team 4df

USTRC’S NATIONAL FINALS MOVING TO FORT WORTH

TEAM ROPING

The

JOUR NAL

JANUARY 2020

Golden Age T Pays Out $13.8 Million orp World Title

+

COLD-WEATHER ROPE SAVVY BRAZILE’S FACING SECRET WILDFIRE TRAVEL TIPS

Features

1.20

JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

T R

64 DESTINATION WILDFIRE XXII Head to Hamilton later this month for more fun that ought to be allowed.

by G.R. Schiavino

66 TIPS ON TWINE Ropes can get tricky come winter with all its wet and windy weather, but the pros offer an inside scoop on what works no matter Mother Nature’s mood.

by Julie Mankin

72 SPLIT TITLE Clay Smith and Wesley Thorp took home gold buckles from the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Here’s how the action unfolded.

by Chelsea Shaffer

74 THE FINALE The Ariat World Series of Team Roping Finale paid ropers a whopping $13.8 million, giving the TRJ team the chance to tell these stories of triumph.

by Kari deCastro

WHERE TO ROPE

Full-page flyers on the country’s biggest ropings, from coast to coast. Your number-one source for every World Series of Team Roping qualifier and United States Team Roping Championship event. See page 80.

The Team Roping Journal (ISSN 1096-9772) (USPS 016-024) is published monthly by Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc., an Active Interest Media company. The known office of publication is at 5720 Flatiron Parkway Boulder, CO 80301. Periodicals postage paid at Boulder, CO and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2019, Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

Printed in U.S.A. Revenue Canada GST Account #825642911RT. U.S. subscription rates: $44.00 (24 issues), $24.00 (12 issues). Canadian subscription rates: US$36.00 International subscription rates: US$48.00 Bulk rate subscriptions for organizations and educational institutions are available upon request. Postmaster: Please send address changes to The Team Roping Journal, P.O. Box 37274, Boone, IA 50037-0274.

2 | TRJ | January 2020

T R

Departments

1.20

42

46

60

112 36

34

54

AT THE BARRIER

DEAR ROPER Note from Chelsea Shaffer HIGH CALL Double Dipping Back to Back Shoot Out

WORLD SERIES OF TEAM ROPING

Note from Denny Gentry

USTRC ANNOUNCEMENT

62

6 8 8 10 12

80

96

BUCKLE UP Cam Dahozy

ROPERS 14

INDUSTRY NEWS 16 USTRC NFTR moves to Fort Worth in April, Twisted X makes $1.6 million donation, TRJ launches Breeder’s Guide, and management changes at San Antonio horse sales NEW PRODUCTS The latest and greatest from around the industry

COMPETITIVE EDGE

AT HOME WITH Leo Camarillo

34

FIVE FLAT with Patrick Smith

46

JAKE BARNES Never Settling

32

TREVOR BRAZILE

52 54

34

FREEZE FRAME with Wesley Thorp

36

BIT JUNKIE FEED CART

56 58 60

42

GAME PLAN with Garrett Tonozzi VET

62

CLAY O Roping Resolutions ICONS Jim Riley

24 GO-TO GIRL Kelsey Barry

THE SCORE Trevor Brazile ON THE COVER: UTAH HEELER SLADE WITBECK, CELEBRATING HIS WIN IN THE YETI #10.5 ARIAT WORLD SERIES OF TEAM ROPING FINALE. PHOTO BY JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

4 | TRJ | January 2020

112

|Dear Roper

TEAM ROPING

The

JOURNAL

JANUARY 2020 • VOL. 3 NO. 5 Editor Chelsea Shaffer Senior Editor Kendra Santos Art Director Eva Young Associate Editor G.R. Schiavino Assistant and Digital Editor Kaitlin Gustave Proofreader Jenny Sullivan Production Manager Diane Paolini Prepress Specialist Brad Burleson Executive Director, Consumer Marketing Dana Raven OLIE’S IMAGES

Director Accounting Shared Services Kelly Baumgardner Publisher Benjie Lemon blemon@aimmedia.com Advertising Sales Nick Griggs nick@myhorse.com ph: 806-622-2225

Dear Roper, Right before Thanksgiving, a family friend of my husband’s passed away. His name was Gary Lauridsen, and he was 61 when he left this Earth.

My husband and I went to the memorial service, and we walked in a bit late, as I’d rushed home from work early on a Friday to get there. We lingered in the hallway outside the 4H building in Greeley, Colorado, where they held the memorial service, and as I listened to the preacher talk about Gary’s life, I looked over to see a photo of him roping with his nephew at one of the World Series of Team Roping’s qualifiers produced by John Johnson in Cheyenne.

As the preacher’s words came into focus the longer we stood there, I realized he was talking about Gary’s roping, too. He talked about the time in 2017 Gary won 15th place in the #12 Finale in Las Vegas with the same nephew, Dustin Bowling, and how proud he was to have won that $6,000 check. At the front of the room filled with team ropers was a trophy saddle, and his boots and spurs sat next to photos of Gary and his extended family roping, on a table next to the food line.

I’ve worked with Denny Gentry long enough to hear him muse about the funerals he attends, year after year, just 6 | TRJ | January 2020

like this one. Denny’s always said how it catches him off guard, every time he sees a man buried wearing a USTRC or World Series buckle—the strange feeling he gets seeing a trophy saddle next to a casket.

This was my first real go at something like this, and Denny sure is right. It’s nothing insignificant we do here in the team roping business. This sport is in the ropers’ veins; it’s what makes you all tick, and on your last day, it just might be what you’re thinking of and part of what you’re remembered for.

If you made it to Vegas with us, I hope you made memories you’ll talk about the rest of your life. If you spent the month at home, I hope it was time spent with the ones you love.

Here’s to more memories in this small world in 2020.

Chelsea

Classified Advertising trj@aimclassifieds.com Warren Wilson ph: 760-546-1192 Advertising Coordinator Abby McDougall Do you have comments or questions about this issue of The Team Roping Journal magazine?

Write to us at: The Team Roping Journal 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301 or email Chelsea at CShaffer@aimmedia.com.

For Change of Address, Delivery Problems, New Subscriptions or Renewals, call The Team Roping Journal’s subscriber services department toll free at

1-866-343-1801 (US & Canada).

Foreign orders call: 515-237-3669 or email: TRJcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com Or mail to: The Team Roping Journal, PO Box 37274, Boone, IA 50037-0274.

The Team Roping Journal does not endorse and is not responsible for the claims and contents of any advertisement in this publication.

Andrew W. Clurman President and CEO Michael Henry COO, CFO and Treasurer Tom Masterson Vice President of Audience Development Tom Winsor President, Equine Group David Andrick Vice President, Equine Group Barb Van Sickle Vice President, Production & Manufacturing Nelson Saenz Vice President, Information Technology Efrem Zimbalist III AIM Board Chair

WORKWEAR THAT NEVER QUITS DURACANVAS JACKET

Proud Sponsor of The Ariat World Series of Team Roping ©2019 Ariat® is a registered trademark of Ariat International, Inc. All rights reserved.

High Call | Loveland | Las Vegas | Oklahoma City |

DOUBLE DIPPING Colorado’s Dylan White paired with Jason James to win the #12.5 World Series of Team Roping Qualifier

produced by Mountain States Cattle Co. in Loveland, Colorado, Nov. 9, just after winning second in the #13.5 hours earlier with Gary Rodarmel. White and James pocketed $6,140 for their time of 31.73 seconds on four head, while White and Rodarmel won another $3,820 for a time of 31.33 seconds on four head.

Performance Horse Photography 8 | TRJ | January 2020

T R

Elevate your Legacy

|High Call

BACK TO BACK Edward Hawley and Myles John won their second consecutive Indian National Finals

Rodeo World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, by roping four head in 23.90 seconds, worth $3,948 each. They also picked up another $3,207 each for their go-round placings throughout the week. Jamie Arviso Snapshots 10 | TRJ | January 2020

T R

January 2020 | TRJ | 11

|High |HighCall Call

12 | TRJ | January 2020

T R

SHOOT OUT Chad Masters and Joseph Harrison beat J.D. and Trey Yates in a match roping

worth $10,000 at the American Quarter Horse Assocation’s World Championship in Oklahoma City. Courtesy AQHA Journal January 2020 | TRJ | 13

T R

At the Barrier

BUCKLE UP with Cam Dahozy, by G.R. Schiavino R

ight around his 21st birthday in 2014, header Cam Dahozy and his partner won an International Indian National Finals Rodeo regional roping, qualifying to compete in the #10 Incentive at the Finals, held east of Phoenix, on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.

“I told my partner, who I’d roped with all year, ‘This is our shot,’” Dahozy said.

The pair went neck and neck with another team, coming into the final round a few hundredths of a second behind them for second high call.

“Our fourth-round steer was the steer the other team had in the third round, so we knew he was good. I didn’t really trust my start on that horse. He was long, so I 14 | TRJ | January 2020

had to stay there a little bit. I called for it and, in three or four swings, I was kind of close to him and I thought I was going to split the horns, but I curled it on the back of his neck. I brought him around and I thought he might have crossfired it.”

The shot was legal, though, and the high-call team ended up breaking the barrier and roping a leg, making Dahozy the Champion Header.

“What was cool,” Dahozy explained, “was that we won the #10 Incentive, and Erich Rogers and [Aaron] Tsinigine won the Open. Rogers tore it up. He won the heading, the tie-down roping, and the allaround.”

Back in Tohatchi, New Mexico—Da-

hozy’s hometown—the community recognized him in a parade, and he gifted his champion saddle to his mom.

The buckle, though, he’s only taken off once in the past five years.

“I took it off one time,” Dahozy recalled, “on a Saturday morning, because I thought it was a superstitious thing and I wasn’t doing good because of it. I got bucked off my good horse at a roping that same day. After I got home, I put it back on.”

Nonetheless, Dahozy has a buckle he’d be willing to swap this out for—a Ariat World Series of Team Roping Finale buckle.

“I’ve just got to pray about it and it will be good.” n

TRJ FILE PHOTO

| buckle up | industry news | new products |

KYLE IRWIN

5x NFR QUALIFIER

CINCHJEANS.COM

| industry news

USTRC’s NATIONAL FINALS MOVES TO FORT WORTH

The move to Texas in April will open up dates and opportunities for ropers worldwide.

The USTRC’s National Finals presented by Cinch will move to Fort Worth, Texas, April 21 to 26, 2020, launching a new chapter in the association’s storied history.

The move will allow ropers from across the globe to bring their horses and their families to compete in one of the premier venues in all of Western sports: the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The 120acre facility offers ropers indoor stalling, multiple arenas and nearby access to Fort Worth’s iconic cultural district—making it one of the West’s leading vacation destinations.

“Ropers have been asking that we spread out the dates for the industry’s two largest ropings,” Ty Yost, director of roping operations for the USTRC, said. “Ropers are hard workers, and they were having 16 | TRJ | January 2020

trouble taking time off so close together for both of the big finals, so this should help solve that dilemma. And, for years, there’s been a huge demand to move the USTRC’s National Finals to Texas. This move is about serving the ropers, infusing the event with excitement and giving the industry a place to be each spring.”

The city of Fort Worth offers a cultural district second-to-none in cowboy culture, with a twice-daily cattle drive down Exchange Avenue, concerts and dance halls, steakhouses, barbeque and Mexican restaurants and the best shopping in the West.

Ropers can look for a complete schedule and entry forms in the February issue of The Team Roping Journal, with updates posted online as soon as all details are finalized.

“Fort Worth is a hot spot, and the new venue will add excitement,” Yost added.

“We’re looking forward to adding events to the National Finals that complement what’s already happening while continuing to make this a roping that the entire family wants to attend. The location will give ropers’ kids, significant others and friends a new place to play while competitors rope for hundreds of thousands of dollars in payout and one of the industry’s best prize lines.”

This will make the third move in the 31-year history of the USTRC’s National Finals, which started in 1990 in Guthrie, Oklahoma, at the Lazy E Arena, then moved to Oklahoma City in 1996.

For more information as it becomes available, visit ustrc.com. n

C BAR C PHOTOGRAPHY

|At the Barrier

|At the Barrier

| industry news

Twisted X Teams Up with Two Ten Footwear Foundation $1.6 million worth of shoes donated for natural disaster relief & recovery

COURTESY TWISTED X

In light of the recent natural disasters that struck California, Texas and the Bahamas, the team at Twisted X® partnered with the Two Ten Footwear Foundation’s program, Share Your Shoes, to donate footwear to support relief and recovery efforts for footwear industry employees affected by these disasters.

According to Tricia Mahoney, VP of Marketing, Twisted X has donated more than 14,000 pairs of footwear to Two Ten Footwear.

Proceeds from the footwear will be used to help U.S. footwear employees and their families whose lives have been directly impacted by the disasters. Any remaining funds will be allocated to emergency financial relief for [footwear] families in crisis. Additionally, Twisted X donated blankets, with their signature ecoTWX material, to victims in all locations. Each blanket is made 100% from 40 recycled water bottles salvaged from oceans and landfills.

“We were lucky enough to be able to donate $2 million worth of footwear to those affected by

Hurricane Harvey back in 2017. Being able to help those in need is just in our DNA. Our intent is to pay it forward in hopes that others will, too.

On this Earth, we are a team of humans… and we all need to support each other,” Mahoney said.

“We have a responsibility as humans to help the environment and community we live in.

People often overlook donating footwear—we’re a humanitarian-focused footwear brand. It just makes sense and it’s who we are,” explained Twisted X CEO, Prasad Reddy.

“Twisted X emphasizes compassion as one of its highest priorities as a company. It is a perfect example of the care and concern inherent in our footwear community, and we are honored to partner with them. Their generous donation of 14,000 pairs of footwear helps us provide emergency financial relief to our colleagues in crisis,” said Terri Rawson, Chief Marketing & Development Officer for Two Ten Footwear Foundation. n

Clinton Anderson’s World-Class Ranch Available For Sale

• Professional horseman’s paradise located in the heart of Cowboy Country in Stephenville, Texas.

• Features multiple barns, arenas and pastures, all custom-designed by industry-leading professionals.

For more information, visit

www.clintonandersonranch.com.

To schedule a viewing, call

479-530-2778.

18 | TRJ | January 2020

|At the Barrier

| industry news

Premier Equine Auctions Takes Over Management of San Antonio Ranch Gelding Stakes and Sale and San Antonio Select Horse Sale

COURTESY PREMIER EQUINE AUCTIONS

After 30 years of faithful commitment and fantastic horse sales

by Segraves and Associates, owned by Dale and Donna Segraves, the baton has been passed. Premier Equine Auctions, owned by Mike Pedersen and Steve Friskup, will be the new manager of the elite horse sale.

As in previous years, the weekend of Feb. 14–15, 2020, will again feature the San Antonio Ranch Gelding Stakes and Sale and also include the San Antonio Select Horse Sale. There are major events in the works that include PRCA Rodeo qualifiers and timed-event competitions during the horse sale weekend. There will be 40 geldings offered in the San Antonio Ranch Gelding Stakes and Sale and approximately 150 head in the San Antonio Select Horse Sale. This will be a one-day sale on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, but will be preceded on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, with the Ranch Gelding Stakes and a demonstration of reining, cutting and roping horses that afternoon.

For more information, visit premierequineauctions.com or call Mike Pedersen (337)494-1333 or Steve Friskup (806)786-7539. n OWNERS OF PREMIER AUCTIONS, STEVE FRISKUP (LEFT) AND MIKE PEDERSEN (RIGHT)

20 | TRJ | January 2020

Coverage That’ll Out-Rope the Competition

Cimmaron Osborn, Cattleman, Horseman and Dedicated American National Agent

Cimmaron Osborn grew up on a cattle ranch in New Mexico. He’s a Cattleman and Horseman. He’s in ag. He owns his own business. And we’re darn lucky to have him as an American National agent.

We believe in building strong, trusted relationships with our clients. From understanding your way of life, to providing coverage for your personal, property and business needs, we’re here to help protect what matters most in your life.

No need to rope you in – our coverages speak for themselves. With flexible options, we’ll work to help meet the needs of ropers living life on the circuit, of ranch hands seasoning the new horses and of the families at home cheering on their loved ones for another successful ride.

COVERAGE TAILORED TO MEET YOUR NEEDS: • Agribusiness – Farms, ranches, and country estates – Specializing in Equine and Beef operations • Auto, Home and Life – Protecting your vehicles, property and family • Business and Property – Options for business owners, commercial auto and personal property • Annuity – Preparing for retirement on your own terms • Health – Coverage for a range of medical necessities CONNECT WITH YOUR LOCAL AGENT TO LEARN ABOUT CUSTOMIZED INSURANCE AND MORE: www.AmericanNational.com American National is a group of companies writing a broad array of insurance products and services, comprised of American National Insurance Company, headquartered in Galveston, Texas, and its subsidiaries. Products and services may not be available in all states. Terms, conditions and eligibility requirements will apply. Life insurance and annuity products may be issued by American National Insurance Company; Farm Family Life Insurance Company, Glenmont, New York; or American National Life Insurance Company of New York, Glenmont, New York. Property and casualty products may be issued by American National Property And Casualty Company, Springfield, Missouri; American National General Insurance Company, Springfield, Missouri; Pacific Property And Casualty Company (California); ANPAC Louisiana Insurance Company (Louisiana); American National Lloyds Insurance Company (Texas); American National County Mutual Insurance Company (Texas); Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company, Glenmont, New York; or United Farm Family Insurance Company, Glenmont, New York. Not all companies are licensed in all states. In New York, business is conducted by the above companies with a home office in Glenmont, New York. Each company has financial responsibility only for the products and services it issues.

17-149.257495.V1.5.18

|At the Barrier

| industry news

The Team Roping Journal Announces First Edition of Breeder’s Guide

OLIE’S IMAGES

The Team Roping Journal is now accepting submissions for its first Rope Horse Breeder’s Guide, launching in March 2020.

