‘Extreme’ cowboy finds ranch life, saddle shop has peaceful ties

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Sid Steiner earned a spot in the PRCA Hall of Fame for his cowboying efforts during his professional career. His wife created a unique display of some of his career highlights. -- Staff photo by Taylor

August 4, 2005 - Don’t let the gentle manners and quick smile fool you; Sid Steiner of Bastrop didn’t earn the nickname “Sid Rock” for nothing! Before winning the World Champion Steer Wrestler in 2002 at the Wrangler National Finals in Las Vegas, Steiner had already made a name for himself with his body piercings, tattoos, “unique” clothing and long hair. Not the “norm” on the rodeo circuit where he was known as an “extreme cowboy!”

A member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Hall of Fame, Steiner lives with his wife Jamie, 3-year-old daughter Steely, and 19-month-old son Rocker, on the family ranch in Bastrop County.

Looking at all he’s accomplished in his short career on the rodeo circuit, it’s hard to imagine that he couldn’t even saddle a horse when he was in high school!

Steiner told the story about bringing a friend and two girls home to ride horses, when he was a senior in high school, and his dad Bobby had to saddle the horses. Not that it was new to Bobby, as he was the 1973 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider, but he had decided that he didn’t want his sons to get into the rodeo profession.

Growing up in the Austin area, Steiner said he and his brother, Shane, now a Nashville recording artist, played a lot of sports and loved to ski. Steiner was a linebacker for Anderson High School’s football team, too.

After a short stay at Ranger Junior College, Steiner decided he’d rather work on the family ranch with the Brangus cattle operation. When he was about 19-years-old, Steiner said a friend introduced him to team roping and one thing sort of led to another. Before long, he was wrestling steers, and within a matter of months, started in the pro rodeo circuit.

Gathered for a family photo at the Finals competition, several years ago, were Sid Steiner holding Steely (top), plus (from left) his dad Bobby Steiner, mom Joleen, wife Jamie, and brother Tommy Shane. -- NFR photo

Steiner met his wife, a barrel racer, at a rodeo in Idaho. Jamie grew up in Washington State, and had been around race horses all of her life .. so she knew how to saddle one, and certainly knew how to ride the fast ones.

She “retired” from the pro rodeo circuit in 2000 when her horse did, laughed Jamie. (Not that taking care of two young children is exactly being “retired!”) Jamie helps out with the horses on the ranch, too.

While Steiner said he doesn’t miss the traveling and being away from his family, he does miss the friends he made who are still involved in the rodeo circuit, and the opportunity to see different parts of the country … and mostly, he admitted, he “misses winning! ... I miss the good times; not the bad times,” smiled Steiner.

As far as bad times from injuries, fortunately, Steiner said he never had any really bad injuries while wrestling down a 500- to 750-pound horned steeer; just a few broken ribs and stitches here and there.

Today, along with the ranch chores, Steiner works at Capitol Saddlery in Austin, which was founded in 1930 by his great-grandfather, T.C. “Buck” Steiner. Those who knew Buck were first to admit he led a “varied and colorful life!” During the years, he was involved in ranching, saddle making, rodeo promotion and, eventually, a co-owner of the Cattleman’s State Bank.

As far as what the future holds for Steiner and his family, he said “he’s not one to make a lot of plans.” He said he “guesses he’s doing what he wants,” but is always open to new challenges … just not steer wrestling, anymore!