Rodear: Underdog Turns Top Dog

NDERDOG TURNS TOP DOGU

Having competed in dog trials for less than four years, James Butler and 6-year-old “Gus” nabbed Champion and Reserve Champion titles.

Story and photography by Lillian Kent

The sport of rodear mirrors cow horse in several ways: The talent needs to know how to read cattle, multitask and maximize animal teammates’ abilities. A well-executed rodear run is a masterful display of horsemanship and being in the right place at the right time.

For the sixth year, the MARS Equestrian™ National Finals Rodear took place at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat. Saturday night, October 8, the top five competitors in the Green Dog, Non Pro and Open competed for more than $42,000 in added money in the John Justin Arena.

The last draw in the Open, 6-year-old Border Collie “Gus” and handler James Butler of Center, Texas, navigated to a perfect score of 135 in 5 minutes, 28 seconds. Along with the bragging rights came a check for $10,000.

“I didn’t think I had a chance; I was sure the underdog coming in,” Butler admitted. “You’d rather be lucky than good.”

Bulter may had had a little more than just luck on his side as he and his gelding, Curlenas Starlight (Shady Lil Starlight x Pecas Curlena x Pecas Olena), acted as a visual barrier while Gus meticulously wove the three Corriente steers through a series of panels, a circular roundabout and challenging lightning-bolt shaped alley with plenty of gaps before loading them in a trailer at the end of the arena.

“The lightning bolt is really, really challenging. If you don’t keep the cattle flowing, you’ll get in a wreck. And [I thought] the trailer load was going to be my biggest challenge and it worked really sweet,” Butler said.

Until Gus and Butler stepped into the pen, not a single Open team had put together a perfect score of 135. His success may have come from having navigated the course once before in the Non Pro division, minutes before his Open run. In the Non Pro, Butler and Gus finished Reserve Champions behind Mike Thompson and “HP,” adding $3,500 to their total payday.

To qualify for both divisions, Gus and Butler competed in the Rodear American Cowdog Semi-Finals in Greenville, Texas, earlier in October. The top 20 teams in

Gus is described as a “mischievous teenager” in public, but when he’s in the ring with James Butler, the 6-year-old Border Collie is all business. Together, Gus and Butler won the Open division with a perfect score, earning $10,000.