In response to the explosion of growth in the rope horse industry, TRJ is introducing this special opportunity for breeders, stallion owners and specialists within the industry to market and promote their horses and services to the most captive audience in team roping.

“With the explosion of the World Series of Team Roping’s payouts and the growth of the rope horse futurity industry, the demand for top-level horses has never been higher,” said Chelsea Shaffer, TRJ’s editor. “Ropers across the globe are searching for ways to maximize their horsepower, but a shortage of high-caliber horses exists. They’re turning to breeding and raising their own, looking to build on the horses already in their programs. Ropers are searching for premium prospects, proven broodmares and the best studs in the game to help guarantee big wins for years to come.”

What’s more, TRJ’s coverage of NFR-qualifiers’ horses’ pedigrees remains its most-read story year after year on teamropingjournal.com, demonstrating the audience’s excitement for the horse-breeding business and passion for the development of quality horse flesh. This will be the first opportunity for breeders to showcase their stallions and services on this scale, to this under-served but ever-eager audience.

To learn more about booking space in the Rope Horse Breeder’s Guide, contact Nick Griggs at ngriggs@aimmedia.com or call (806) 622-2225. n

22 | TRJ | January 2020

FOR YOU

FOR YOUR HORSE SmartPaks make supplement feeding fast and foolproof so you can spend more time with your horse. And better yet, they help ensure that your horse gets the most from his supplements so he can feel his best.

Shipped automatically so you never run out

Custom made so your horse gets the exact support he needs

Made from recycled plastic that can be recycled again

Pre-measured paks ensure your horse always gets the right serving

Clearly labeled with your horse’s name

Sealed for maximum freshness and potency

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE WITH SMARTPAKS TODAY!

SmartPak.com | 1-888-334-2207

|At the Barrier

| new products NRS [NRS Fit Roping Gloves, 12 Pack]

NRSWorld.com, $15 The best new roping glove. Period. NRS has put time and research into providing you with the best fit for a roping glove.

Try these gloves once and they will be the only ones you want.

YETI [V Series Cooler]

CINCH

yeti.com, $800 If you take your tailgating as seriously as your roping, this is your cooler, thanks to the best thermal performance that science allows. Vacuum insulation, plus the support of our proprietary PermaFrost™ Insulation, equals firstof-its-kind innovation and offers unprecedented ice retention in a cooler.

Its style is a nod to the past, but it’s built with downright futuristic technology.

[Ladies Conceal Carry Jacket]

24 | TRJ | January 2020

Cinchjeans.com, $120 Power through any fall-weather outing in this CINCH black & gray aztec print bonded jacket with dual concealed carry pockets and holster. This black jacket with contrast turquoise lining keeps the cool vibe going while offering Durable Water Resistant (DWR) finish, windproof cuffs, handy zippered pockets, and logo embroidery. #MAJ9866012

LITE

T R

Ropers | at home with | Jake Barnes | Clay O | icons | go-to girl | LEO “THE LION” CAMARILLO IS A FIVE-TIME CHAMP OF THE WORLD.

COURTESY PRCA

CAMARILLO AND HIS HORSE, SUPER STICK, WERE UNSTOPPABLE.

(At Home With) Roping revolutionary Leo Camarillo was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as a member of the inaugural Class of 1979. The Lion, who will turn 74 on January 25, won four world team roping titles in 1972-73, ’75 and ’83, and was the co-world all-around champion with Tom Ferguson in 1975. Native Californian Leo— whose family includes his wife, Sue, two sons, Wade and Trey, and a daughter, Cassie—lives in Maricopa, Arizona. By Kendra Santos Q: What was it like growing up the son of California ranch-manager parents Ralph and Pilar Camarillo for a kid born in 1946?

A: We were kids in the era when your

children helped you make a living.

Whether you plowed fields, built buildings or ran a ranch, like my family did, we (Leo, his little brother, Jerold, and little sister, Christie) learned character, responsibility and work ethic at an early age. By 26 | TRJ | January 2020

the time I got to the arena, I was so horse and cow savvy that I had a big advantage.

Q: Talk about growing up in California’s scenic Santa Ynez Valley.

A: The Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Solvang

and Buellton area where we were raised is beautiful and the upscale place to be, like Scottsdale is in Arizona. And there’s no place like it anymore. When I was a kid, I thought it was out in the middle of

nowhere. But as I look back, it was a great place to grow up. (Cousin) Reg was a year ahead of me in school, and Jerold was a year behind me. As soon as we had the chance, we moved to Oakdale, which to this day is my favorite town. When Jerold was still in school in Santa Ynez, he took a bus to come visit. As soon as he got out of school, he joined the party. As a cowboy, I was a rare commodity in Santa Ynez, but Oakdale was cowboy mecca. It was ranch and cowboy country, and you wore your spurs to town.

Q: I know you and Jerold didn’t play video games as kids, so what were your days like?

A: There were no toys or bicycles. Our

dad made us an amazing dummy to rope.

You headed it, then it swiveled around and you heeled it. That roping dummy was our toy, and it was an everyday match roping. Reg and the neighbor kids got in the game, too. We were either roping the dummy or on a horse. With our dad, it was always work first, then we rope. They ride bulls last to keep the crowd at the rodeo. We stayed hooked the same way, and were eager to get the work done, so we could rope. That’s all we wanted to do.

|Ropers

| at home with ing to me. The world championships, the National Finals wins, winning the Timed Event Championship twice and winning all three timed events at my favorite rodeo—Salinas—all meant a lot to me.

Winning the all-around at the Cow Palace back in the day, when it was a who’s who of rodeo event, meant a lot to a cowboy who grew up on a ranch with nothing but burritos and enchiladas to eat, too.

CAMARILLO FAMILY PHOTO

LEO AND JEROLD CAMARILLO ROPING DAD RALPH’S HOMEMADE DUMMY BACK IN THE DAY.

Kids today don’t know what life would be like without a TV, microwave, automatic transmissions, cell phones and social media. We didn’t have any of that, and I think there was a different appreciation in the world we grew up in.

Q: Looking back, which of your many

arena accomplishments really stand out?

A: I did a lot of things that I’m proud of.

I was like every kid who grows up wanting to be the president or a doctor or lawyer, only my goal was to be a world champion. The things I learned along the way to accomplish that goal were pretty reward-

Q: You still own the record for most NFR team roping average titles, including three straight won with Reg from 1969-71. Talk about your team chemistry.

A: Reg is like my real brother. I worship

that guy. There’s rarely a solid, genuine trust on teams, where if you miss or have a little heck you aren’t looking over your shoulder wondering what that other guy’s thinking or if your partnership is in jeopardy and you’re going to get fired. Reg and I are blood—family—and we always knew we were in it together to the end.

SOUTHWEST EQUINE

Travis Tryan

Russell Cardoza

Joseph Harrison

in

i

DE T A T I M OFTEN I LICATED DUP R E V E N

Now offering:

ARENAS STARTING AT $5,195

Includes: Chute, Stripping Chute, Return Alley, Holding and Catch Pen IF YOU WANT TO BE THE BEST, DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS! Visit us on Facebook

Check our website for all our special arena packages, prices and monthly specials www.swequine.com • swequine@swequine.com 877-455-8757or 580-276-4864

28 | TRJ | January 2020

obby Harris

Upgrade to Solar Remote Priefert roping Chute

Proud Sponsor of

Invest

Jackie Hobbs-Crawford

IN THEIR JOINT HEALTH Supporting comprehensive health, total wellness, and improved performance.

Joint Injections are invasive and their cost can average between $400-$600.

Joint surgery can average between $2,000$7,000.

Pain medications are expensive and harmful to your animals.

LubriSynHA is only $1 per day can not only help prevent joint problems but also help repair existing damage.

Experience Bourbon, Bluegrass, & Beyond!

Visit www.Lubrisyn.com to find out about how you can win a FREE Trip for Two to Kentucky during Derby week!

|Ropers

| at home with

I could sleep at night, because I always knew Reg and I were going to work at our roping together again tomorrow.

Q: Your career partners list is legendary, and you helped finish raising a lot of them. Talk a little about the likes of Tee Woolman, Jake Barnes and H.P. Evetts.

A: I’d never met anybody besides myself

that was as confident as I was about what we were doing when I met Tee. Roy Cooper introduced us at the NFR in Oklahoma when Tee was down there going to college, and it was immediately evident to me that in addition to that confidence, Tee had the arena intelligence it takes to win. Jake was literally Mister Rope, and he dealt with every aspect of life through roping the dummy. It was amazing to me.

When he lived in my bunkhouse, I’d wake up at 2 a.m. to zip, zip, zip, and there was Jake under my barn light cracking it on the horns. There was nobody more dedicated to his roping than Jake, and it’s still

that way today. I watched H.P. rope when he was young. He was ahead of his time, and he didn’t have a care in the world. A lot of guys couldn’t heel steers as fast as he was turning them, but I knew I could. I told Jerold and Reg that we needed that guy on our team. When I called H.P., he said, “I’ve been waiting for this phone call all my life.” H.P. was a money-or-mud guy, and his catch rate was maybe 50 percent in the beginning. But watch out when he connected, and H.P. is another person I truly love.

Q: Stick stands out as your signature horse. Talk about him, and what made him special.

A: Stick loved his job so much that it

was like I didn’t have to ride him and all I could think about was roping. We were one, and we were great together. Stick just knew the play, and showed me the shot. I didn’t think I could miss off of that horse.

He was easy to ride, an easy keeper and just a peach.

Q: Tell kids today about the days when team roping wasn’t a standard event at every rodeo.

A: Back in the day, every roping was an

open roping and only about a sixth of the 600 or 700 professional rodeos even had team roping. A lot of the team ropers of today don’t realize that at one time, team roping was the step-sister. We paved the way, and I’m proud of how far we brought our event.

Q: Talk about roping’s role in your life, then and now.

A: When I was roping for a living, I

didn’t think they could have a roping or rodeo without me, and I resorted to planes, trains, automobiles, buses, helicopters and whatever else it took to get there. After I turned 65, my knees and ankles hurt, I wasn’t as agile as I once was and my balance wasn’t what it used to be.

I will always love to rope, but there comes a time when it’s not all you do from sunup to sundown. n

cowboyclassicsaddlery.com A FULL AWARD LINE AVAILABLE

Headstalls, Rope Bags, Breast Collars, Hay Bags & Halters BACK ON TRACK DEALER for all Human and Horse Products

Custom & Trophy saddles for every budget!

Starting at

$ 830 C

254-592-4928 - STEPHENVILLE, TX - CCSADDLE@GMAIL.COM

30 | TRJ | January 2020

|Ropers

| Jake Barnes

DAN HUBBELL PHOTO

JAKE BARNES HAS QUALIFIED FOR 27 NFRS IN HIS HALL OF FAME CAREER. THIS SHOT WAS TAKEN WHEN HE HEADED FOR JUNIOR NOGUEIRA AT JUNIOR’S FIRST FINALS IN 2014.

NEVER SETTLE FOR THE STATUS QUO

By Jake Barnes with Kendra Santos

A

lot of people have described me over the years as never satisfied. I guess that mindset of always trying to get better is all I know. It’s not a show for me. I’ve just always been out there trying to prove to myself that there’s always room for improvement. The way I see it, there’s always something more you can do to better yourself and be more successful.

Taking a day off and taking it easy is not in my DNA. I’m going to be 61 years old here shortly (on April 4), and this lifelong quest for always improving is almost getting scary now that I can’t possibly keep getting better physically. But I do still keep my eye on the ball at all times, and keep working every angle. I stay in search of a better horse and don’t let up on the work ethic.

Maybe never settling for the status quo is why I’ve lasted so long. The only path I know is to always try to get more out of my horses and myself, which has helped me evolve and change with the times.

32 | TRJ | January 2020

Other people say they see this trait in me, but it’s hard for me to think of it as anything but normal, since it’s all I know.

I’ve always thrived on bettering myself. I know what it takes to reach the highest level and stay there.

You can never be complacent or think you’ve reached the top. That’s when you’re guaranteed to backslide. Because if you don’t keep evolving, you become obsolete.

I haven’t been going hard the last couple years. More of the winter rodeos are limited now. I’ve pulled a rabbit out of the hat a couple times—like making the Finals with Walt Woodard after starting at Reno in June (in 2011), and making the NFR roping with Junior his rookie year (2014).

But that’s not easy to do.

I went to about 30 rodeos in 2018, and only went to seven rodeos in 2019.

I pulled up early both years, because the NFR was out of reach and I wasn’t willing to stay the course for the whole season just to try and get qualified for the winter rodeos the following year. I’m in this industry to pay my bills, so I can’t afford to

just stay out there to break even.

Sometimes these things are a blessing.

Clay (Cooper) called me last winter to see if I wanted to do some roping schools, and doing those with him has been phenomenal. We did over 25 schools in 2019, from Pennsylvania to Missouri and Tennessee. The roping industry is booming right now, and there’s just so much hunger for information. There’s no place I’d rather have been last month than roping at the NFR. But that’s a 365-day commitment in effort and finances.

There’s something to be gained by never being satisfied for ropers at every level.

One of the things I try to pass along to students at our roping schools is dedication and the determination to never settle. All ropers need to train. World Series ropers may have jobs and limited spare time, but in the end it’s a matter of how bad you want it.

Rope the dummy. Ride your horse.

Rope a machine. Practice with the intent of improving every day. Have your runs videoed and study them, just like the big dogs do. It’s ok to just go out and rope for fun as a hobby or social activity. But if you want to keep climbing the ladder, you need to get after it.

I’m not rodeoing hard right now, but I’m still striving to get better and I’m always on the lookout for my next great horse. The horse component is part of the journey, too, and you never know when the next Barney’s going to show up. The great ones are game changers.

None of the greats in our game were willing to take no for an answer. When it got harder to win, they trained harder and tried harder. The desire to win at any cost is in every great’s DNA. Never say die.

That’s me. Trying to be the best has always just been me, from when the sun rises to when it sets. Like Leo (Camarillo) used to say, “We’ve already won something today—we beat the sun up.” n

|Ropers

| Clay O’Brien Cooper

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR’S ROPING RESOLUTIONS

By Clay O’Brien Cooper with Kendra Santos

T

34 | TRJ | January 2020

CHAMP ROPED AT THE 2019 FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO, BUT DUE TO NEW LIMITS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER FORT WORTH IN 2020.

JAMES PHIFER PHOTO

echnically, the rodeo season is now October 1 to September 30, but the roping calendar really gets rolling at the start of each new year. For ropers, ringing in the new year is a process that includes evaluating everything from your roping to your horse and your partner options, then setting goals as you look at the prospects of what the coming year might bring and going about the business of building a strategy to make it happen.

I started rodeoing back in 1981, and in rodeo there’s always been a constantly changing environment to consider as the sport evolves. My first National Finals Rodeos were in Oklahoma City, and when I was out there rodeoing for the first time a lot of the biggest rodeos didn’t even have team roping. It all changed when the big rodeos in Texas added team roping, including a geographical change and moving my family to Texas.

Part of all the change and re-evaluation includes the different bonuses offered and the various tours that have come and gone over the years. You have to keep tweaking the plan to maximize your opportunity.

When they change the game, you have to change with it, if you want to make a living. Nowadays, so many of the bigger rodeos being limited is a big factor, especially for the guys trying to break into the big time.

The move of the NFR to Vegas, with the big prize money increase, affected everybody’s plans and kept a lot of us hooked a lot longer than we expected.

The big jackpots also evolved. Over the course of my career, the BFI moved to Reno and got bigger and better, then here came the USTRC and World Series of Team Roping. The George Strait roping was amazing for a long time, and new ropings like the Wildfire sprung up and

were sure welcomed by the ropers.

There are always a lot of spinning plates to deal with when you rope for a living, and as the landscape changes you have to stay flexible and keep re-evaluating in order to take advantage of all the opportunities available to you. Every year seems to bring a new element to the mix, whether it’s a new rodeo to try and qualify for, a new bonus to try and win or a new tour finale you don’t want to miss.

To make it work, you have to capitalize on all possible chances to make money, because making ends meet with a rope has never been easy. We ate, slept and breathed rodeo, not only as a way of life, but as our sole source of income. Guys like Jake (Barnes) and I had places to pay for and families to raise. The guys today—the likes of Paul Eaves, Jade Corkill and Clay Tryan—are in the same chapter of their careers that Jake and I were back in the day. They’re constantly evaluating and re-evaluating the changing landscape and setting new goals based on what’s out there today, just like we did.

When the NFR ends, you roll right back into a new plan. It might include a partnership change, a new horse and

any number of other needed upgrades to keep you in the mix. It may include a relocation and moving somewhere new that makes more sense.

Ropers who want to be successful in the World Series arena set goals, too. They’ve been successful in business and have the time and money now to enjoy their hobby. Diehards like me just enjoy the sport so much that we’ll stay involved by any means necessary. Jake and I have been doing a lot of schools, where we help ropers at every level work toward their goals.

It’s all about a resolution, where we ask ourselves, “What do I want, and how am I going to get there?” Then we put the stepping stones in place and get after it. I sold my good horse (the gray Clay called Maximus) to Jade last summer. Without that caliber of horse, I’m basically a non-actor in the rodeo business. After laying out so much last year, I’m also not qualified to go to many of the winter rodeos. If you don’t stay out there all year these days, you’re basically shut out until springtime. The summer rodeos are good enough that you can still make it. It’s the harder way, but with the right horse and partner anything’s possible. n

C O N TA C T

C L AY O ’ B R I EN CO O PER fo r private cli n ic s , s mall g ro up s , o r la rge r s c h o ols .

EMAIL: c l ayocoo per@gmail .com Include your phone number for a return call!

