World’s oldest cowboy still in the saddle

The world’s oldest competing rodeo cowboy, 92-year-old Bob Holder, has received a major honour after a lifetime in the saddle.

At 92 years old, Bob Holder officially holds the title of the world’s oldest competing rodeo cowboy.

On Saturday, he lined up to compete in his hometown rodeo at Cootamundra in southern NSW in the team roping event.

And in a well-kept surprise for Bob, the town’s arena was named in his honour on the day.

He said to turn around and see the signage on the arena with his name on it came as a complete shock.

“I’m not sure how they kept this one a secret,” he said.

Bob’s family contacted the various rodeo associations in America to confirm he was the oldest professional cowboy.

The oldest certified competing cowboy in the world, 92-year-old Bob Holder from Cootamundra in NSW at the Mount Isa Rodeo. Picture: Peter Wallis

He cites good country living for his ability to ride and compete at more than 90 years of age. Bob and his quarter horse gelding Stormy have been a formidable duo on the Australian rodeo circuit, which became a fixture in his life when he was 14.

The son of a drover, he had a grounding in bush life and often rode “rough” horses to get them going for work.

Bob perfected the art of saddle bronc riding over the years, and event that took him to the USA on multiple occasions.

He tells the story about turning up in the US with what was known as an “Australian saddle”, which looked like not much more than a jockey pad. The larger bone structure and power of the American horses at the rough stock end of the arena meant that the tiny Australian saddle wasn’t what was needed.

Bob became one of the first cowboys to ride in what is known as an “international saddle”, and now this is the piece of equipment all riders choose to use in the saddle bronc event.

Despite his love for the US and rodeo events, Bob says no country compares to Australia for lifestyle.

“Australia is the best country in the world by far,” he said.

Before retiring, Bob was a well-known rural real estate agent in southern NSW and won multiple sales awards over the years.

He said meeting people and discussing the land and property was in his blood, and it was something that tied in with his rodeo interests.