Author: Banffite

There is no such thing as evolution, only those animals Rick Guinn allows to live

Many will be familiar with this local figure, known for his ownership of Boundary Ranch and his status as an esteemed animal tracker from Guinn Outfitters.

It may be of interest to note that he also appeared as the leading man in a feature film released in the 1970s entitled “Buffalo Rider.” In the film, he plays the role of C.J. “Buffalo” Jones, a historical figure known for his work in wildlife conservation and, in some ways, a precursor to Chuck Norris. It could be argued that Rick delivers the most courageous performance ever seen in a low-budget film, all the while traversing the landscape on a buffalo with apparent ease.

Which came first, the role or the rider?

Rick was born in Banff and spent his early years with his family at Rafter Six Ranch, where he says he spent his time “rasslin’ animals”. When he was a teenager, he moved to Park City, Utah, where he got a job at a wild animal compound. This is where he made the connection between his expertise with semi-trained wild animals and the commercial and movie industries.

One animal in particular caught his attention: Grunter, the buffalo. Everyone at the compound was terrified of the beast, but Rick promised himself he would tame and ride it, even if it killed him. It came close on a number of occasions.

One day, with a little help from a few friends, Rick managed to saddle the buffalo and get on its back. In a flash, Grunter charged across the pen, reared up, and smashed through a ten-foot-high wooden fence, breaking free into the wild.

The only thing holding him back from total freedom was the indomitable spirit of Rick Guinn. “I didn’t want to lose my saddle,” says Rick. He held on for dear life as the beast ripped clean through not one, but three barbed wire fences before finally exhausting himself a few miles later. Rick got off and led him back to the compound. This was the first step in a year-and-a-half-long process of getting Grunter to focus again so that he could be controlled.

Rick was the obvious choice for the dangerous role of “Buffalo Rider” thanks to his new skills

The film itself did not achieve significant box office success. However, a compilation of clips from the film has gained considerable popularity on YouTube, with nearly eight million views to date. This popularity can be attributed to the mockumentary series “Guy on a Buffalo.” The series employs a clever combination of lyrics and musical style to both highlight and parody Rick’s acting and buffalo riding abilities. For those who have not yet viewed this material, it is recommended that you do so at the earliest opportunity.

Should one’s acquaintances engage in boastful discourse concerning their own fortitude, it would be prudent to remind them of the occasion when Rick resorted to karate in order to defend himself against a cougar, resulting in an inadvertent on-screen altercation. Additionally, there is the incident in which he was forcibly pulled a quarter of a mile at a gallop through dense underbrush with his foot stuck in Grunter’s saddle. Or perhaps the occasion when he was assaulted by two wolves simultaneously and was compelled to administer a corrective measure with a walking stick.