Q: Your resume reads like an action movie. What exactly have you done?
A: Let’s see… I’ve been a pro MMA fighter, a veteran, a wildlife scout, a logdog, an avalanche technician, a crab and lobster fisherman, a nightclub bouncer, a western stage actor, prototype test-driver, an underwater maintenance diver, as well as receiving my black belt in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu. Basically, if the job required grit, gear, and a high chance of injury, I probably said yes.
Q: You’ve competed in Kok Boru. What is that, exactly?
A: Kok Boru is rugby on horseback—with a goat carcass for a ball. You ride full speed, try to grab the goat, and score by hurling it into a goal while other riders do their best to knock you off your horse. It’s fast, brutal, and smells exactly like you’d expect.
Q: And you’re also a horseback wrestler?
A: Yep. I’m the first—and only—American to compete in horseback wrestling in Central Asia. It’s like regular wrestling, except you’re on a horse and the ground is very far away. It’s not for the cautious or the cartilage-dependent.
Q: How did you get into all this?
A: I grew up on a horse ranch in Wyoming, and I’ve always chased the kind of challenges most people politely decline. If it sounds dangerous, I’m probably interested.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Bodysurfing, surfing, MMA, skiing, wrestling training with my twin boys, and occasionally explaining to people that yes, Kok Boru is a real sport and no, I didn’t make it up.
Q: Any advice for people looking to live a little more boldly?
A: Don’t wait for permission. Say yes, hang on tight, and learn to land well.
ForgeLine is a proud sponsor of the U.S. Horseback Wrestling Team. For more information and to support the team visit: www.USAhorsebackwrestling.org.
