Murray State University Rodeo Team

Dale Gibson

This real life cowboy is one of America's leading stunt riders.  Gibson has expanded the complex and potentially dangerous skill of horseback riding to new dimensions. 

Raised on a Quarter Horse ranch on the outskirts of Louisville, Gibson was given his first pony when he was 4-years-old.  His mother, Beverly Sue, was a professional trick rider and his father, George Robert, rode bucking horses, bulls, and was a professional rodeo cowboy.  When he was very young his parents toured with Cherokee Hammond's "Wild West Show.”  

When Gibson was eight, his mother taught him trick riding.  That same year he began competing in Junior rodeo events. He furthered his training by studying ballet, tap, and ballroom dancing for seven years.  His agility, body control, coordination, and fearlessness were evidenced by his increasing collection of ribbons and trophies horse-shows and High School and amateur rodeos throughout the Midwest.

After High School Gibson became a professional rodeo rider for two years. He then studied business administration at Murray State University in Kentucky, which he attended on a rodeo scholarship.  While there, he was a Regional Intercollegiate Bull-riding and Saddle Bronc-riding Champion..  

He was a member of the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society and a Founding member of the Delta Pi Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau at Murray State.  He was President and Vice President of the Murray State Rodeo Club which was responsible for hosting two college rodeos a year and raising thousands of dollars of travel and scholarship money for the men’s and ladies rodeo team.  In 1997, he was voted an Outstanding Young Man of America.

A sense of humor and an appreciation of drama are important aspects in Gibson's life.  On a lark Gibson and several other rodeo cowboys went to Mississippi to work on the mini-series North and South, Part 2.  He was spotted and was asked to come to Los Angeles to work on the rest of the film.

Encouraged by his success, Gibson loaded his trick horse, saddle, and gear and arrived in Hollywood in 1985.  Although he started out as an extra, reputation of his talents spread. Within a few years, he was a featured stunt rider in major productions.

Gibson stunt doubled for Lou Diamond Phillips in Young Guns I, Young Guns II, Renegades, and Three Kings.  In Glory, he assisted in the choreography of the period weapons used in the battle scenes and doubled Matthew Broderick.  In Alamo, The Price of Freedom, he was stunt coordinator and doubled for Don Swayze. 

His stunt skills besides riding horses and bulls, included driving, firework, sword fighting, and period combat.  He used many of these skills while being the White Knight and fight choreographer on the Award Winning Marine Corps Chess Theatre commercial that was on air for 15 years.  

While working in the movie business he met his wife Heather, a stuntwoman.  They were married in 1997 and a year later they started Gibson Ranch. In 1999, their son Reid was born.  

In 1997, Gibson retired from riding bulls in his own fashion.  While stunt doubling an actor on the cable series Arlis at a Professional Bull Riders event at the Anaheim Pond, he rode his bull twice, stepped off after the second take and started working on a new sport in Team Roping.

Dale has been chairman and host of the “Ride For A Cure” event the past seven years.  The event raised money for Parkinson Disease Research and Cancer Care and several other Charities.  Becoming involved in neighborhood council and local politics opened the door to becoming involved with the Los Angeles Equine Advisory Committee.

In 2009 Councilwoman, Wendy Gruel appointed Dale to the newly formed Los Angeles Equine Advisory Committee.  He is on his 3rd term as President. He has successfully worked to keep mountain bikes off hiking and horse trails and worked several years with the DWP to get Reclaimed water use on ranches legal in the State of California.

Working with Los Angeles City Council last year he has worked to add street crossings for Equestrians and pedestrians in Los Angeles and has successfully worked with City Building and Safety to stop construction that infringes on Equestrian Properties.  In 2019, Dale successfully, stopped the banning of Rodeo in the City of Los Angeles.

“I am happy to be a part of the greater Sunland area.  It’s nice to be able to walk around in a cowboy hat and feel at home.”