CLAYO CO O PE R@ GM AI L. COM roping.com

ROPING.COM POWER TEAM ROPERS GILLUM LIVESTOCK PERFORMANCE HORSES

|Ropers

| icons

COURTESY RON TREAT

BEFORE TEAM ROPING, RILEY SPENT HIS TIME RACING MOTORCYCLES AND JALOPIES.

JIM RILEY: “THE ADVENTURER” The founder of Arizona’s famed Dynamite Arena, Jim Riley, serendipitously came to team roping after racing cars and motorcycles and winning horse shows. —G.R. Schiavino

36 | TRJ | January 2020

C

reating a renowned team roping destination like Dynamite Arena must have required incredible vision and industry foresight, right? Well, no. Not really. Rather, it was the result of one man’s journey and a lot of hard work.

Jim Riley was an Arizona native, raised by his mother and grandfather on the family’s North Phoenix dairy. Riley would become an electrician by trade, but his passion was in motorized racing.

“His love was the motorcycle racing and the sprint cars—the jalopies,” said Riley’s nephew and subsequent owner of Dynamite, Ron Treat.

According to Treat, who sold Dynamite in 2007, Riley was pretty talented on the track, too.

“He actually won like the first 37 or 38 races at Manzanita [Park,] when they first opened up [in 1951.]”

In an amusing interview published in a local paper shortly after Riley got things going at Dynamite, the journalist refers to Riley as “an adventurer,” who moved from racing to roping because the wrecks were a little less traumatic. Accompanying the story is an ironic photo of Riley holding up his right hand, with only his pointer and pinkie fingers intact.

Actually, though, there were a few more elements in the mix that would come to make team roping history.

Treat fondly describes his late uncle as a twice-married ladies’ man who enjoyed his drink (but maybe not as much as his

| icons the ’60s, and I don’t know how, but he ended up with a stud horse called Swivels Gitter.”

The 1963 dun Quarter Horse was Skipper W bred on the top, a 1945 AQHA Hall of Fame sorrel who sired an impressive line known for its speed and athleticism.

“I don’t know how that came about,” Treat continued, “but he won the state halter and wanted to go on and do other things. And some of the guys who hung around at this time would have been [trainers] John Hoyt and Jim Paul—the seniors, not the juniors. They took that horse and started roping on him—calf roping and team roping—just to get more points for the grand champion deal, or whatever it was in the horse show world.”

With his focus on the horse, Riley needed a place to practice.

“He bought the property where Dynamite was in the late ’60s and started working on it in ’69. He built a house, and then was going to build an arena because

COURTESY RON TREAT

|Ropers

BEFORE THERE WAS A NUMBERING SYSTEM, RILEY CRAFTED ALL SORTS OF WAYS TO GIVE HIS PATRONS A FAIR SHOT AT A WINNING CHECK.

cigarettes) and was a tireless worker.

“He never did have any children,” Treat said. “He was married at least twice, and that was enough of that. He was busy. I remember going out there and welding until midnight every night almost. We’d work during the day and then go out there and weld all night.”

Treat also explained that, in the beginning, Riley wasn’t a roper.

“The only way he got into it was, in

he kind of started roping then, once he had that horse.”

Riley shared his home arena with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department for various events, which led to him keeping their cattle on the place.

“That’s how he learned the roping part of it,” Treat clarified. “Because of the Sheriff’s Posse.”

That’s also how he learned the producing part of it. It wasn’t long before Riley was hosting jackpots after the Posse’s Tuesday and Thursday night practices.

Next thing he knew, local newspapers were covering his ropings which catered to locals and Canadian snowbirds alike.

Riley got savvy to the challenges of hosting ropings pre-handicap-system quick, and ensured a good time for all with hefty, Mexican broke-to-lead cattle and ropings that kept the wolves at bay with age limits and such.

When Riley fell ill with a non-cancerous lung disease, Treat, who was living in California and operating heavy equip-

BITS DON’T MAKE GREAT HORSEMEN... GREAT HORSEMEN MAKE GREAT BITS! Fast Time Bits Will Take You To The PAY WINDOW! Designed by 15-Time World Champion LES VOGT & Specifically Designed To Help Ropers & Barrel Racers Improve Their Times & Performance NO MORE BUSY SIGNALS Choose The One That’s Right For You! FROM YOUR HORSE!

For help making Bit choices, call Les: (805) 455-0162

$157.99 ea.

Master Series Roping Bit Collection

Discover

“I started using the Sidewinder bit on my 9 year old heel horse a little over a year ago, right away I noticed how much better she rated steers and how much easier it was to keep her left shoulder up and stay collected going down the arena. Her corners just kept getting better and better.” ~Ty Ferguson

NEW!

NEW!

Drop and Stop

Master Graduate

#1136 Leverage Position 1

#LVRB3 Leverage Position 2.5

Creating Better Performance

By Design

Master Interpreter

Master Next Level

#LVRB8 Leverage Position 1.5

#LVRB6 Leverage Position 2.5

Master Qualifier

Smooth Run

#LVRB5 Leverage Position 2

THE ORIGINAL SIX

#11201-95v Leverage Position 3

$157.99 ea.

LES VOGT’S ROPE HORSE PERFORMANCE PROGRAM

It is a proven program for developing your horse for all activities in all disciplines.

• Correct body posture, hindquarters weight distribution, speed control • Practice tools that will teach you to relax and think • Help keep your horse off of his front end, stop correctly • Keep front legs unlocked, control shoulders and more...

The secrets of these tools are available by buying individual videos for only $4.99, or own the complete set of DVDs for only $99.95.

Visit www.lesvogt.com and click on the link to watch a video of these tips and to order online!

To Order: www.lesvogt.com or call (805) 455-0162 38 | TRJ | January 2020

The Starter

The Collector

The Adjuster

• Mouthpiece similar to a • Double swivel mouthpiece • Powerful bit to help you snaffle • Some tongue pressure regulate speed and create • Low power • Very flexible respect.

• Extreme flexibility • Also popular with Barrel Racers

The Developer

• Narrow chain port • Very flexible • Helps your horse relax

•Eachbithasadifferentpowerandpressurepointsforthehorse’s mouth.Somearenew pressurepointstotheindustryandwillgetdifferentreactions.

•FastTimeBitsarethemostuser-friendlytrainingandmaintenancetoolonthemarket.

•Eachbithascalculatedleveragetodistributeweighttohindquarters.

30-Day Back Money tee! n ra a Gu

The Negotiator

The Sidewinder

• High port solid mouthpiece bit • Wide chain port bit • Helps create a huge amount of rate

The Wonder Curb

• Attention getter • Will not cut or leave marks on horse

Price $40

• If you order a bit(s), price is only $20!

*Limited to one bit Be sure to send us your WIN PHOTO while using a Fast Time Bit, and receive a FREE BIT!* per customer.

IS

CIP

LIN

E

OSPHOS® (clodronate injection)

F O R E V E RY E

N I QU

D E

The intramuscular bisphosphonate injection for control of clinical signs associated with Navicular Syndrome in horses 4 years of age and older

Learn more online

www.dechra-us.com www.osphos.com

As with all drugs, side effects may occur. In field studies and post-approval experience the most common side effects reported were signs of discomfort, nervousness, and colic. Other signs reported were: renal insufficiency/failure, anorexia, lethargy, hypercalcemia, behavioral disorders, hyperkalemia, hyperactivity, recumbency, hyperthermia, injection site reactions, muscle tremor, urticaria, hyperglycemia, and fracture.

In some cases, death has been reported as an outcome of these adverse events. The safe use of OSPHOS has not been evaluated in horses less than 4 years of age or breeding horses. OSPHOS should not be used in pregnant or lactating mares, or mares intended for breeding.

NSAIDs should not be used concurrently with OSPHOS. Concurrent use of NSAIDs with OSPHOS may increase the risk of renal toxicity and acute renal failure. Use of OSPHOS in patients with conditions affecting renal function or mineral or electrolyte homeostasis is not recommended. Refer to the prescribing information for complete details or visit www.dechra-us.com.

CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of licensed veterinarian. * Freedom of Information Summary, Original New Animal Drug Application, approved by FDA under NADA # 141-427, for OSPHOS. April 28, 2014.

Dechra Veterinary Products US and the Dechra D logo are registered trademarks of Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC. © 2019 Dechra Ltd.

Bisphosphonate.

For use in horses only.

Brief Summary (For Full Prescribing Information, see package insert) CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

DESCRIPTION: Clodronate disodium is a non-amino, chlorocontaining bisphosphonate. Chemically, clodronate disodium is (dichloromethylene) diphosphonic acid disodium salt and is manufactured from the tetrahydrate form.

INDICATION: For the control of clinical signs associated with navicular syndrome in horses.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Horses with hypersensitivity to clodronate disodium should not receive OSPHOS. Do not use in horses with impaired renal function or with a history of renal disease.

WARNINGS: Do not use in horses intended for human consumption.

HUMAN WARNINGS: Not for human use. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children. Consult a physician in case of accidental human exposure.

PRECAUTIONS: OSPHOS has been associated with renal toxicity.

Concurrent administration of other potentially nephrotoxic drugs should be approached with caution and renal function should be monitored. Use of bisphosphonates in patients with conditions or diseases affecting renal function is not recommended. Horses should be well-hydrated prior to and after the administration of OSPHOS due to the potential for adverse renal events. Water intake and urine output should be monitored for 3-5 days post-treatment and any changes from baseline should elicit further evaluation. As a class, bisphosphonates may be associated with gastrointestinal and renal toxicity. Sensitivity to drug associated adverse reactions varies with the individual patient. Renal and gastrointestinal adverse reactions may be associated with plasma concentrations of the drug. Bisphosphonates are excreted by the kidney; therefore, conditions causing renal impairment may increase plasma bisphosphonate concentrations resulting in an increased risk for adverse reactions. Concurrent administration of other potentially nephrotoxic drugs should be approached with caution and renal function should be monitored. Use of bisphosphonates in patients with conditions or diseases affecting renal function is not recommended.

Administration of bisphosphonates has been associated with abdominal pain (colic), discomfort, and agitation in horses. Clinical signs usually occur shortly after drug administration and may be associated with alterations in intestinal motility. In horses treated with OSPHOS these clinical signs usually began within 2 hours of treatment. Horses should be monitored for at least 2 hours following administration of OSPHOS. Bisphosphonates affect plasma concentrations of some minerals and electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, immediately post-treatment, with effects lasting up to several hours.

Caution should be used when administering bisphosphonates to horses with conditions affecting mineral or electrolyte homeostasis (e.g. hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, hypocalcemia, etc.).

The safe use of OSPHOS has not been evaluated in horses less than 4 years of age. The effect of bisphosphonates on the skeleton of growing horses has not been studied; however, bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclast activity which impacts bone turnover and may affect bone growth.

Bisphosphonates should not be used in pregnant or lactating mares, or mares intended for breeding. The safe use of OSPHOS has not been evaluated in breeding horses or pregnant or lactating mares.

Bisphosphonates are incorporated into the bone matrix, from where they are gradually released over periods of months to years. The extent of bisphosphonate incorporation into adult bone, and hence, the amount available for release back into the systemic circulation, is directly related to the total dose and duration of bisphosphonate use. Bisphosphonates have been shown to cause fetal developmental abnormalities in laboratory animals. The uptake of bisphosphonates into fetal bone may be greater than into maternal bone creating a possible risk for skeletal or other abnormalities in the fetus. Many drugs, including bisphosphonates, may be excreted in milk and may be absorbed by nursing animals.

Increased bone fragility has been observed in animals treated with bisphosphonates at high doses or for long periods of time. Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and decrease bone turnover which may lead to an inability to repair micro damage within the bone. In humans, atypical femur fractures have been reported in patients on long term bisphosphonate therapy; however, a causal relationship has not been established.

ADVERSE REACTIONS: The most common adverse reactions reported in the field study were clinical signs of discomfort or nervousness, colic and/or pawing. Other signs reported were lip licking, yawning, head shaking, injection site swelling, and hives/pruritus.

POST-APPROVAL EXPERIENCE (December 2018): The following adverse events are based on post-approval adverse drug experience reporting. Not all adverse events are reported to FDA/ CVM. It is not always possible to reliably estimate the adverse event frequency or establish a causal relationship to product exposure using these data.

The following adverse events are listed in decreasing order of reporting frequency: renal failure, polyuria, polydipsia, abdominal pain, anorexia, lethargy, hypercalcemia, behavioral disorder, discomfort, hyperkalemia, hyperactivity, recumbency, hyperthermia, injection site reactions, muscle tremor, urticaria, hyperglycemia, and fracture. In some cases, death has been reported as an outcome of the adverse events listed above.

INFORMATION FOR HORSE OWNERS: Owners should be advised to: • NOT administer NSAIDs. • Ensure horses have access to adequate water before and after administration of OSPHOS. • Observe their horse for at least 2 hours post-treatment for signs of colic, agitation, and/or abnormal behavior.

• If a horse appears uncomfortable, nervous, or experiences cramping post-treatment, hand walk the horse for 15 minutes.

If signs do not resolve contact the veterinarian.

• Monitor water intake and urine output for 3-5 days posttreatment.

• Contact their veterinarian if the horse displays abnormal clinical signs such as changes in drinking and urination, appetite, and attitude.

Manufactured for: Dechra Veterinary Products 7015 College Blvd., Suite 525, Overland Park, KS 66211 866-933-2472 © 2019 Dechra Ltd. OSPHOS is a registered trademark of Dechra Ltd. All rights reserved. Approved by FDA under NADA # 141-427

| icons

ment, packed up his family and moved east to help his uncle.

“We all got hooked into it the same way,” Treat humored. “He got sick and I came back and put him in the hospital.

He had ropings going on, so I just started putting on ropings.”

Riley was 62 years old when he passed in 1992, just as the USTRC came to be and made roping a universal sport and ropers got to compete against their kind with the new handicap system and big money started flowing through the industry. For a guy who arguably helped paved the way for such innovation, Treat marvels a bit that it ended up being Riley who did it.

“He never wore a cowboy hat in his life. I mean, he had some that were half[way] shaped like a cowboy hat, but they weren’t cowboy hats. And, I don’t think he ever wore a pair of boots other than Red Wings because he was always working.”

Turns out, you don’t have to be a cowboy. You just have to be an adventurer. n

COURTESY RON TREAT

|Ropers

RILEY, WITH THE HELP OF HIS NEPHEW, RON TREAT, BUILT DYNAMITE ARENA BY HAND—KEEPING HIS DAY JOB AS AN ELECTRICIAN, THEN WELDING ARENA PIPE ALL NIGHT. IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT, WHEN RILEY LOST HIS THUMB, HIS DOG FOUND IT AND TOOK OFF WITH IT.

Create your custom, handmade, rodeo ready accessories with A Cut Above Buckles.

$5,795 150’ x 250’ with return

AR E N A SPEC IAL W HILE SUPP LIES L A S T!

6-Rail Panels

Call (951) 600-0444 customorder@acutabovebuckles.com www.acutabovebuckles.com 40 | TRJ | January 2020

CALL TODAY

800-929-7361

www.rodeowest.com

• • • •

to ask how we can help with: Roping Arenas • Barrel Racing Arenas Rodeo Arenas • Team Penning Arenas Horse Stalls/Runs • Round Pens Exercise Arenas • Feeders and More!

PHOTOS BY C BAR C PHOTOGRAPHY

|Ropers

| go-to girl

Rising Up While the standings throughout the 2019 season suggested an easy victory, in actuality, Kelsey Barry —the 2019 Cinch All Girl High Money Champion—faced unforeseen challenges and rose above them.

—G.R. Schiavino

I

n 2019, just about any coverage of the Cinch Ladies Standings included updates on Kelsey Barry’s not insignificant lead over her cohorts. Her pursuit of the lead began early in the year, when the 27-year-old, 4.5 header from Charlotte, Texas, decided she was going to treat her roping less as a hobby and more as something that deserved her commitment.

When her efforts were rewarded with winning checks, Barry then decided to focus on the USTRC ropings that would support her endeavor to be 2019’s high-money, all-girl roper … and to get some proper horsepower.

“I credit a lot of this year and all my winnings to my good horse, Clyde. He gave me a lot of confidence and I kind of learned how to win on him. I never had

42 | TRJ | January 2020

to worry about him cheating me or just not performing.”

Clyde came to Barry through her father, who purchased the horse for his own transition back into the roping arena, but Barry and Clyde clicked early on.

“We had bought him when my dad started roping again. About a year ago, I rode Clyde in Reno and then I borrowed him for the Jingle Bell Classic in November of last year, when my US earnings started out, and I kind of just never gave him back to my dad. It became a bit of a joke. I started calling him my horse, and my dad would remind me that he never actually gave Clyde to me.”

It was aboard Clyde that Barry won the lion’s share of her $37,830 in earnings by June, with a solid five months of

TOP: BARRY TURNS A STEER FOR HER PARTNER, KAITLYN TORRES, AT THE 30TH USTRC NATIONAL FINALS OF TEAM ROPING IN OKLAHOMA CITY. BOTTOM: BARRY POSES WITH HER HIGH MONEY CHAMPION SADDLE BY BOB’S CUSTOM SADDLES.

|Ropers

| go-to girl I had hoped for. I wasn’t roping bad, but nothing was really coming together. I got food poisoning that week, so I was struggling all week. The steers were great and I had great partners, but the last day I ended up two holes out a couple times and it was like I could not get anything done. It’s not an excuse, but it was pretty tough that week, so I kind of got worried there, but it all ended up working out.”

Barry even seems to be making strides on one of her new mounts, and had big plans pending as this issue went to press.

“I’m getting confident that it will all work out and that they’ll work out for me, it just takes time to get used to them.

We bought a yellow horse from Brooks Dahozy that really stepped up for me and I’ve won about $16,000 on him so far, so he’s kind of my main horse for now. I plan on taking him to Vegas for the World Series Finale.”

