Good
the Bad and the Ugly.
What is your favorite music? I like a bit of everything,
classic rock, classic country, Nickelback, AC/DC, Kid Rock, Eminem, Tupac.
What was your most memorable ride or
run? I fell off a runaway horse when I was 6. He was old and slow but
it seemed fast to me. After I stopped rolling and the dust settled my brothers led him back and I got back on. In the arena I have an arena record in TDR.
Who is your all time hero? My Dad…Duke LeBourdais.
What Indian Cowboy or Cowgirl has influenced you to rodeo?
My Dad, Duke LeBourdais. I remember watching him practice night after night after working all day. Then I would watch him
win. So I learned have a good horse and lots a practice and you will win. My
Dad was old school, he roped calves, head and heeled, steer wrestled and rode bareback too…
Would you like to thank sponsors and or anyone for your success
in rodeo?
I would like to thank
my family for putting up with my obsession and me. My friends, Leo, JR, Rick, Colleen, Vi, and Kurt for traveling with me
while I indulged my obsession. GreenDeer Contracting and EP Ranches for the sponsorships and finally my Dad…for showing
me that rodeo is the same as life…you get out of it what you put in….and that luck is simply preparation meeting
opportunity
