One of the last direct descendants of the famous Outback Queensland 'Carandotta Horses' to make a historic return to Mount Isa
THE KING IS COMING HOME: Hold onto your buckles people, Elvis is entering the arena.
He's got the bloodline of legends, the attitude of a king, and hooves that carry generations of rodeo royalty. This is more than just a horse — this is history on four legs, all muscle and memory, swagger and spirit.
Elvis isn't just a horse – he's royalty. His bloodline traces directly back to the famed Carandotta Station stock, renowned for producing the toughest, most electric bucking horses in Australian rodeo history. His daughter? None other than Little Egypt, an 8-time Australian Bucking Horse of the Year. That kind of pedigree doesn't just win buckles – it builds rodeo folklore.
The story runs deep. In 1959, for the first-ever Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo, George Ah One, known as The Carandotta Drover, walked a mob of horses more than 200 kilometres from Carandotta Station to Kalkadoon Park. That epic journey became an annual tradition for more than two decades, cementing the Ah One family as rodeo royalty and establishing a bloodline of horses so revered, they're still the gold standard today.
That bloodline – and the spirit of Carandotta – has been lovingly preserved by legendary stock contractor Gill Bros, with founder Eddie Gill bringing Elvis and the majority of the bucking horses and bulls for the 2025 open events. Eddie has coordinated the stock program for the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo to ensure every second division and junior competitor also draws exceptional animal athletes, giving every rider the best chance to shine in the ring.
Elvis won't be bucking this year; he'll be a star attraction for the legendary Mount Isa Mines Rodeo. And with Elvis on the scene, Mount Isa won't just host the Southern Hemisphere's richest rodeo – it will host history itself.
Long live the king.
8 LEGENDARY RODEO HORSES & BULLS WHO MADE THOSE 8 SECONDS EVEN TOUGHER:
- Chainsaw (Australia) – Possibly the most famous bucking bull in Australian rodeo history. Ridden successfully only a handful of times and inducted into the Australian Rodeo Heritage Centre Hall of Fame.
- Midnight (Australia) – A legendary buckjumper from the early 1900s, known for never being ridden successfully. His fame helped shape Australia's early rodeo scene.
- Grated Coconut (Canada) – Six-time PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year. A Canadian-bred bucking horse who became one of the greatest of all time.
- Tornado (USA) – A legendary bull: undefeated for 14 years before being ridden by Freckles Brown. Part of the mythos of unbeatable stock.
- Red One (Australia) – A Carandotta horse that helped cement the bloodline's reputation for quality buckjumpers. Known for his explosive start and unpredictable style.
- Little Egypt – Daughter of Elvis, 8-time Australian Bucking Horse of the Year. A force of nature.
- Blondie, Spinifex and Barkly Brute – three more famed bucking horses from the Carandotta line. Fun fact: in 2018, Mount Isa Council unveiled the now also famous sculpture of galloping horses, paying tribute to the legacy of Carandotta Station and it's horses.
- Man Hater – straight out of the USA, and currently the top bucking bull in the world!! He's famed for his explosive power and near-impossible bucking style.
MORE ON THE CARANDOTTA HORSES:
Carandotta Station, located in the remote far west of Queensland, near the Northern Territory border, was home to a breed of horses shaped by hard country and harder work. Under the stewardship of George Ah One, these horses were bred for stamina, strength, and grit. They were used for mustering, droving, and station work — but under the bright lights of rodeo, they became something else entirely: stars. The Ah One family didn't just bring stock — they brought style. The way they moved with their horses, the pride they took in their preparation, and the performance of their animals earned them legendary status. Their contribution was formally recognised when the Ah One family was inducted into the Australian Rodeo Heritage Centre Hall of Fame.
Mount Isa Mines Rodeo August 8 to 10
Tickets on sale: Mount Isa Rodeo
The 2025 Mount Isa Mines Rodeo takes over Buchanan Park, Mount Isa, from August 8–10, and promises three unforgettable days of grit, glory, and red dirt pride. Tickets are on sale now. The Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships is proudly supported by the Queensland Government. The Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