“I credit a lot of this year and all my winnings to my good horse, Clyde. He gave me a lot of confidence and I kind of learned how to win on him. I never had to worry about him cheating me or just not performing.”

— KELSEY BARRY

prime roping season left until November’s 30th annual USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. What Clyde and Barry could have accomplished in the remaining months is now committed to the unknown.

“I actually lost my good horse, Clyde,” Barry said. “Around June or July, I think, he came up lame kind of on and off and, then he colicked about six weeks before the US Finals. It took me a couple weeks just to get over that. It threw a kink in things and I had gotten used to him being my main horse. I know he was only with me for about a year, but he changed my 44 | TRJ | January 2020

roping, and it was a big loss for me.”

When Barry did recover from the loss, she set to the task of applying what Clyde had taught her to her other mounts.

“I’ve been trying a bunch of different horses and it’s proving to be pretty hard to find something that clicks with me as much as Clyde, but I have a few other horses that have stepped up.”

As the Finals finally drew near, so did the competition and, for the first time, Barry was forced to consider the security of her top spot.

“At the US Finals, I kind of got a little worried because I wasn’t having the Finals

She’ll have roped in the #13, #12, #11 and #10, and plans to incorporate more World Series ropings into her 2020 strategy, along with a few other elements that have helped her along the way.

“I’ve had consistent partners all year. I roped with a lot of the same partners all year and they roped great for me. And, my husband, Dustin, doesn’t rope but, he travels with me everywhere. I know it’s not much fun sitting in the stands watching a team roping, but, he does it anyway.

I’m very grateful for his encouragement, for helping with this, too.”

When asked if she planned to stay committed to her roping, Barry offered the only acceptable answer in team roping.

“I’m in too deep now!” n

FEEL THE DIFFERENCE SHOCK SHIELD

®

Less Impact. More Cushion.

Family Owned & Operated Since 1965 • Over 80 Stores Nationwide • Cavenders.com

T R

Competitive Edge

PHOTOS BY OLIE’S IMAGES

| 5 flat | Brazile | freeze frame | bits | feed | game plan | vet |

5

FLAT with Patrick Smith

Are You Pressing the Wrong Buttons?

WHY WHAT YOUR BODY DOES DURING A RUN IS SOMETHING YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO OVERLOOK. Body position is something that’s really overlooked when it comes to teaching and working on your roping. We talk about horsemanship and roping, but we don’t understand how much body position has to do with horsemanship. I’m as guilty as everyone for getting after my horse and being disappointed in my horse, only to study the video to realize it was pilot error. Ultimately, we spend all this time training our horses to respond to buttons we push, and we don’t realize we’re pressing these buttons in the middle of a run.

46 | TRJ | January 2020

{ Vital Stats } AGE: 39 ROPE: Helix HM by Lone Star Ropes NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 12 PARTNER: Luke Brown HOME: Lipan, Texas CAREER EARNINGS: $1,839,938

|Competitive Edge |

5 flat

1

From the swing in golf to the quarterback’s throw in football and the free throw in basketball, position is everything. But somehow, it gets overlooked a lot in roping. It comes down to this: the less change in your body from the time you leave the box to the time you deliver, the better. There are scenarios when you have to deviate, but in the ideal run, you have to focus on where your feet are, what you’re doing with your left hand and where your shoulders are. Watch the videos of yourself and honestly evaluate what you’re doing throughout the run. What do the professionals do with their shoulders in comparison to the target?

3

2

Think about when you rope a dummy or a sawhorse on the ground. You don’t get your shoulders cocked in your delivery. The less change you show your horses, the better horseman or horsewoman you’ll be. You’re eliminating the mistakes you make when leaning one way or the other or rocking forward or back.

48 | TRJ | January 2020

You can work on it if you’re roping a goat on foot, trying to mimic what you want to feel like in a run. I spent a lot of years of my career working on that because I knew how crucial it was. My loops were better and my horses worked better if I maintained better body position. I’ve gotten into bad habits from time to time, and it’s a constant battle. It always needs to be on the front burner. We get caught up on the horse and the rope and we forget about us.

The only

,

$10,000

you hope you never get We increased our coverage to $10,000 for ColiCare, our colic surgery reimbursement program, because you shouldn’t have to worry about anything but your best friend.

Get peace of mind at SmartPak.com/ColiCare 1-800-461-8898 | SmartPak.com

|Competitive Edge |

5 flat

4

I’ve always liked to teach that forward is good. Good heeling happens from the front of the saddle. But leaning?

Leaning changes all of your angles. You squeeze your horse when you lean.

Your left hand is no longer lifting if you lean forward. When you lean, it also changes the angle of your swing and takes it away from your target. I see a lot of heelers leaning left going down the arena. Their horses will shoulder in and get tight in the corner, then they’re pulling or rocking back to throw, and neither of those situations end well. Remember, though, that you don’t want to be so mechanical that you’re stiff and square in your saddle. Stay in the center of your horse with your body smooth and round, making a smooth and round corner on your horse.

5

Headers stand, score and leave the box as hard as they possibly can across the line. For a heeler, you can ease off the back a little bit more. I might let my horse start and then pull a little. Sometimes I’m rocked back or too far forward. Ultimately, the steer dictates how fast I’m leaving the corner. So no matter what the situation, being in the middle of the saddle is most important. Being in the middle is where you can position your body as your horse gets into position so you can set up all your fundamentals before the corner starts. You’ve got to have a good foundation with your body position so all those hours you spent roping the dummy aren’t going to waste because you’re pressing the wrong buttons with your feet, seat or left hand through the corner. n

50 | TRJ | January 2020

|Competitive Edge

| Trevor Brazile

TEACHING THE FACE

The unconventional way Trevor Brazile teaches his head horses to face.

Answer: First, a disclaimer: This is one of those tips I don’t normally tell the general public. So I don’t want to get anybody hurt trying it.

To teach my horses to face, I prefer to hook my horses up to a cardboard box or a banner on the ground—something that they’re scared of. Introducing the face that way, they learn to move their feet without me having to put my spur in their sides. Most people will end up dulling a horse’s sides when trying to teach him to face. But with this method, a horse learns to move his feet fast because he’s scared enough of the object to know that the only way he can get a release is by putting his nose on the rope. Then, I will undally, and he can take five or six steps back until he’s comfortable being away from it.

I might start out at the end of my rope. As they get desensitized to that object, I’ll get closer to it to get the same foot speed. A horse is less comfortable the closer the object is, so this teaches him to face the object with his nose against the rope so he can really see what’s behind him.

This is one of the first things I do with a young horse, because a big part of what I do is trying to get them desensitized to everything. But, it’s hard to get a really aggressive face when every seasoned horse is 52 | TRJ | January 2020

OLIE’S IMAGES

Question: Trevor, what’s the best method to get a horse to face straight every time?

— Kody Morigeau

as desensitized as I want. So I like to do this before the desensitizing process is over.

And if they never get it off the bat, it’s one of the tell-tale signs of whether they’ll be a great horse. Very rarely have I started one, if I did this early enough, that didn’t turn out to be a great facer. It’s letting the horse teach himself, and he learns so fast when you do it that way. From then, you don’t even have to worry about facing. He just gets it.

The two pitfalls to watch with this: Sometimes a horse can get out from under somebody who’s not ready for him to move his feet that fast. Be careful and stay in the middle.

Another problem: You could decide to hook your

horse to something a little too close, and you have to undally to get out of a bind—creating a problem right off the bat. It’s better to start farther away and show him, rather than get too close, and he’s too scared and you have to let your rope go without ever getting him to look at it the right way. That teaches him that the release is sideways instead of straight on, creating a problem from the start.

When you start facing on live cattle, each horse’s needs are different as far as how much to face and when. But I will give you this—I either face a horse completely or I don’t face at all. Half-facing is the biggest problem with most horses. They keep drifting

off and never finish the job.

I never face a horse then follow the steer to the stripping chute, either. When I face one at home, I keep the hind quarters moving until the nose and shoulders are facing back to the heading box and the hind end is facing the other way. A straight face will be simple after having to do another quarter turn. And remember, if you face the horse into the rope this way, it’s a deal killer too. I lift the rope over the head and face him back to the chute at this point. Lastly, don’t face without your heeler catching and dallying. This is never good because you’re facing the horse into the rope. If you do that it will hit him before he can make a full face. n

Trevor wants to answer your questions about roping & horsemanship. Email cshaffer@aimmedia.com to have your questions featured in a future issue of The Team Roping Journal.

|Competitive Edge

Freeze Frame

f

d with Wesley Thorp Photo by Olie’s Images SITUATION: Short round at the 2019 Jingle Bell Classic Open roping in Stephenville, Texas TIME: 7.93 seconds OUTCOME: Won the average with a time of 34.53 seconds on five head, worth $7,000

c

{ Vital Stats } AGE: 24 ROPE:

NV4 hm by Classic Ropes PARTNER:

Cody Snow HOME:

Stephenville, Texas

a

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 4 PRCA EARNINGS: $599,572

54 | TRJ | January 2020

a) SETUP: It was at Lonestar in Stephenville, [Texas]. They were pretty fresh steers—kind of stronger. It was enter four times, which normally makes it pretty tough. It kind of was tough until the end. The short round was falling apart. We were high call and there were a lot of teams close

to us that ended up kind of messing up, so it made it to where we had to be nine-something to win it. b) THE WALL: I wanted to keep the steer straight, so I just took a normal start. But when I saw him go left I kind of tried to hustle a little bit more. I waited

until I really saw him go left and then I tried to get farther down the arena because I knew that when the steer turned, his back end was going to go farther down the arena than normal. I tried to get a couple of strides farther down the arena, all the way around that steer. That way, I could get to a good spot

T R my loop good in any kind of situation. d) CODY: When that steer went left, he roped him probably about almost a coil back—maybe a little less. He did a good job at getting as close as he could and instead of taking a normal approach of stepping his horse up, he really came straight back.

That way, it gave us more arena. It allowed that steer to not go as much into the wall as he could have. He really tried to come back and then head straight back to the head box, but still keep the steer pulling. That way, he didn’t waste momentum. e) STEER: That steer actually ran really hard and went straight left. Cody just got out at the barrier. We knew we had a little bit of time, but he headed him good and he was almost going to be on the wall—which he kind of was. When he hit, Cody just put him on the end of it and I just tried to rope him before he got all the way on the wall.

That’s kind of how the run played out anyway.

e

b

g

whenever he did turn to catch him legal. I had a decent shot at him, so I tried to overrun the corner just a little bit, but be patient turning in. I tried to go farther down the arena, but still stay far enough back so I didn’t crowd myself. When the steer hit, he took one hop down the arena toward the wall and then I had one more hop before he got completely on the wall. I just tried to keep my shoulders back and keep my body

position patient, that way, I could have plenty of power to bring my loop to the feet. c) LEXUS: I’m on Lex. He is very forgiving. He keeps his shoulders up good. He doesn’t cut in and he’s super free so if I don’t get a good shot, he stays moving. He’s really patient with the stop—he doesn’t take anything away so I can really place

f) MIND SET: The short round, we were last and there were probably three or four more teams within a second and one team was within a half-a-second. They’re all kind of more aggressive ropers, so I thought we were going to probably need to be some kind of six to win it, which was a pretty good run for that set up. As we watched, it was just unraveling—a lot of weird things happened.

One header’s horse got stuck and couldn’t really get the steer pulled. They ended up being longer and two headers missed. It really just unfolded to where the team that was winning it, we had probably almost two seconds on so it made it to where we had a lot more time than planned, which was good because that steer was not the greatest steer to have to be six on. g) LOOP: He was coming back up the wall and I was to the inside a little bit, so I really just wanted to make sure I kept my shoulder back and placed my loop where he was. It doesn’t really look like I was too far to the inside right there, but it sure felt like it. I really just wanted to make sure I had good loop placement and really follow through to my spot to make it come all the way through. n January 2020 | TRJ | 55

|Competitive Edge |

bit junkie

Bit Junkie This month’s favorite bit: Leon Hughes

HUBBELL RODEO PHOTOS

LEON HUGHES BIT “It has a leather curb on it. On that bay horse of mine, I don’t know why but when I put a leather curb on, I can score so much better. Those bits ride good. I don’t really know how they work. They’re a weird mechanical bit. If I pick up on my horse, he comes back to me and if I pull on him he comes back to me.”

—Brenten Hall, NFR qualifier

Check it out....

OUR BEST SELLING ARENA The perfect arena for those who rope 5-50.

Not your typical lightweight arena!

Starting at only

$8,499

+ FREE SHIPPING

Same great company, all new redesigned products.

800-343-1026 • www.RedRiverArenas.com 56 | TRJ | January 2020

Again.

We’ve done it again.

The first ever blend of 3 separate and specially developed fibers makes this rope innovation a triple-threat weapon for winning:

Poly Fiber increases the tip size and feel Nylon Fiber 1 gives more body and twist for an open loop and a zippy closure

Nylon Fiber 2 is more forgiving, consistent, and balanced Plus, the blend recipe ensures Triton lasts longer, and maintains its performance better.

Add Triton to your rope arsenal. Available in both head and heel rope sizes.

Made with CoreTech™ technology that is backed by 20 years of rope innovation.

4-STRANDS, CORETECH™ CENTER

|Competitive Edge |

feed cart

{ Feed Cart } Taking you into the feed room of the best in the business.

Hunter Koch NFR Qualifier

HAY Alfalfa: Two flakes morning and night GRAIN One scoop of Purina Equine Senior for older horses at night $22

TRJ FILE PHOTO

One scoop Purina Strategy Healthy Edge for younger horses at night $20 purinamills.com

It’s a Long Road Ahead.

ARE YOU COVERED? Offering 24/7 Nationwide Roadside Assistance for You and Your Horse.

JOIN TODAY. $9,995.00

ARENA S P E C IA L

140’ x

W ith re tu rn , 240’ al l ga lv In cl ud es le ad an iz ed . up s, st rip pi ng ch ut e, an d m an ua l ch ut e.

(800) 844-1409 WWW.USRIDER.ORG

PANELS • ROUNDPENS • TRAILER PANELS • STALLS • ARENA PACKAGES Check our website for all your product needs:

www.QuicksilverArenas.com 800-657-1906 PO BOX 1609 • Paris, Texas 75461

58 | TRJ | January 2020

Find Us On Facebook Administered by Nation Motor Club Inc., DBA Nation Safe Drivers

BRE WED FOR THE COW BOY I N ALL OF US. GO L DB U CKL EB EER.COM

|Competitive Edge |

game plan

GAME PLAN with Garrett Tonozzi Just Catch to Win HUBBELL RODEO PHOTOS

Just needing to stop the clock to win can be as high-pressured as needing to be 4.0. Here’s how I approach it.

BACK TO BASICS First of all, you have to remember that

you still have to score and do all the little things. You have to stick to the same plan as if you need to be 4.0.

RIDE YOUR HORSE Sometimes, when you just have to catch, it means you were roping really aggressive throughout the day—which means your horse just might be anticipating that aggressive-style shot. That means you need to ride through that first throw so you stay with your horse, and he doesn’t take you out. A lot of times we forget about our horse, and we get to leaning when we just need to catch.

SWING AND DELIVERY You need to make sure the first swing you take is pointed right at your target so you don’t have to change anything up on that. Take your first swing straight to the right horn or wherever you want your target to be. Make sure you finish your throw and make sure you dally and pick up your horse so you give your heeler an easier shot if he or she just needs to catch, too. If we’re just trying to catch, we want to make it as easy as we can on our heeler. You can’t make it any harder on them than it already is.

FINISH You want to keep the steer’s head all the way through the run. Make sure you don’t face too soon and give { Vital Stats } the steer’s head AGE: 34 back so your partner doesn’t ROPE: lose a leg or Swagger S by Cactus both feet even.

PARTNER: It’s easy to get Dustin Davis excited and face too soon, so try NFR to keep your QUALIFICATIONS: cool. n 2 HOME: Lampasas, Texas EARNINGS: $665,297

60 | TRJ | January 2020

ROand m

ROPES

Buy 6 ropes & get a free PACK of NRS

1-800-GO-ROPIN | Decatur, TX | Granbury, TX | Wickenburg, AZ

Shop NRSworld.com | Experience NRSranch.com

|Competitive Edge |

vet trends

COLE DAVISON’S APOLLO REBOUNDS FAST FROM PRE-NFR SUSPENSORY SCARE By Kendra Santos

62 | TRJ | January 2020

COLE DAVISON BOUGHT APOLLO FROM RHEN RICHARD IN 2016, AND HE’S BEEN A GAME CHANGER.

“Apollo does everything I need a heel horse to do,” said Davison, who hauls him in Soft Ride Boots. “He can really run. I’m never playing catchup or having to worry about getting to the steer.

They cow-horsed on Apollo before Rhen bought him, so he’s really broke and you can put him wherever you want him.

“Apollo’s really forgiving, and he never takes anything away from you. You can throw on the first hop 10 steers in a row, then if on the 11th one you want to take four swings, no sweat. That’s very hard to find in a horse.”

Davison, who rode Apollo at the Finals the last two years, had a little pre-NFR scare with his #1 steed two weeks before last month’s 2019 NFR. “He’s been so sound—this is the first time he’s been sore since I’ve owned him,” Davison said 10 days before opening night. “I hadn’t roped on him since October, and gave him a couple weeks off.

When I started to leg him back up, I rode him, then tied him up. When I got back on, I could tell something wasn’t right, so I took him in to (Dr.) Charlie (Buchanan at Brazos Valley Equine Hospital in Stephenville).

“The best we could figure, he strained a suspensory playing around in his pen.

They blocked his suspensory and he was sound. Then they ultra-sounded him to make sure there weren’t any tears, and luckily there weren’t. So they took Apollo to their rehab facility, laser-treated the area and put him in a salt-water spa and on the AquaTred every day, to keep up his fitness without stress.”

