Yesterday we lost the best horseman ever - Robbie Schroeder by Junior Norgueira

Junior Nogueira-

Yesterday we lost the best horseman ever, in my opinion. The first time I ever came to America, the first place I ever roped a steer at was Robbie Schroeder’s arena. It had rained the day before, and my Brazilian friends’ arena was wet, so Robbie invited us over to rope. That day, I ran some steers and he gave me more horses to ride and rope on.

At the time, I didn’t know anything. I had come with a friend, who spoke pretty good English, but I didn’t speak much at all. Robbie invited me to come stay, and he was so amazing with horses. I didn’t have to understand word-for-word what he was saying, because I could watch what he did with his horses and know what he was telling me. I went home, and came back and stayed with him for six months working for him and helping with the show horses. He had bucking bulls back then, and I always went with him and we had so much fun.

In the years that followed, Robbie told me every time I spoke to him, “I’m so proud of you, I love you like a son.” He believed in my roping, and he’s who taught me to be a horseman. He’d say over and over again how good I roped, and he showed me how to really see a horse for what it was. The great horsemen of this generation learned from Robbie. You could watch him and not be able to figure out what he was doing, and then suddenly you’d see the horse melt to him. He could see the skill in a horse—whether the horse knew much or not—better than anyone I’ve seen. He’s who found Green Card, the horse that got me through the bulk of my career. And he’s who was so proud of me at this year’s World Show and encouraged me with Hali. I last spoke to him during the NFR, when he built me up with confidence when I needed it. Robbie was just 62. He was young. And he was a great friend, who has contributed to my whole life more than I can explain. I will miss him, but I’m thankful for the lessons he taught me and the chance he gave this young kid from Brazil.