For one year, Chester Skoal Bandit has claimed the title: Canada's Bareback Horse of the Year. A prestigious title, as it is determined by the athlete he challenges. Every November at the Canadian finals Rodeo in Edmonton, Alberta, the most outstanding animals are picked by the Cowboys based on the animals' performances throughout the year. This is the first time Chester received a stock of the year award. Not only did the 1,300 poind sorrel gelding achieve the title of Canada's best, but one month later he was also voted the second best horse in the world at the 1998 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. At the Canadian Finals, Chester was up against all the other horses in Canada. The national Finals was a different story. Not only was Chester up against the best stock in Canada chosen to contend at the finals, he was also compared to the best in all of the United States. Consequently, he was voted on by the best bareback riders in the world. Chester was awarded these titles by being what part owner B Sunstrum calls "consistently consistent/" Cowboys simply call him 'rank.' Born with strength, he jumps and kicks so hard that he makes it very difficult for any cowboy to ride him. Because scores in Rodeo are based on 50% of the rider's ability and the other 50% on the horse's performance, when a rider does last eight seconds with Chester, the combination usually means a high score or even a winning ride.

Chester was born in 1990. he began his rodeo career at the age of four and already he has been to the Canadian Finals three times and the world finals twice. Having a horse with these abilities has meant a lot to his contractors, Sunstrum and Klassen. As a champion bucking horse, he is very valuable to them in many ways. Though Chester can not offer his genetic make-up for future breeding programs, he never the less has made a big difference in their lives as Rodeo stock contractors. On average, a horse with his title will bring a contractor about $200.00 every time he is bucked out of a chute. Also, horses like Chester can be a valuable advertising tool for sponsors. With the addition of a sponsor's name to Chester's, the stock contractors wer awarded bonus money. Klassen and Sunstrum saw the potential in Chester at an early age and added the sponsor's name SKOAL to Chester Bandit. As part of the SKOAL stock awards, contractors are able to use the advertiser's name freely on horses or bulls they feel have a chance at receiving a champion title.

Above all, Chester Skoal Bandit's performance throughout the year provided the outfit deemed as Big Stone Rodeo with their first Canadian Champion Stock Award. This is important to a Rodeo stock contractor. His livelihood relies on the Rodeo that they are commissioned to provide stock. Klassen and Sunstrum are still building their business in the professional world, as their outfit was established only a decade ago. They are off to a strong start with a horse like Chester in their line-up. Chester's title was well timed for the outfit, as Sunstrum received the Stock Contractor of the Year award for professional Rodeo.

Klassen says the monetary value on a horse like Chester can range anywhere from $25,000 to $40,000. He notes though that they aren't interested in selling Chester at this time. Raised by Klassen from birth, Chester has become part of the family. Both men realize how special it is to have a horse like him. Sunstrum says, "Chester is a superstar in the herd," and Klassen adds, "ones like him are hard to find."

In total Chester Skoal Bandit will work about thirty rodeo performances in a two year prospected season. With other horses that Big Stone Rodeo owns, Chester will travel many miles, "from Victoria clean to Houston Texas." Contractors usually bring their horses to the rodeo a few days prior to the first perofrmance. During that time some upkeep is necessary as the horses are penned (large pens, not stalls), fed and watered regularly. It is important to arrive a little bit early in order for the horses to get 'climatized' and 'comfortable.' Given this, a week in the life of a professional circuit bronc like Chester can be said to be a lit of travel, a little bit of rest, with eight seconds of work three of those days. But when Chester's not on the rodeo trail, he enjoys triple that in free time, roaming around on acres of open range.

The best training for a CHampion bucking horse is no training at all. Chester will let those he is familiar with come within "2 feet of him" and "he doesn't get pampered like other horses may, he was raised to buck" explains Klassen. The 'pasture' they talk about is 30 miles south of Youngstown, Alberta, with 30,000 acres. Other than general maintenance such as foot and health care, Chester Skoal Bandit is a free roaming horse who earns his great way of life grooming or training, just land on which to roam and graze. Now that's the life!

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