Davison took Apollo home right before Thanksgiving.

“Charlie says he’s good to go,” said a relieved Davison. “I’ll lope him for a few days before I rope on him right before the Finals. I’m going to Dean Tuftin’s house in Scottsdale on the way to Vegas, and will probably just run four or five steers a day there, and we should be good to go.

Charlie’s flying into Arizona on Sunday (five days before opening night) to check on Apollo and a couple other horses.

“I’ve ridden this horse the last three full years now, and hadn’t ever had to go without him. So I’m thankful for a great vet like Charlie being able to handle something like this. As important as these horses are to what we do, having a vet who understands what we do and need, but also keeps our horses’ best interests in mind is big. This isn’t the last year I’m going to need Apollo. And I know I can’t replace him.” ■

HUBBELL RODEO PHOTO

I

t took Cole Davison 10 years to make his first NFR and now, he’s heeled at back-to-back Finals for the past two years—in 2018 for Kolton Schmidt and behind Tyler Wade in 2019. He says the No. 1 factor that helped him over the Top-15 hump is a horse.

Davison, 30, who lives in Stephenville, Texas, with his wife, Whitney, and daughters, Milli and Letti, bought Apollo, now 10, from Rhen Richard, who headed for him the first half of 2016.

“I bought Apollo over the phone,” Davison said. “Rhen trained him and took him to some futurities in Canada and Arizona as a 5-year-old and won a lot on him.

I bought him after watching a few videos, and I picked him up at Denver in January 2016. I took him to a few jackpots and small rodeos, but mainly just practiced on him to try and get him figured out.

I figured he was on the young side to be a rodeo horse, and I didn’t want to rush him and blow him up as a 6-year-old.”

Richard decided not to make the trip to California for the five-header at Salinas that year. Ditto on Dustin Egusquiza’s heeler, so Davison heeled for Egusquiza.

“Salinas was the first big rodeo where I ever had to count on Apollo,” Davison said. “I woke up every day at 5:30 and started loping him. He jumped the barrier every run, but I figured as long as he was jumping it, I wasn’t breaking it. Dustin and I won third in the average. The short round at Salinas was Sunday afternoon, and I was up Monday morning with Rhen at Ogden (Utah) slack. Rhen and I were 4 flat on our second steer. Apollo worked good in two totally different setups. That’s when I knew he was ready. I rode him at some little amateur and circuit rodeos between August and the first of [2017] trying to get him finished, and really got to where I trusted him.”

Apollo’s pedigree matches that of Richard’s young calf horse, Patron, on the top side. Both sorrel superstars are by CD Olena. Patron’s a year younger than Apollo and 9 now.

“A Cut Above”

Horse Sale

February 14-15, 2020 AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas Selling 200± horses including 40 select ranch horses

East

Spring ling texas

SALE

April 3-4, 2020 George H Henderson Expo Center Lufkin, Texas Selling 200± horses

NOW TAKING CONSIGNMENTS Contact Steve Friskup 806-786-7539

stevefriskup@yahoo.com 2435 Broad Street Lake Charles, LA 70601

Phone (337) 494-1333

PR

Mike Pedersen

337-794-5737 mike@mplcaa.com

Destination Head to Hamilton for more fun than ought to be allowed at this iconic roping event.

—G.R. Schiavino

R

emember that Daryle Singletary song from the ’90s, “Too Much Fun?” If the annual Wildfire roping in Hamilton, Texas, needs a theme song, that should be it. And, if you’re not already planning on going to the Circle T Arena from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, change your plans, ’cause this event—in the words of its producer, Dru Stewart—is “off the chain.”

Stewart knows ropers, particularly those in Texas, can go to any roping they want and have a fair shot at winning some money. What’s not guaranteed at each of those jackpots is the kind of event that delivers good times, good food and stiff drinks in spades.

“Here’s the bottom line,” he said, “there’s a team roping at the Circle T in Hamilton literally every weekend and I’m right between two of Troy [Shelley’s] ropings. We try really hard to make this roping more than just a team roping. We just try to make it more of an experience.”

“Experience” is a bit of an understatement, though, particularly for the roping’s VIPs—the Pro-Am sponsors. For each company that supports the Wildfire’s signature event, which awards championship saddles to an amateur header and heeler both, they are provided entries into the Pro-Am and the Businessman’s #11.5 or the Wild #9.5, stalls, daily lunches, RV spots, wristbands for the 21-andover crowd, as well as a knockout complimentary steak dinner to kick off the whole shindig. It’s a veritable, all-inclusive, throw-down with live music playing into the wee hours of the night.

“The other thing it does,” Stewart explained, “is it gets these business guys 64 | TRJ | January 2020

together and lets them sit down and get to know each other and creates a social event. That’s what team roping is all about at its essence. None of those guys are making a living roping. They’re just having fun because it’s their hobby. So, we’re just bringing those guys and gals together who want to have a good time and want to be catered to a little bit.”

Hosting such a high-caliber event isn’t for the weary, but Stewart has faith in his investments.

“It costs a lot of freaking money, but it’s worth it. If they leave here saying, ‘Dang, I didn’t win a dollar, but I had a good time,’ they’ll come back. If they say, ‘Man,

I won third in the roping but, it sucked,’ they’re going to go somewhere else.”

As is well-known, the Wildfire in its original iteration was the passion project of Billy Pipes back in 1999. For 20 years, Pipes endeavored to produce an Open roping that squared up to the other giants of the day—George Strait’s Team Roping Classic and the BFI. But, as he’s told The Team Roping Journal before, it wasn’t just about the roping.

“I built that arena,” Pipes said of the original Wildfire Arena, which was the host site of the roping through 2018, “and that arena was built to make friends. Not to make money.”

Wildfire XXII SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, ACCORDING TO DRU • PRO-AM: “The ProAm saddles are like $5,000 a piece and they have tapaderos. We’re changing them up a little but, they are really nice.”

• OPEN TO THE WORLD: “We rope for 90% of our money. That’s the Big Daddy.”

PHOTOS BY OLIE’S IMAGES

• OPEN BREAKAWAY: “Walkin’ fresh, 600-pounders. Like cutting cattle.”

While Stewart is admittedly hoping to make friends and money, he is committed to the Wildfire’s history of being a well-produced event that caters to its people, from the Pro-Am sponsors to the everyday ropers.

“When it comes to the actual roping, we’re kind of a loaded-up prize line. We award saddles, buckles, knives, bits, spurs and prizes down to 5th or 6th [place,] and none of the ropings take out more than 20%.”

Even for the ropers who aren’t able to swing through, Stewart will be live broadcasting the event so everyone can get in on the fun. n

• OPEN GUNSLINGER: “We let them enter up four times at this one. It’s a five-steer, so come and bring your backup horses or whatever you want to do, but the fees are still high enough that it doesn’t take long for that pot to get big.”

• #15.5: “The #15 is a six-header. We do that because we want to let those 7s and 8s come and play, but maybe not for the Open. And, we see the guys start switching ends. So, you know, you see Clay heeling. You see Junior heading. You see Caleb heeling. It’s fun.”

•#13.5: “As a 7+ and an 8 heeler my whole life, this five-header team roping, I want to do that because all I’ve got to do is knock them down; stop the clock, basically. So that’s a fun roping for those mid-level guys. Your 6’s and 7’s. You do not have to go blitz them. You’ve just got to be 7 and 8 [seconds] on all of them.”

ing. Basically, what I’m going to do there is cull the cattle to make sure that the Businessman’s roping on Saturday is the best cattle possible.”

• LADIES OPEN: “It’s the biggest Ladies Roping in Texas. It’s an Open all-girl roping with a #8 incentive. It’s pick one, draw one, so we get to see the teams that rope together all the time, and then you get to see those mix-and-match teams, which makes it really fun. It’s not always Hope and LD and Jackie that win those ropings, especially in the incentives. It’s fun for everybody, from the top to the bottom.”

• BUSINESSMAN’S #11.5: “That’s the roping Billy Pipes kind of centered this whole weekend around. It’s a pick-one, draw-one World Series Super Qualifier, and it’s just like Vegas. It’s a fun roping, where all the pick teams get three. Your draw partners, it’s progressive after one, and there’s like 47 ways to win your money back. For a $750 entry fee (for two runs), you can walk out of there winning $18,000 for first. It’s not a bad li’l gig.”

• WILD #9: “Last year was the first time we did something called the Wild #9. It’s open to anybody.

There’s no age limits.”

• #11.5: “This year, we’re having an #11.5 warm-up ropJanuary 2020 | TRJ | 65

JAMIE ARVISO PHOTO

66 | TRJ | January 2020

T R

Wintertime Tips on Twines ROPE-MAKERS DISCUSS THE BEST COLD-WEATHER ROPES.

By Julie Mankin Not to sound too “Game of Thrones-ish,” but winter is still coming.

It’s only January. You lucky souls in Arizona notwithstanding, there are plenty of you in the Southeast with wet and icy conditions to come, and you folks hunkered down in Oregon or Utah, hauling blanketed horses on solid ice to the local indoor facility? It’s a little trickier to shake out a loop that feels good.

Here’s your guide.

January 2020 | TRJ | 67

MATERIAL MAYHEM

R

opes now come in every dye and nylon-polyester blend known to man. But when temperatures drop, the philosophy has always been that pure nylon is more reliable. That’s because poly fibers soften and relax in the cold while nylon remains stiffer.

It’s not quite that simple, though. According to Fast Back’s general manager, Coy Upchurch, you can talk to 10 people and get 10 different ideas on what a rope is doing in the cold. The only comfort as you try to savvy the ins and outs of materials?

Rope-makers are on top of things.

“The construction of ropes now offers so much consistency,” said Equibrand’s operations chief, Craig Bray. “The other day, I swung the original four-strand rope we ever made (Classic’s XR4), and it felt the same to me as it did the first day we tested it.”

Companies actually change their manufacturing technology from summer to winter months to compensate for climate differences. This is a great reason to either mail order your ropes or “The construction of ask your local retailer when theirs ropes now offers so arrived, so you know when ropes much consistency. The were made. other day, I swung the “We make our own string from original four-strand fiber,” Bray said. “So we tweak rope (Classic’s XR4) we ever made, and it the moisture in it during manu- felt the same to me as facturing or change the sprock- it did the first day we ets of the machines to tighten or tested it.” loosen the twists in summer ver- — CRAIG BRAY sus winter. We also roll the ropes differently when we finish them in winter versus summer, with more or less ‘kick.’”

Bray likes a four-strand rope for wintertime consistency, and he personally prefers all-nylon when it’s frigid, such as Classic’s XR4, The Heat or Rattler’s GT4.

“Fibers relax in the cold, which is the opposite of a garden hose that draws tighter and gets harder,” Bray explained. “When it’s cold, a rope gets softer or unwinds, basically, and that’s what makes it want to come back to you. We increase the kick in colder seasons.”

SLINGIN’ NYLON

C

hase Tryan, a three-time NFR heeler from Helena, Montana, has had plenty of experience in cold climates. He used to switch around to different ropes in different seasons, but he always kept going back to Rattler’s all-nylon GT4. So that’s his all-season rope now.

“It seems like the lighter ropes don’t handle the cold as good,” Tryan said. “They might get kind of bouncy. Heavier ropes seem to do better when it’s 10 degrees or less.”

Cactus Ropes, too, coils its twines differently depending on 68 | TRJ | January 2020

the time of year. It finishes its summer ropes with a bit of backswing because, in warm temperatures, constricting fibers can push the eye of the rope dead straight. Cactus’ 2018 all-nylon ropes were actually designed for Las Vegas in December—and ropers won a lot of dough in Sin City with them.

Probably no company has more experience making all-nylon ropes for cold-weather customers than Sheridan, Wyoming’s King Ropes. The rope shop is manned by Danny Morales and Gary Medford, who each went to work there in high school in the 1970s.

“Blended ropes do some weird things when it gets cold,” Morales said. “A lot of guys like some ‘kick’ and in the cold, those ropes can flare the opposite way.”

But don’t underestimate color for what it can add to consistency. King’s has never given its ropes fancy names, but it has one red rope that fans say does not change with the wintry conditions—because of its red dye.

“Sometimes you simply need to go with a little stiffer lay in the winter,” added Morales, who sends ropes to customers from Texas to California. “Our red four-strand rope is a blend and it seems not to react as much. But I do think you want to stay away from too much poly—those ropes won’t last as long.”

CORE OF THE MATTER

A

ccording to veteran rope-maker Curt Matthews of Top Hand, their nylon offerings—the light, snappy Honcho and Speed Williams’ own 8XC—are great in the cold.

“Speed likes his rope real quick with a lot of body, and it’s the nylon that keeps the rope tighter,” Matthews said. “The only disadvantage of all-nylon is it can be too stiff and too bouncy, so you need to make sure you pick the right lay.”

But Matthews says wintertime performance is about more than just materials—it’s about how a rope is put together. Here’s the news flash: Equibrand’s 20year patent on the core finally FAST BACK ROPES’ ran out. One of team roping’s COBALT classic supporters, Classic innovated its CoreTech design in 1997. Today, the extended company’s lineup of ropes with cores runs from the XR4 to the Powerline, the Heat, the NXT, the GT4, the NV and the Spyder.

Only since 2018 have other companies been able to use core technology, which they say helps poly-blended ropes maintain their feel during a blizzard.

If a rope has a core, the crowns of the twists are held in place by that core, which prevents stretch. So when the temperature drops, the rope doesn’t change as much.

“The rule of thumb with Fast Back was always that, in the winter, you’re better off with an all-nylon rope like the Venom,” Upchurch said. “But with us putting cores in ropes now, we’ve found that our blended Cobalt maintains its characteristics whether it’s really cold or hot. It really stays the same. It doesn’t follow what we used to tell people!”

Too, despite it being a hot day last June when Jr. Dees and Lane Siggins used their respective Pearl Snap ropes to win the BFI, Matthews swears that Top Hand’s blended—and cored— Pearl Snap performs just as well in the cold.

Barry Berg, team roper and Cactus Ropes general manager, says freezing temperatures can expand a hollow rope so that it gets out of balance (the eye moves just enough for some backswing to develop). But with a core, that doesn’t happen.

The company’s Thrilla and Swagger ropes—both nylon with a core—were first used at Finale XXII in Las Vegas. Nick Sartain heeled his way to $200,000 with one, while Luke McClanahan and Hondo Fryar caught $282,000 with theirs. Sartain, the 2009 world heading champ, had always used a poly blend until he began heeling with the Thrilla.

“The core takes the springiness out of these ropes,” said Sartain, an Oklahoman now living in Bandera, Texas. “But they’re still snap“The core takes the py feeling. This year, I’ve started springiness out of using the Swagger because it’s a these ropes. But they’re still snappy little bigger in diameter and a litfeeling. This year tle heavier. If it’s real cold, I like I’ve started using the a little heavier rope. Sometimes a Swagger because it’s a little bigger in diame- lighter one gets knocked around a ter and a little heavier. little bit when you set it down. Of If it’s real cold, I like a course, if a rope is too big or heavy, little heavier rope.” it’s hard to swing it fast enough to — NICK SARTAIN stay ahead of the steer. But if you can get enough speed on a heavier heel rope, it’s a lot more forgiving once you put it down.”

Sartain won gold at the head end with a Whistler, but when he cut his thumb off and had to change his grip, he needed something a bit more substantial there. The Thrilla lets him feel his tip with the rope held deeper in his hand. He also says he gets more runs out of a rope with a core. Upchurch, too, has noticed that combining dyed nylon with a core results in a tougher Fast Back rope with more longevity.

At the 2019 NFR, Cactus endorsees Chad Masters and Riley Minor were armed with Cactus’ brand new, cored Relentless edition, scheduled for a Jan. 1 release (still unnamed at press time).

Berg’s fondness for cores notwithstanding, a core in your rope may not be the end-all, be-all. Remember, a hollow rope is nice and light for wintertime ropers whose shoulders might be a tad 70 | TRJ | January 2020

out of shape.

“It’s all about what feel you like,” Upchurch said. “A rope with a core has more tip weight. Our Ultimate 4 has no core and is a best-seller because it’s a little lighter.”

KEEPING IT TIGHT

H

ere’s a no-brainer if you live where the seasons include winter: Don’t keep your ropes in your frosty trailer. Tryan, in fact, learned from various Montana Circuit Finals Rodeos that a rope might feel good to swing at the trailer when it’s 15 degrees below zero—but then not CLASSIC ROPES’ XR4 so great once he gets inside Great Falls’ 65-degree Four Seasons Arena.

“That big of a temperature change can be hard on ropes, so I got to putting my ropes in my hotel room,” he said. “I try to keep them in consistent temperatures.”

Most rope-makers advise you keep a rope’s home temperature as consistent as possible.

Sartain kept all his weapons in his living-quarters trailer with the heater out in Las Vegas and when he was rodeoing, or takes them into hotel rooms.

“If you don’t let them get as cold at night, they’re not as brittle feeling,” he said. “I don’t worry about it much in the summer. But in winter, I try to keep them as warm as I can to keep that little bit of deadness. I don’t like a real bouncy rope.”

The best way to keep your rope feeling great is to break it in right. According to every single rope maker, you need to break in a rope by only coming tight with it on four to eight steers. Then let it rest for 24 hours or even 48 hours. Don’t keep stretching it.

“You need to let those fibers set and lock in their place,” Bray said. “If you keep hammering with it, you break it down before it has a chance to come back to itself.”

Basically, your rope—hot or cold—will last longer and feel better if it gets a handful of stretches and then has a chance to set and lock into place at room temperature. It needs that rest to hold its lay. Materials have a memory.

