Reflecting on the Trials of a Bareback Rider: Anthony Thomas’s Retirement

Anthony Thomas’ seat and sightline has been anything but common and comfortable. The furious ride from a bucking bareback as an elite, world-ranked competitor is unique. Now retiring, the last rodeo for this forever cowboy also shows a seasoned Christ-following journey of knowing when to grasp and when to relinquish.

Question: “Take us on the bareback of a bucking horse – what are those eight seconds like?”

Anthony Thomas: “It starts in the bucking shoots. You’re surrounded by steel bucking. You hope the horse is not going to flip over on you or gator roll on you. Then the horse leaves the bucking shoots and it’s everything you've got as fast and as hard and as aggressive as you could possibly be for the next eight seconds. Trying to have control of an uncontrollable situation.”

Question: “Anthony, what’s at the heart of a cowboy that uniquely reflects the image of God?”

Anthony Thomas: “Being a bareback rider, you’re fully invested. It’s a life-or-death mentality. The horse has got g-force, he’s moving forward and dropping down. I think that’s directly how our walk with Christ should be. You’re either all in or you’re all out! ­Jesus talks about being lukewarm and you can’t do that.” 

Question: “Describe your complete commitment - all in – when grabbing that tight rigging.”

Anthony Thomas: “Your hand is tied to the horse’s back. It can’t come out unless you’re in the perfect position to get it out. You have to have full trust in yourself, in your ability, in your muscle memory and your trust and your faith in the training that you've put in. And that God's put you in the position to, to be there for the ride.

Question: “The irony is, it sustains your run but you’re also risking your life. Are there similarities in real time life?”

Anthony Thomas: “A hundred percent! This transfers through my Christian Walk, my walk with Christ, my ministry, to my marriage and just me as a dad as well. Rising above the obstacles that you, that you face as a, as an entrepreneur and a young business owner. Everything's connected to my spirituality and my faith in Jesus Christ. So being all in, being faithful, being committed. Letting my yes be yes, and my no be no, just like the Bible says.”

Question: “How are you and horses alike in your connection?”

Anthony Thomas: “God made me to be with the horse. They’re such a soulful animal. I have a connection with horses that I don’t have with anything else. Their eye, it’s their body language, it’s their ear. It’s the disposition of their body. You can see peace or fury in an animal, and I can meet them where they are. I’m able to calm a horse down in the bucket shoots – one that’s bred to be made and bred to be rank.”

Question: “Tell me about your childhood.”

Anthony Thomas: “I had a rough and troubled childhood, from a broken home, a place of poverty and abandonment from my parents. They had me on 13 or 14 different types of medication. Ended up at an all-boys boarding school for last chance kids like me. I got to make my connection with horses and cattle on a cattle station in the remote part of West Australia in the Outback. Like the horse, I was also confused and angry. I actually found a place of peace in those dangerous situations with the horses.”

Question: “What was the turning point for you in a Christ-following life?  

Anthony Thomas: I’ve recognized that I've gone all in rodeo, being my first love. You die for your first love. Blood, sweat, and tears, broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons and several concussions and pushing that all aside to get to the next rodeo and get the next win. And then I read the gospels - this is who Christ tells me to be as a man of God, I have to also choose the parts where he says, if you love me, obey my commands. God's made me to be a bucking horse rider. ­He's also made me to be that in my Christian walk.”

Question: “Anthony, you are every bit the cowboy, but you are more than that. What’s there?”

Anthony Thomas: “My identity's in Christ, I'm a Christian first. Being a cowboy is a lot of my identity. But it's not my identity. It's what God's made me to do. The passion and the desire that he's put into my heart. He’s designed me this way, but it's not who I am. ‘Cuz you can't put your identity in something that you can lose. You cannot lose your identity in Christ. You understand a bigger picture of who God's made you to be and what specific plan and purpose for your life, for me, for you, for everybody watching this.”  

Question: “Scripture describes Jesus Christ returning someday – any day – on a white horse. As a bareback rider, what qualifies a horse as his escort back? 

Anthony Thomas: (Laugh) Yeah! The horse is the most amazing animal that God created in my opinion. Of course, he's gonna come back on a white horse, and of course he's gonna be bareback too. (Laugh).”

Tom: “(Laughs with) I had to ask!

Anthony: “Jesus is a cowboy!

Tom: “Right! By bareback or saddle!

Question: “You’re mentoring athletes that are gunning for you in rankings. You’re also baptizing many of them.”  

Anthony Thomas: “Matthew 28 18 says therefore all authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. So go forth and baptize, teaching them everything that I've taught you. I take this very seriously in my life. Words from Jesus. It's a sense of fulfillment to be able to talk to other young cowboys about Christ and their salvation Being an all-in Christian man in this world that we live in today is the most manly thing you can do.

PRCA Legendary Announcer, Bob Tallman: “His handshake was unforgettable because when he’s met somebody it wasn’t Anthony Thomas, it was the character of the man. He could take the worse horse of the day and make him look good. He could take the best horse of the day and really shine. Leading with faith is difficult in today’s society because it either makes you stand out up and above everybody else or it sits you behind the naysayers. And in this industry, it has been to his benefit!”

Question: “The greatest gift He’s given you out of your professional career, that you will carry forward?” 

Anthony Thomas: “Bareback riding's all about holding on, squeezing no matter what. We spent our whole lives trying to grip on and hold on as tight as we can. You're trying to be in control, but you're really not in control. It's okay to surrender to Christ. He'll make you stronger counterintuitive, right? Open your hand and let go to Christ, that's when doors open that you don't understand. Since I've let go of my career, he's made it as good as it could possibly be for me and I'm grateful for that.