Check Out Our New Wild West Show

Biography

Liberty Team and Willard Powell "The Lone Indian Chief"

Willard Powell of  Bonifay. Florida presents colorful and exciting performance as THE LONE INDIAN CHIEF.  Combining the native American Culture with his knowledge of training horses, Willard began his performance with a black and white trick horse "The Ghost Dancer".  Willard and "The Ghost Dancer" does a tribute to the Native American "Ghost Dance Religion" by presenting several dance maneuvers, and ends the performance by GHOST DANCER walking on his hind legs.

Willard began his Professional Career with a team of Sorrell and white quarter horses in 1985.  He has traveled and worked throughout the United States and Canada.  His is living proof that anyone can pursue and fulfill a childhood dream.  As a young child growing up, his parents would take him to the Championship Rodeo in his home town of Bonifay, Florida.  As he would watch the specialty acts perform, he would try to imagine himself being in that rodeo arena and performing before thousands of people.

Willard has always ridden horses, but in 1984 through the help of Foy Reynolds, former PRCA Stock Contractor, Willard bought a set of Roman Pads, took two Sorrell and White quarter horses and began to pursue that dream.  After 10 years on the road with those horses, Willard retired them in the Spring of 1995.  He replaced them with 2 Sorrell and White American Paint horses and started traveling the country with that team.

In December of 1999 and again in 2002, Willard was selected to perform with his Roman Team during an opening of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Willard combined his showmanship, a beautiful wardrobe, complete with a full Indian Headdress, and the rare art of Roman Riding and gave rodeo spectators the thrill and excitement they expected when he entered the arena.

In the fall of 2007, due to his wife's health, retired the team, stayed close by home and began training a new Liberty Team of horses.

In late 2009,  Willard took the new Liberty Team (two Black and White American Paint Horses) started a new act "THE LONE INDIAN CHIEF AND THE WAR PONIES"Lone Indian ChiefHe began traveling and showing his new act "THE LONE INDIAN CHIEF AND THE WAR PONIES" along with the Trick Horse "THE GHOST DANCER" in early 2010.

During the off season, Willard is usually looking for a new horse to train, continuing to work with his present horses, keeping them ready for a new year on the road.

 

 

 


Willard Powell was most recently featured in the Florida Monthly Magazine as one of the 21 Intriguing Floridians!

21 Intriguing Floridians
From hard-workers to respected leaders, these Floridians have transformed their music, art, education and business to defining qualities of Florida culture.
by Victor Leiner & Debra Espinosa
 

Willard Powell PO Box 216 Bonifay, FL
Phone (850) 326.3388 or (850)547.9235
© 2012 Willard Powell, The Lone Indian Chief
Website Designed & Maintained by Florida Art and Web Design