The bottom line? If you dally on 25 head with a soft rope right out of the twisties, well, that wouldn’t be any smarter than refusing to rope just because it’s a little chilly outside. n

JAMIE ARVISO PHOTOS

If ever there were child prodigies in team roping, 2019 PRCA Team Roping World Champions Clay Smith and Wesley Thorp were them.

Smith, now 28, kicked off a career of big wins in 2008 when, at just 17, along with his younger brother, Jake, he won $114,300 at the USTRC’s Cinch National Finals of Team Roping. They swept both the #13 Shoot-Out and #13 Prelim that year.

Only 24, Thorp’s lifelong win streak began at the USTRC’s Cinch NFTR two years later, when he left Oklahoma City with $70,500 in his pocket, including a win in the #11 Shoot-Out with Jamie Hayden.

And now, both will wear gold buckles. —By Chelsea Shaffer

72 | TRJ | January 2019

2019 PRCA Team Roping World Champions Smith and Thorp FOR SMITH, a second title seemed inevitable for the header from Broken Bow, Oklahoma. He started the 2019 season winning with Jake Long. He changed it up after the spring run, picking up three-time World Champion Heeler Jade Corkill at Reno—his dream partner, the heeler after whom he’d named his son.

“He’s been the best that I’ve ever seen, all growing up and starting rodeoing,” Smith said. “His mental game; that dude wants to win more than anybody—almost anybody—because I want to think I want to win that much, too. But, he’s even more aggressive than I am, and his mind is so good about not letting things get in the way.”

They got rolling quickly, winning $25,419 a man over the Cowboy Christmas run, and Smith and Corkill finished the regular season with $150,512.22 and $108,637.93 won, respectively. Smith led the standings heading into Las Vegas by $32,056.70 over the No. 2 man, Kaleb Driggers. Corkill was behind Junior Nogueira by $7,136.73.

“Only Jade could have caught some of the steers I turned this week,” Smith admitted. “There was no way he was going to miss. There wasn’t nobody in the world I’d have rather had back there than Jade when it mattered. I knew he [was] the guy. He’s a closer, and he’s the best, and I’m glad to have him as a partner and a friend. I know for a fact, Jade Corkill ain’t going to miss again. I messed up earlier in the week and it shouldn’t have come down to the last steer.”

Smith and Corkill entered Round 10 eighth in the average with a time of 42.60 seconds on seven head. As the heading standings leader going into the 10th round, they got to rope at last out.

“I knew I was going to have to place in the round to hold my spot. You can see on the TVs, and those guys were right in front of me.”

Of the title contenders, first Snow and Thorp came out swinging at 4.4 seconds.

Riley and Brady Minor were 6.8, and

Brenten Hall and Chase Tryan got a leg to be 9.4. Chad Masters and Joseph Harrison took a no-time with a miss on the head side. Then, Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira, fresh off wins in Rounds 8 and 9, put the pressure on with a 4.1-second run.

“I was really wanting to try to win the round, but I kind of missed my dally and I didn’t give Jade a good handle,” said Smith, who rode his 12-year-old gelding, Marty, all week.

The flag fell on their run in 4.7 seconds, winning fourth in the round, worth $11,000.00 a man. It sealed the deal for Smith, but wasn’t enough to get Corkill his fourth title.

“It’s a little bittersweet not having Jade.

I didn’t do a good enough job or he would have been up here with me. He roped great for me all year. I’m planning on roping with Jade as long as he’ll rope. We’re going to have to have the same number won next year and we won’t have to do any weird figuring at the end.”

FOR THORP, the journey to the 2019 heeling gold buckle started more than a decade ago.

“Going back to the US Finals when I was 12, 13 years old, [and] having a chance to win a lot of money, that prepares you for a lot,” said Thorp, of Throckmorton, Texas.

“Being a young kid, backing into the box for $50,000 or $100,000, [those are] just crazy numbers at a young age. So tonight, I’ve been used to that and I’ve had a lot of failures in that spot—I roped a leg at The American one year for $350,000.

“So, I was fortunate enough to have put myself in that spot enough times that I really tried to make myself have fun with it tonight. Growing up, I roped the Fast Lane over and over, and every time you’re in the 10th round for a gold buckle, you know? And I knew I had equally as good a chance as anybody tonight. It was basically a one-header between me and Joseph and Chase Tryan.”

Thorp, in his fourth NFR appearance, wasn’t pleased with the steer he’d drawn.

Nogueira had slipped a leg on him, Ty Blasingame had missed him, and Hall and Tryan had made the best run they could have on him to be 4.4 seconds.

“Cody needed to try to win first, and Clay Smith would have to stub his toe.

We needed to push, but we both decided our run was to come out here and make the best run possible. On a good steer, that is a fast run, so we didn’t change anything. I was as positive as I could be for the situation and I just wanted to have as much fun as I could. I was super glad I put myself in that spot to run that steer,” Thorp said.

Snow pinged the barrier, and the steer handled surprisingly well for Thorp.

“No way did I think I was going to get that good of look at the steer. He hasn’t handled anywhere close to that good all week,” said Thorp, who rode his 14-yearold gelding, Million Dollar Lexus.

When the smoke cleared, Snow and Thorp made a 4.4-second run, worth second in the round for $20,730.77 a man.

That secured them the average win before the rest of the pack even roped, with a time of 43.80 seconds on nine head, for $67,269.23 a man.

That money was enough to push Thorp ahead of Nogueira by $10,938, making him the 2019 World Champion Heeler with $249,180.61.

“I set a really broad goal at a young age. I never told myself I wanted to win a world championship. I never even set a goal to do that. I always told myself I wanted to be the best heeler in the world.

I wanted to know that myself and it be point blank. And I am not. I’m honest enough with myself to know that. I hope to be there. This is a pretty good milestone to help prove that. Even though I won a world championship, and it’s such a cool accomplishment and the biggest thing I’ve ever accomplished in roping, but honestly, I have a lot more that I want to do to prove myself.” n January 2020 | TRJ | 73

JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

ARIAT WORLD SERIES FINALE

The Finale

With a $13.8 million payout at the 2019 Ariat World Series of Team Roping Finale, the sport of team roping is steamrolling into the new decade with the largest payout, prize line and excitement in history.

This year’s main Finale event boasted eight divisions, in addition to nine days of outdoor super qualifiers, paying out life-changing money and giving us the chance to tell these unique stories of triumph.

–By Kari deCastro

74 | TRJ | January 2020

Buckaloo & Saebens Claim Inaugural Open Victory GOLD BUCKLE BEER OPEN TO THE WORLD

W

ith a packed house, the Ariat WSTR Finale XIV kicked off with 53 teams going head-to-head on five steers in pursuit of a total $206,600 cash payout in the association’s inaugural Gold Buckle Beer Open to the World presented by The Team Roping Journal.

Oklahoma ropers Bubba Buckaloo and Billie Jack Saebens took home the lion’s share of the winnings, roping five steers in 36.77 seconds, worth $56,600, along with trophy Cactus Saddlery saddles and pads, trophy Gist buckles, and additional prizes—a refreshing way to finish the season after both ropers just narrowly missed this year’s super bowl of rodeo.

Last year, the outdoor arena’s Open roping during the Finale became the fifth largest Open roping in the country, sparking WSTR’s decision

T Pixley and Hight Win AGCO #14.5 R with Fastest Finale Time AGCO #14.5

T

exas ropers Robert Pixley and John Hight were the high-call team in the #14.5 WSTR outdoor qualifier, but went out with a notime. Less than 24 hours later, they were backing in the box at the South Point Arena for the AGCO #14.5 Ariat WSTR Finale XIV. This time, when the Priefert chute opened, $176,000 was on the line and the longtime friends weren’t about to let this one slip away. They came tight on four steers in 27.64 seconds to take the largest share of the first $1 million divisional payoff of the Finale.

“Every minute, it gets a little more real,” said Pixley, who owns and operates Rockin P Utility in Livingston, Texas. “We’ve both got families and it blesses them as much as it blesses us.”

Hight, who has a growing family—a fourth kid is on the way—had originally planned to rope with Tracey Cearley, but when the Montgomery, Texas, cowboy broke his collar bone, he had to draw out. In an effort to find the best replacement partner he could, Hight reached out on social media.

“We were at a roping and saw John’s post and my wife asked if she should reply,” explained Pixley, who had won some with Hight in the past. “I told her, ‘If we could pay the entry fee, go ahead.’”

The duo teamed up and made the trek to Las Vegas, but not without additional complication.

Pixley’s good horse, a 19-year-old gelding he calls Ace, had been turned out for almost two years due to an injury. When he decided to rope at the Finale, he knew he had to take a chance at bringing him back. Ace went to Champion Fit in Madisonville, Texas, where he ended up lame once again, this time on a different leg.

“They found he had a broken splint bone in a hind leg,” Pixley explained. “We took him to Brazos Valley Equine, and they did surgery. After that, he went back to Champion Fit and they did a phenomenal job bringing him back. He’s only four weeks off from that surgery. I was just lucky to have him here.”

Hight, who resides in Carthage, Texas, near the Louisiana border, was riding a powerhouse of a horse. The black gelding they affectionately call Fresh Prince is owned by 2019 PRCA Hall of Fame inductee and champion team roper Allen Bach. Bach also owns and operates the roping machine company Smarty, where he recently hired Hight to take the helm as President.

“We’d been praying about finding some additional revenue streams for several months when Allen called out of the blue,” Hight said. “My original partner, the one who broke his collar bone, actually made that connection. It’s an answer to our prayers, for sure.”

Smarty endorsee Junior Nogueira was signing autographs at the South Point just before the AGCO #14.5 short go and decided to stick around for the action.

“It’s pretty cool when you’ve got one of the best guys in the world cheering you on,” Hight said. “I told [Junior] afterwards, I’d buy him a steak dinner. He just laughed and said, ‘I’m going to go win the round tonight and I’ll buy dessert.’”

“We didn’t really have a game plan going in,” Hight added about their big win. “We were just going to make our run. If it wins us something, it does, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I always think the contest is between you and steer, not you and the team in front of you.” n

JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

to offer this official Finale division. Gold Buckle Beer sponsored the debut and added $30,000 to the pot.

With the Top 15 PRCA ropers under contract to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the Gold Buckle Beer Open provides an opportunity for other professional ropers to have their shot at a piece of the $13.8 million in total prize money that the WSTR Finale paid out.

After the high-call team of Casey Hicks (Sperry, Oklahoma) and Steve Orth (Guthrie, Oklahoma) went out with a no-time, NFR qualifiers Buckaloo and Saebens held on to the top spot from second callback.

Buckaloo finished 19th in the PRCA RAM World Standing on the head side and Saebens finished in the crying hole, 16th, on the heel side. Just one position shy of getting the call, he did help his partner, Tyler Wade of Terrell, Texas, qualify for a third NFR. Wade teamed up with Cole Davison, from Stephenville, Texas, at the Thomas & Mack and, coincidentally, Buckaloo plans to rope with Davison this coming season. Saebens plans to be back with Wade.

With a tough field, the Gold Buckle Beer Open win didn’t come easy.

“It felt hard all day long,” Buckaloo said. “Our first couple steers were treacherous. The first one came straight left. The second steer, I think he smoked both of us. That was our hardest steer, for sure.”

Buckaloo relied on a 14-year-old gray gelding he calls Silver.

“He’s my old horse that I rode last month at the US Finals, but he’s been crippled,” Buckaloo said. “I just got him back. I know if I do my job, he’ll let me win something. He’ll let you win at any setup, from the NFR to Cheyenne.”

Saebens was riding his main mount, former AQHA World Champion mare DT Sugar Chex Whiz, who was also named the 2019 Purina Heel Horse of the Year, as voted on by the top heelers in the world.

“Like I always tell people, if I mess up when I’m riding her, that’s on me,” Saebens said. “She’s a great horse. She never messes up. That second steer split the gates and ran hard. Bubba did a great job of slowing him down and letting me catch.”

For Saebens, the name of the game is to be in the zone.

“I don’t watch anyone rope,” he explained.

“When my header turns them, I just catch the steer. I can’t go out there trying to win. If you draw good and take good high-percentage shots, you’re going to win.” n

January 2020 | TRJ | 75

ARIAT WORLD SERIES FINALE

Maddock and Webb Win $228K in YETI #13.5

T

he YETI #13.5 Ariat WSTR Finale XIV champions Dex Maddock and Rob Webb are proud of where they’re from and proud to represent their great state of Idaho in Las Vegas. The cowboys teamed up this summer to rope at their local WSTR qualifiers and knew they had what it would take to come out on top at the South Point Arena. The duo stopped the clock with a time of 29.65 on four steers worth $228,000 of the division’s $1.3 million payoff.

“Rob is always cool as ice,” Maddock said. “He’s my first partner at all of those #13’s. When he calls and asks me to rope, I can’t ever turn him down.”

Maddock learned to rope from his dad, who had learned to rope just out of high school. His dad made a living as a custom hay farmer and Maddock followed in his footsteps making a living with his hands both as a farrier and riding outside horses. One day, while shoeing for a client, he got the opportunity to jump on a horse that was having some issues in the box.

“I climbed on him and got him working in there pretty quick,” Maddock recalled. “I was getting ready to head to Arizona for the winter and the gentleman, Matt Telford, asked if I’d be interested in working with him. He said he had a bunch of young horses he was going to have to sell or send them somewhere to ride.”

Without hesitation, Maddock went to work riding and training for Telford’s 5 Livestock in Filer, Idaho, and a successful partnership was born.

On the back end, Webb, who normally heads, was born and raised a fifth-generation rancher and cowboy in Wendel, Idaho, and now resides in Gooding, with his wife, Courtney.

“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her turning steers for me,” said Webb, who owns and operates his own fencing company.

Coincidentally, Maddock and Webb are both riding black mares who are both failed barrel prospects.

“She is the reason I’m here,” Maddock said of the 11-year-old mare who goes back to Genuine Doc. “I call her Aberdeen. I got her two years ago to tune up and sell. I wasn’t sure about her at first, but the more I rode her, the better and better she got, and I decided I needed to have her.”

After her previous owners decided she wasn’t going to make a barrel horse, Webb tried to rope calves on the 8-year-old mare he calls Cinnamon.

“She does not like roping calves,” he said, laughing. “I think she does like being a rope horse, though.” ■

YETI #13.5

76 | TRJ | January 2020

Westbrooks & Thompson ARIAT #12.5

O

regon team ropers Chris Westbrooks and Austin Thompson stayed locked in on the big screen above the main arena, watching as the top five callbacks failed to best their average time of 30.38 seconds on four head in the Ariat #12.5 WSTR Finale.

When they came tight on their short-round steer at sixth callback in 6.19 seconds, nobody else could touch them for a whopping $242,000 payday.

“I feel like I can just enjoy the trip now,” said Westbrooks, who was roping at his very first Finale. “My anxiety has been pretty high for a while.”

Westbrooks had been disappointed in his earlier performance in the outdoor arena and knew he could not carry that over to the main event.

“Yesterday, I was pretty angry at myself,” Westbrooks said. “I turned red, got mad and went and watched the rodeo and just started over anew.”

Westbrooks, who runs Akins Trailer Sales in Monroe, Oregon, said they just got back to their initial game plan.

“We kind of have one run. My goal was just to eliminate mistakes. If I could rope them, I knew Austin would clean it up,” Westbrooks explained.

The duo agreed that sometimes the success is in the draw.

“I don’t know if anyone drew as good as we did,” Thompson added. “We

T R

Anderson and Hohenberger get $300K in Priefert #11.5 PRIEFERT #11.5

B

Win $242K in Ariat #12.5

lake Hohenberger put up the money to straight enter the Priefert #11.5 Ariat WSTR Finale with his partner header Cagney Anderson—a decision that paid off in dividends. The Texas cowboys are $300,000 richer after turning in an aggregate time of 31.95 seconds on four steers.

“We stopped and roped in Wickenburg and won quite a bit out there,” Anderson said. “We already had our expenses covered so that made it nice.”

When Anderson turned their short-round steer at second callback, Hohenberger wheeled in on his homegrown red roan mare, Lilly, and pulled back to be a solid 7.36, securing the win after the high-call team of Jay Adams (Riesel, Texas) and James Terrell (Moody, Texas) were a tick too long.

The day-working duo from Cooper, Texas, had already discussed how they weren’t going to have a mediocre victory lap and they tore into the arena at full-speed, making for the most thrilling victory lap of the Finale.

Anderson was riding an 18-year-old sorrel owned by his partner.

“I brought my head horse out here, too, and I didn’t make the decision to use Razor until just before the Finale,” Anderson explained. “I had ridden him in the practice pen, and I knew Blake roped good behind him. I just felt a little more confident. I couldn’t ask for a better horse.”

On the weekends, Anderson fights bulls at amateur rodeos.

“When I was at community college, I was on the rodeo team and everybody had to help out,” he explained. “Riding definitely wasn’t for me, but I figured out I loved fighting bulls. I’ll just see where it takes me.”

Hohenberger picked up roping when he was age 12.

“My parents used to rope and they had actually quit, but we still had horses,” he said. “I just decided it was something I wanted to do.”

At only 22 years old, this was Anderson’s first trip to the Finale. Hohenberger had competed in 2016 without much luck, but to him, the reason for their success was simple.

“We just executed,” he finished. n

JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

knew they would pay us, so we were going to be happy either way it went.”

The Ariat #12.5 WSTR Finale champions qualified together at a Flying R Ventures event back in June in Powell Butte, Oregon.

“We didn’t run a single steer together until we got down here,” said Westbrooks, who was riding a 10-year-old bay gelding he calls Starbuck. Registered A Little Caffeinated, he’s by Smart Starbuck out of a daughter of Little Rough Peppy and is an AQHA point earner in the heading. “He’s easy to be around, but he’s got some tricks. Austin hauled him down here for me, so he got a little dose of it.”

Thompson was heeling on a home-raised, 13-year-old mare he calls Holly.

“She’s put me in so many spots to make things happen,” said the Yoncalla, Oregon, native. “She took me to the College Finals two years, and we placed in a round out there.”

Westbrooks and Thompson got a special treat when the King of the Cowboys, Trevor Brazile, showed up to present their check on behalf of Ariat and the Relentless brand.

“Trevor told me my head horse looked pretty sharp, so that was pretty cool,” Westbrooks said. n January 2020 | TRJ | 77

ARIAT WORLD SERIES FINALE

Sursa and Witbeck Take YETI #10.5 Title, $342K YETI #10.5

JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

78 | TRJ | January 2020

JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

F

or several decades, Heavy Sursa of Bluebell, Utah, has traveled the country competing at jackpots of every level. He finally struck gold when he won the YETI #10.5 Ariat WSTR Finale with heeler Slade Witbeck of Vernal, Utah. Their 8.44-second, short-round run held from seventh callback to seal the deal and the duo took home $342,000 after turning in an average time of 34.60 on four.

When the eighth callback team of Nora Hunt-Lee and Justin Johnson— both of Fallon, Nevada—clocked an 8.12 and moved to the lead, it put the pressure on.

“We actually drew one that ran a little harder,” Witbeck said. “Heavy did a great job. He let us rope him and we were lucky our time held.”

When Witbeck got his dally and the steer came tight, he discovered he had no right rein.

“I’m not sure when it snapped off,” he recalled, grateful for the outstanding mount that carried him to the big win. The yellow heel horse he calls Tin Man came from Quinn Kesler and Double Dollar Livestock. Registered DD Peptos Magic Chex, the 5-year-old gelding just keeps getting better and better.

“You can honestly do anything on him. I don’t think anyone could offer me enough. That horse is going nowhere.”

Sursa’s Sun Frost bred head horse, Dillon, is also off the Double Dollar.

“He’ll turn 9 this next week,” he said. “You can run 20 steers on him, and he stays the same.”

When Witbeck was a kid, he used to watch Sursa at the local jackpots and never imagined they’d be where they are today.

“I used to get the Super Looper and I’d see Heavy in there,” said Witbeck, who actually grew up in a predominately cutting horse family. “I always looked up to him. We got hooked up to rope one day and we’ve been partners ever since.”

The Utah team qualified for the Ariat WSTR Finale XIV during the Triple T Productions’ Perfect 10 Super Qualifier at the South Point back in March.

“We’ll be back again this March for that one,” Sursa said. “At my age, you don’t know how long you’re going to be here, so I’m not going to miss a thing.” ■

Lopez Brothers Pocket Biggest Check of Week in Ariat #9.5 at $346K ARIAT #9.5

W

hen World Champion Team Roper Chad Masters presented the largest paycheck of the week during the Ariat #9.5 WSTR Finale, he had to admit he’d never seen a one-day, one-division payout quite like that ever before.

For brothers A J and BJ Lopez of South Texas, the staggering $346,000 payday is life changing.

“We work six or seven days a week, so this kind of money at once is just unreal. That’s a good day’s work right there,” said A J, who works full time in the oilfield services. “We’ll probably put the money into the ranch. We’ve been roping a lot lately, so we’ll probably put some back into that, too.”

BJ owns DOS Oilfield Services and imagines his kids will now get their chance at the ski vacation they’ve been asking for.

“We’re definitely looking forward to Christmas now,” he said, laughing.

The Lopezes were a surprising 10th callback. Their total time of 38.24 on four just narrowly held on for the win as the remaining teams fell out, had costly barriers or were too long.

“When we were sitting on the outside—you know they keep you there until you get moved—it was the longest five minutes ever,” BJ explained.

“But it was awesome riding back in the arena.”

Coincidentally, the duo was a late entry and got put on the waiting list.

They only got into the Finale after another team had drawn out. Then, his horse came up sore and A J had to borrow a head horse. If things couldn’t get worse, the day before the Ariat #9.5 short round, they had the borrowed horse, Zorro, with the on-site veterinarian, Performance Equine Specialists, due to an abscess.

“Luckily I was able to rope on him today,” A J said.

On the back end, BJ’s good heel horse had kicked a panel and chipped a bone several weeks before the Finale, so he was riding his brother’s palomino heel horse, Hollywood.

“He’s got a different style than mine,” BJ said. “But I think I can get used to it.”

“We got entered late, we came out here on different horses, but we came because we like it,” A J added. “We work more than we rope, but we love the sport, and this is the greatest one to win.” ■

JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

Beck and Shepherd Ride for More than Money in #8.5 MASSEY FERGUSON #8.5

W

hen Massey Ferguson #8.5 WSTR Finale Champion Heeler Radar Shepherd backed in the Priefert box at Finale XIV with long-time friend Blake Beck to win $233,000, Shepherd was still sporting the Reserve Champion Junior Livestock Hog buckle that he won 10 years ago.

“I won this in 1999 and I’ve wore it ever since,” explained Shepherd, 36, who used to show and still farms pigs. “I’ve won some team roping buckles and stuff, and everyone kept asking why I don’t wear one. In my mind, I kept thinking I won’t change it until I win a World Series Finale buckle.”

To Shepherd, though, this new buckle means a whole lot more than a shiny new trinket and big payout. One week prior to the entry deadline for the 2019 Finale, Shepherd’s mom, Cindy, gave him the money he needed to enter, but not long after, Cindy was diagnosed with cancer. Just days later, on Dec. 6, 2019, she passed away peacefully. Beck, who had known Cindy all his life, called the WSTR office to see about drawing out their team, but Shepherd said no.

“We only knew she was sick for about a week,” Shepherd said. “One of the last things she said to me was, ‘Go out there and bring home big money.’ I definitely felt like I had an angel with me.”

Cindy’s services were held the Wednesday before the #8.5 Finale in the family’s hometown of Lake Shore, Utah, just days before the boys had to leave for Vegas.

“We were absolutely roping for Cindy,” said Beck, who lives in nearby Spanish Fork.

The friends and family cheering on the Utah team in the short round rode a rollercoaster of emotion as they watched them take the lead from second callback, and then watched the high-call team go out with a no-time.

“Last year, I missed the first steer I roped out here and I wasn’t going to do that again,” Beck said. “We just said, ‘Let’s go make the best runs that we can.’”

Shephard hadn’t missed a day of roping since Jan. 29, whether it was roping the dummy, or a full on practice session. It paid off when the duo first made the short round in the #8.5 outdoor

qualifier. They came up just short, but had built some confidence going into the main event.

“We practice together a lot at home,” said Shephard, who first met Beck showing youth livestock.

Beck is now a commercial loan officer for Mountain West Small Business Financial and operates a small family farm. He also trains a few horses on the side, including Eyesonthegun, the 5-year-old sorrel that he was riding at the Finale.

He bought “Reno” via an online advertisement and had to put nearly 300 pounds on the horse to get him where he wanted him.

“He couldn’t even lope a circle when I bought him a year ago,” Beck explained. “He took his first steer out of the box in May and I took him to his first roping in August. He really felt like he just needed a job. He’s been great.”

It was more than a job well done for Beck and Reno, Shephard and his horse Chip Dip. It was a dream come true and a promise fulfilled, and one heck of a way to round out the Ariat WSTR Finale XIV. n January 2020 | TRJ | 79

DUAL MEMBERSHIP CARD THE PREMIER MEMBERSHIP ACCEPTED AT BOTH USTRC AND WSTR EVENTS IN 2020

THE MOST BENEFITS

From Coast to Coast *See Membership Form for Complete Details

• SPEND MORE, EARN MORE • WIN MORE, EARN MORE • DOUBLE DOWN WITH THE WSTR • MORE OPTIONS IN LAS VEGAS • GLOBAL HANDICAP INCLUDED

2020 KEY CARD MEMBERSHIP THE PREMIER MEMBERSHIP ACCEPTED AT BOTH USTRC AND WSTR EVENTS IN 2020

Superior Savings!

MEMBERSHIP AVAILABLE AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2019 & VALID AFTER PURCHASE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2020

The Key Card DUAL MEMBERSHIP SPEND MORE, EARN MORE!

• Every $1,000 in entry fees SPENT at USTRC events during the current season earns a $100 USTRC NFTR pre-entry discount (assuming timelines are met). *Not available with a standard USTRC or WSTR Membership.

WIN MORE, EARN MORE!

• 1ST THROUGH 3RD Place Winners at any USTRC SIGNATURE EVENT earns a guaranteed $100 USTRC NFTR pre-entry discount (assuming timelines are met). *Only 1st place with a standard USTRC membership earns a guaranteed NFTR Pre-entry discount *Money won for 1st-3rd place does not count in addition to accumulated earnings

KEY CARD MEMBERSHIP ALLOWS YOU TO COLLECT WINNINGS AT BOTH USTRC AND WSTR EVENTS. Global Handicaps (formerly US Classifications, TRIAD) observed. A current Key Card, USTRC or WSTR membership is required to compete and collect winnings at USTRC and WSTR events.

The Key benefits begin at time of purchase until the USTRC NFTR or WSTR Finale.

DOUBLE DOWN WITH THE WSTR

• Every $1,000 WON at USTRC SIGNATURE EVENTS & WSTR QUALIFICATION EVENTS earns a $100 USTRC NFTR pre-entry discount (assuming timelines are met). *Only USTRC winnings accumulate with a standard USTRC membership.

MORE OPTIONS IN LAS VEGAS!

• Legacy members can get MULTIPLE $250 FINALE DISCOUNTS with the Key Card.

• WSTR Finale Qualification spots become GENERIC (assuming timelines are met). Potential $250 Savings. *With a standard WSTR membership qualification spots have to be used in the division won.

THE KEY OPTIONS

PLUS, YOUR GLOBAL HANDICAP IS INCLUDED ON YOUR KEY CARD! *If you purchase a Key Card membership, you do not need to purchase a Global Handicap Card.

______ $300 KEY CARD DUAL MEMBERSHIP ______ $170 UPGRADE WITH CURRENT USTRC OR WSTR MEMBERSHIP ______ $40 UPGRADE WITH CURRENT USTRC AND WSTR MEMBERSHIP ______ $240 15 & UNDER GLOBAL HANDICAP CARD UPGRADE TO KEY CARD

NAME:_________________________________________________________________ Nickname (if any):______________________________________ Global Handicap ID # - Formerly US Classifications (TRIAD):_______________________________ Global Handicap # HD: ________ Global Handicap # HL: ________ Address:______________________________________________ City:___________________________________ State:________ Zip:__________ Email:____________________________________________________________________ Phone:______________________________________ Social Security Number: _______________________________________________ Date of Birth: ___________________________________________

PAYMENT DETAILS CASH

CHECK

Please make check or money orders payable to USTRC Mail to: 7500 Alamo Rd NW Albuquerque, NM 87120

CREDIT CARD (Administrative fee, 3% added for CC charges, 4% for Amex)

We’re happy to accept your cc application over the phone at 505-899-1870 or join online at www.USTRC.com.

Credit Card Payment Information: CC#:______________________________________________ Exp:________________ CVS:________________ Card Holder Name:_______________________________________________ Phone:______________________________________________ Address: City/State/Zip: ______________________________________________________________________________________________

NEW!

Auto Renew

This Agreement shall be automatically extended each year, unless on or before October 30 written notice of its desire not to automatically renew is received.

Auto renewal pricing will be the standard membership price as of December for each renewal period. Please check the box if you wish to enroll in annual Auto Renew of your Key Card Membership. You must pay by credit card to enroll.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

WWW.WSTROPING.COM OR CALL 505-898-1755 OR WWW.USTRC.COM OR CALL 505-899-1870

Hamilton, TX • January 16 – 19, 2020

Circle T Arena • 4007 W Hwy 36

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16 Enter at 10:00 a.m. – Rope at 11:00 a.m

OPEN WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER

For More Information Aaron (575) 313-2506 Troy (575) 574-8591

$150/Roper • Enter 2X

NO CHECKS

#15.5 #13.5 PICK OR DRAW

Must be 21 years old or turn 21 anytime during the calendar year to participate in WS qualifiers (*except in the #14.5). A current WSTR or USTRC membership or Key Card is required. WSTR memberships, including The Key Card may be purchased online at wstroping.com, on-site before you rope, or renewing by phone, 505898-1755. WSTR memberships are free to renewing ropers 70 and older.

WSTR memberships or The Key Card is required for WSTR Finale accumulated earning discounts. Global Handicaps only.

$150/Roper • Enter 2X

$100/Roper • Enter 3X • No Age Limit • Anyone Can Rope

#14.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER $150/Roper • Enter 2X • 80% Payback • No Age or Classification Cap

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 Enter at 8:00 a.m. – Rope at 9:00 a.m

#13.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER $150/Roper • Enter 2x • 80% Payback • No cap

#12.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER $150/Roper • Enter 2x • 80% Payback • No cap

#11.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER

www.wstroping.com Follow us on Facebook

Thank you to our SHELLEY PRODUCTIONS sponsors:

$150/Roper • Capped at #7 Heeler • Enter 2x • 80% Payback

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 Enter at 8:00 a.m. – Rope at 9:00 a.m.

#10.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER $150/Roper • Capped at #6 Heeler • Enter 2x • 80% Payback

#9.5 $500/Roper • Enter 2x • Capped at #5.5 Heeler

#9.5 PICK OR DRAW $100/Roper • Enter 3X • Anyone Can Rope

www.raceruidoso.com

STALL RESERVATIONS:

254-784-9854

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 Enter at 8:00 a.m. – Rope at 9:00 a.m.

#9.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER

$150/Roper • Enter 2X • Capped at #5.5 Heeler • No draw - Must have a partner

Negative coggins required on all horses.

#8.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER

DRESS CODE APPLIES:

$150/Roper • Enter 3X • Capped at #4.5 (both ends) • Pick OR Draw • 80% Payback

Collared shirts / No ball caps

Available for purchase November 1, 2019, and is valid after purchase until December 31, 2020.

Take advantage of discounted entry fees to the WSTR Las Vegas Finale Event with accumulated earnings available only to WSTR members!

GLOBAL HANDICAPS observed. A current WSTR or USTRC membership is required to collect winnings at WSTR events and must be purchased prior to roping.

WSTR members are eligible for WSTR accumulated earnings (visit the website at WSTRoping.com for more information about accumulated earnings). Memberships are available for purchase at WSTR events, online at WSTRoping.com, by phone 505.898.1755 or by mail. Memberships are non-refundable.

If you already have a Global Handicap card the WSTR Membership is not discounted.

2020 WSTR MEMBERSHIP

. . . . . . . . . . . . $130

FREE for RENEWING Ropers 70 years or older (born in 1949 or before) + A Global Handicap card will be complimentary with your WSTR Membership.

2 FOR 1

PLUS, A Global Handicap card will be complimentary with your 2020 WSTR Membership!

NAME:_________________________________________________________________ Nickname (if any):________________________________ Global Handicap ID # - Formerly US Classifications (TRIAD):________________________________ Global Handicap # HD: ________ Global Handicap # HL: ________ Address:______________________________________________ City:___________________________________ State:________ Zip:__________ Email:____________________________________________________________________ Phone:______________________________________ Social Security Number: _______________________________________________ Date of Birth: ___________________________________________

PAYMENT DETAILS Cash

Check

TOTAL ENCLOSED: $130

Credit Card (Administrative fee, 3% added for CC charges, 4% for Amex)

Call 505-898-1755 or Fax Credit Card Payment to 505-792-3143

Please make check or money orders payable to World Series of Team Roping Mail to: 7500 Alamo Rd NW Albuquerque, NM 87120 Phone: 505-898-1755 Fax: 505-792-3143

Credit Card Payment Information: CC#:______________________________________________ Exp:________________ CVS:________________ Card Holder Name:_______________________________________________ Phone:______________________________________________ Address: City/State/Zip: ______________________________________________________________________________________________

NEW! Auto Renew

This Agreement shall be automatically extended each year, unless on or before October 30 written notice of its desire not to automatically renew is received.

Auto renewal pricing will be the standard membership price as of December for each renewal period. Please check the box if you wish to enroll in annual Auto Renew of your WSTR Membership. You must pay by credit card to enroll.

NEW MEMBERS If you do not have a Global Handicap card, please give a brief description of your roping ability and history and list 3 ropers and/or contractors who can verify your current roping ability. If you wish to have your Global Handicap reviewed or would like a double number, please do so online at GlobalHandicaps.com

wstroping.com

Provide a brief explanation of your roping ability & history: _________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ List three ropers/producers who can verify your roping ability: 1. _____________________________________________ Phone Number: ___________________ 2. _____________________________________________ Phone Number: ___________________ 3. _____________________________________________ Phone Number: ___________________

TRIPLE T PRODUCTIONS JANUARY 24-25, 2020 • MESQUITE, NV MESQUITE CITY ARENA

FRIDAY, JAN. 25

SATURDAY, JAN. 26

#14.5 World Series Qualifier

#10.5 World Series Qualifier

#13.5 World Series Qualifier

#9.5 World Series Qualifier

Sign Up 8 a.m., Rope 9 a.m.

$150/roper • Enter 2x • 80% payback No cap • No age limit $150/roper • Enter 2x • 80% payback No cap • Must be 21 years old

Sign Up 8 a.m., Rope 9 a.m.

$150/roper • Enter 2x • 80% payback Cap at #6 heeler • Must be 21 years old

$150/roper • Enter 2x • 80% payback Capped at #5.5 heeler • Must be 21 years old

#12.5 World Series Qualifier

#8.5 World Series Qualifier

#11.5 World Series Qualifier

#7.5 Add-On

$150/roper • Enter 2x • 80% payback No cap • Must be 21 years old

$150/roper • Enter 2x • 80% payback Capped at #7 heeler • Must be 21 years old

#10.5 Handicap Saddle Roping Pick one draw two or draw all three for $150 Enter 2x for 6 runs • 1 second off per number

Saddles to average winners • Buckles to second Prizes guaranteed • 1/3 stock 2/3 cash and prizes

$150/roper • Enter 3x • Capped at #4.5 (both ends) Pick OR Draw • 80% payback

$100/roper • Enter 3x • Pick or draw Capped at #4.5 • Must be 21

# 4.5 and Under Saddle Roping Pick one draw two or draw all three for $150 Enter 2x for 6 runs

Saddles to average winners • Buckles to second Prizes guaranteed • 1/3 stock 2/3 cash and prizes Books will not close before 2:00

Plenty of stalls no reservation required

Hotel: Virgin River 1-800-346-7721 Book early, rooms will go quickly Must be 21 years old or turn 21 anytime during the calendar year to participate in WS qualifiers (*except in the #14.5). A current WSTR or USTRC membership or Key Card is required. WSTR memberships, including The Key Card may be purchased online at wstroping.com, on-site before you rope, or renewing by phone, 505-898-1755. WSTR memberships are free to renewing ropers 70 and older.

WSTR memberships or The Key Card is required for WSTR Finale accumulated earning discounts. Global Handicaps Only.

www.wstroping.com UPCOMING ROPINGS :

CASH OR CREDIT CARD ONLY. 4% office charge on cards.

Dress code: Cowboy hat or no hat. Collared shirt.

February 21-22: Mesquite, Nevada • March 13-15: Las Vegas, Nevada • April 4-5: Homedale, Idaho

TRIPLE T PRODUCTIONS

2 ARENAS USED ALL WEEKEND

MARCH 13-15, 2020

On site Cash or credit card only

Stalls available at

Reservations at Southpoint #1-866-791-7626 use group code: WOR0313 February 19 deadline.

Book early! St. Patrick’s day and NCAA tournament weekend. Rooms will go quickly!

Move in no earlier than Thursday, March 12, 10 a.m.

Move out no later than Monday, March 14, 10 a.m.

Stalls are $140/stall (includes 4 bags of shavings).

Tack stalls are required @ $140/stall because of location of trailer parking.

Tack stalls may be shared. Ropers must coordinate shared tack stalls with each other.

Stall mats available @$40/per stall.

Current health and coggins required to unload.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: BEN TIBBITTS: 208-681-2268

bentibbitts@hotmail.com

FRIDAY

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Sign up at 8:30am, Rope at 10am

WORLD SERIES #14.5 SUPER QUALIFIER WORLD SERIES #13.5 SUPER QUALIFIER WORLD SERIES #12.5 SUPER QUALIFIER WORLD SERIES #11.5 SUPER QUALIFIER

- $300/man – Enter 2X – Progressive after 1 - $300/man – Enter 2X – Progressive after 1 - $300/man – Enter 2X – Progressive after 1 - $300/man – Enter 2X – Progressive after 1 – Capped at #7 Heeler

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Rope at 9am - All fees must be paid by 6 p.m. Friday evening.

Rope at 9am

#10.5

#9.5

• • • • • •

Limited to 425 teams Entries open February 1st Entries must be received or postmarked by March 1st $50.00 late fee after March 1st 1 second handicap per number Capped at #6 Heeler

• $300/man – Capped at #5.5 Heeler

#8.5

• $300/man – Enter 3X – Pick or Draw • Capped at #4.5 Both Ends

#7.5 ADD-ON

• $200/man – Enter 3X – Pick or Draw • Capped at #4.5 – Must be 21

Must be 21 years old or turn 21 anytime during the calendar year to participate in WS qualifiers (*except in the #14.5). A current WSTR or USTRC membership or Key Card is required. WSTR memberships, including The Key Card may be purchased online at wstroping.com, on-site before you rope, or renewing by phone, 505-898-1755. WSTR memberships are free to renewing ropers 70 and older. WSTR memberships or The Key Card is required for WSTR Finale accumulated earning discounts. Global Handicaps Only.

www.wstroping.com

ROPING ENTRY FORM:

STALL RESERVATION FORM:

Mail Entries to: TRIPLE T PRODUCTIONS P.O. BOX 1218 LOGANDALE, NV 89021 or call to enter by phone with credit card 208-681-2268 OR 208-681-4423

Mail Entries to: TRIPLE T PRODUCTIONS P.O. BOX 1218 LOGANDALE, NV 89021 or call to enter by phone with credit card 208-681-2268 OR 208-681-4423

HEADER WSTR/USTRC ID# ADDRESS PHONE

NAME: ADDRESS:

HEELER WSTR/USTRC ID# ADDRESS PHONE

RATING

PHONE:

RATING

(Copy as needed or simply put all requested entry info for additional entries on separate sheet of paper)

# of stalls WITH mats:

@ $180 each = $ ______

# of stalls WITHOUT mats:

@ $140 each = $ ______

# of Tack Stalls:

@ $140 each = $ ______ TOTAL $

R ancho R io

S STproEvidEed R by

WICKENBURG, ARIZONA

S YOST EVENT

1325 N Tegner St, Wickenburg AZ 85390

JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 2, 2020 Books Open at 7:30am - Close at 8:30am - Rope at 9am

THURSDAY, JAN. 30

SATURDAY, FEB. 1

OPEN WS QUALIFIER

#11.5 WS QUALIFIER

$150/roper • Enter 2X • 80% Payback

#14.5 WS QUALIFIER

$150/roper • Enter 2X • 80% Payback • No age limit

#15.5 ADD-ON

$150/roper • Enter 2X • 80% payback

#13.5 PICK OR DRAW

$150/roper • Enter 2X • 80% payback Capped at #7 Heeler • Must be 21

#10.5 WS QUALIFIER $150/roper • Enter 2X • 80% Payback Capped at #6 Heeler • Must be 21

#9.5 PICK OR DRAW

$100/roper • Enter 3X • No Age Limit • Anyone Can Rope

$100/roper • Enter 3X • Anyone can rope Capped at #5.5 Heeler

FRIDAY, JAN. 31

SUNDAY, FEB. 2

#13.5 WS QUALIFIER

#9.5 WS QUALIFIER

$150/roper • Enter 2X • 80% payback • Must be 21

#12.5 WS QUALIFIER

$150/roper • Enter 2X • 80% Payback • Must be 21

#11.5 PICK OR DRAW

$100/roper • Enter 3X • Anyone can rope • No Cap

$150/roper • Enter 2X • 80% Payback Capped at #5.5 Heeler • Must be 21

#8.5 WS QUALIFIER

$150/roper • 4 Head Progressive on 1 • Pick or Draw 80% Payback • Enter 3X • Must be 21 Capped at #4.5 on both ends

Must be 21 years old or turn 21 anytime during the calendar year to participate in WS qualifiers (*except in the #14.5). A current WSTR or USTRC membership or Key Card is required. WSTR memberships, including The Key Card may be purchased online at wstroping.com, on-site before you rope, or renewing by phone, 505-898-1755. WSTR memberships are free to renewing ropers 70 and older. WSTR memberships or The Key Card is required for WSTR Finale accumulated earning discounts. Global Handicaps Only.

www.wstroping.com

CASH OR CREDIT CARDS (NO CHECKS) STALLS: 928-684-3150

John English 505-239-7617 TWO ARENAS ALL WEEKEND LONG

#10.5 Handicap Prizes 2- Jody Ramer Saddles

Pontotoc County Agri-Plex Ada, OK Feb 1 -2,, 2020

10 Buckles

Saturday, February 1, 2020 Books open @ 8:00 a.m. rope @ 9:00 a.m.

ALL ROPINGS SATURDAY 4 HEAD PROGRESSIVE AFTER 1

MUST HAVE CURRENT USTRC, WSTR, OR KEY CARD

.

(MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE ON-SITE)

14.5 1 second off/13.5 & below 2 seconds off, regular barrier, 70% payback $100/Roper, Enter 3x, 70% payback, BOOKS CLOSE @ 8:45 A.M. ROPE @ 9:00 A.M.

#13.5 World Series of Team Roping Qualifier

NO CHECKS, CASH OR CREDIT CARD ONLY

#13.5 Qualifier

DRESS CODE: COLLARED SHIRT

#12.5 Qualifier

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL OR TEXT

#11.5 Qualifier

BLAKE LARMON 918.837.0048 TIM VICTORY 918.798,0159 LEON STIPES 918.857.4401

$150/ROPER, enter 2X, must be 21 years old to enter

DRAW OPTION AVAILABLE

$100/ROPER, ENTER 3X, 70% payback, WILL NOT START BEFORE 11;00 a.m.

$100/ROPER, ENTER 3X, 70% payback, WILL NOT START BEFORE 1:00 p.m.

$100/ROPER, ENTER 3X, CAPPED @ 7.5 Hl, 70% payback, WILL NOT START BEFORE 3:00 P.M.

#10.5 Handicap Qualifier 2 Jody Ramer Custom Saddles to High Point Header & Heeler,, Buckles to top 5 in the Average

#9.5 1 second off, #8.5 2 seconds off, #7.5 & below 3 seconds off Enter 1/Draw 1 or draw 2 for $180/ROPER, enter 3x, capped @ 6 hl Must have 50 entered teams to give prize away 70% cash & Prize payback, books close @ 4:30 p.m. will not start before 5:00 p.m.

TOP 5 IN THE AVERAGE QUALIFY FOR THE 2020 ASTR FINALS PONTOTOC COUNTY AGRI-PLEX 41710 N. BROADWAY AVE. ADA, OK 74820 STALLS & RV HOOKUPS AVAILABLE

WWW.ALLSTARTEAMROPING.COM FOLLOW ALL STAR TEAM ROPING ON FACEBOOK

Sunday, February 2, 2020 Books open @ 9:00 a.m. rope @ `10:00 a.m. all ropings sunday 4 head progressive after 1

.

enter 1/draw 1 or draw 2 for $200/ROper, enter 2x, capped @ 5.5 Hl, 70% payback must be 40 years old or turn 40 anytime during the 2020 season buckles to average winners, will not start before 10:00 a.m.

#9.5 Qualifier

enter 1/draw 1 or draw 2 for $200/ROper, enter 2x, capped @ 5.5 Hl, 70% payback buckles to average winners, will not start before 11:00 a.m.

#8.5 World Series of Team Roping Qualifier

$150/ROPER, enter 3X, capped @ #4.5 (both Ends), Pick or draw, 80% Payback must be 21 years old to enter

.

ENTER 1/DRAW 1 OR DRAW 2 FOR $150/ROPER, ENTER 3X, CAPPED @ 4.5, 70% payback buckles to average winners, WILL NOT START BEFORE 2:00 P.M.

Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo National Center 3301 SE 10th

FEBRUARY 9, 2020 Books Open at 8:00am - Close at 8:45am - Rope at 9:00am

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 #15.5 PICK OR DRAW $100/Roper • Enter 3X • No age cap

#14.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER $150/Roper • Enter 2X • 80% Payback • No Cap • No age limit

#13.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER

$150/roper • Enter 2x • 80% payback • No Cap • Must be 21 years old

#12.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER

$150/roper • Enter 2x • 80% payback • No Cap • Must be 21 years old

#11.5 WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER

$150/roper • Enter 2x • 80% payback • Capped at #7 Heeler • Must be 21 years old Must be 21 years old or turn 21 anytime during the calendar year to participate in WS qualifiers (*except in the #14.5). A current WSTR or USTRC membership or Key Card is required.

WSTR memberships, including The Key Card may be purchased online at wstroping.com, on-site before you rope, or renewing by phone, 505-898-1755. WSTR memberships are free to renewing ropers 70 and older. WSTR memberships or The Key Card is required for WSTR Finale accumulated earning discounts.

Global Handicaps Only.

RANDY MCCRACKEN KIM MCCRACKEN

806-333-2134 806-333-9008

Cash or Credit Cards • No Checks • Current Coggins

W W W.MC3TEAMROPINGS.COM

USTRC NEWS The big news last month was the announcement that the USTRC National Finals of Team Roping will change to a new venue and a new time of the year. If you didn’t read the reasoning for the move in the December issue of Team Roping Journal, you can find that story at USTRC.com.

After the NFTR, the decision was made to move very quickly to announce the new location and date. USTRC is pleased to announce that it will move its National Finals of Team Roping event to Ft. Worth, Texas, the last weekend of April. While the specific details regarding formats and divisions offered at the event are still being discussed, there is certainty that the ShootOuts are a mainstay of the Finals. There is a great opportunity to change the look of this roping.

The impending schedule will determine how many divisions and how many days the event should cover. Ropers in Oklahoma in October were pretty emphatic that a weeklong event should be avoided.

With all the competition in the market place, in recent years there has been a lot of resistance to pre-enter ropings unless a roper has qualified discounts. The three-tiered entry pricing with discounts for pre-entry for qualified ropers has solved that dilemma and will remain in place. The 2020 Finals will obviously occur within six months of the 2019 Finals and there wouldn’t be enough time for ropers to take advantage of NFTR Earnings Discounts. Therefore, discounted qualification earnings to this event will retroactively begin April 1, 2019. Expect to see more details at USTRC.com and future issues of the Team Roping Journal.

THIS IS W W W. U S T R C . C O M

Karl Stressman will be changing his role with USTRC and stepping down as President on December 30. Karl, with his great connections in the industry, will consult and advise USTRC regarding ongoing programs. Karl has been a strong advocate for moving the USTRC National Finals of Team Roping to another time of year, and took the lead in negotiating with competing cities. It became apparent over the past two years that his negotiation skills were being under utilized within the horse group. The new deal will allow Karl more flexibility in providing services in the equine industry.

The big announcement on Global handicaps has generated a considerable amount of questions. It was big news for USTRC, and for the first time in over thirty years the association is not responsible for handicaps. The classification staff at USTRC will be converted to customer service agents and will help ropers navigate the online system in handling their own appeals and number issues. This conversion will be publicly announced and should occur as close to January 1, 2020 as possible.

To clarify, Global Handicaps is not a new handicap system, just a newer upgraded version of the TRIAD. The process and analysis is completely different, but ultimately it will be the same scale. Ropers who buy a USTRC or WSTR membership will not have to buy a Global card; they will receive a Global Handicap card with their membership.

A roper who does not plan on roping at a WSTR or USTRC events are the only ropers who will need to purchase a Global Handicap card.

Jan 3-5: South Georgia Classic, Perry, GA Feb 14-16: Muddy River Classic, Memphis, TN Feb 7-9: Brazos Valley Classic, Bryan TX Feb 15-16: Triangle Anchor Team Roping, Hurricane UT Feb 22-23: Downs Classic, Albuquerque, NM Feb 28-Mar 1: Florida Championships, Sarasota, FL Mar 13-15: Tennessee Championships, Franklin, TN Mar 20-22: Oklahoma Championships, Guthrie, OK Mar 20-22: South Texas Championships, Gonzales, TX Mar 27-29: Northeast Kansas Classic, Topeka, KS Mar 28-29: New Mexico Championships, Clovis NM

Pictured From Top: #13.5 Shootout Average Winners Caroline Taylor and Calvin Taylor; Gold Buckle Beer Open Qualifier Champions Clay Smith and Jade Corkill; YETI Junior Open Champions Kreece Thompson and Kaden Profili. 2019 USTRC National Finals of Team Roping photos by C Bar C Photography.

The Evolution of the Team Roping Handicap System

GLOBAL HANDICAP CARD 2020 APPLICATION $60 Global Handicap Card

$40/Weekend Permit

$20/Day Pass

A GLOBAL HANDICAP CARD IS COMPLIMENTARY WITH YOUR 2020 WSTR, USTRC OR KEY CARD MEMBERSHIP. NAME ADDRESS EMAIL

PHONE

SOCIAL SECURITY #

DATE OF BIRTH

GLOBAL HANDICAP ID # GLOBAL HANDICAP # HD

GLOBAL HANDICAP # HL

PAY ME N T D E TA I L S CASH

CHECK

CREDIT CARD (Administrative fee, 3% added for CC charges, 4% for Amex)

CALL 505-898-1755 OR FAX CREDIT CARD PAYMENT TO 505-792-3143 Credit Card Payment Information: CC#:______________________________________________ Exp:________________ CVS:________________ Card Holder Name:_________________________________________________ Phone:_________________________________________________ Address: City/State/Zip: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

AUTO RENEW

This Agreement shall be automatically extended each year, unless on or before October 30 written notice of its desire not to automatically renew is received. Auto renewal pricing will be the standard membership price as of December for each renewal period.

Please check the box if you wish to enroll in annual Auto Renew of your Global Handicap Card. You must pay by credit card to enroll.

PLE ASE MA KE CHECK O R MO NEY ORD ER S PAYABLE TO GLO BA L H A ND IC A PS MA I L TO : 7 50 0 AL AMO R D NW, ALBU QU ERQ UE , NM 8712 0

NEW MEMBERS If you do not have a Global Handicap ID # , please give a brief description of your roping ability and history and list 3 ropers and/or contractors who can verify your current roping ability. If you wish to have your Global Handicap reviewed or would like a double number, please do so online at GlobalHandicaps.com.

Provide a brief explanation of your roping ability & history: _____________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ List three ropers/producers who can verify your roping ability: 1. __________________________________________ Phone Number: ___________________ 2. __________________________________________ Phone Number: ___________________ 3. __________________________________________ Phone Number: ___________________

GL OBA LH A NDICAPS.CO M

NTRL OFFICE 423-575-2295

NTRL NEWS

E-mail: pam@jx2events.com • www.jx2events.com facebook.com/jx2andntrlteamroping or nationalteamropingleague.com

It’s time once again to start planning your trip to the NTRL National Finals.There are a few important items to remember when getting ready to rope at the biggest and greatest roping east of the Mississippi.

• Be sure to update your Health and Coggins papers for your horses. It is MANDATORY to have this paperwork in order to enter the state of Florida.

• Stall reservations are for Barn A only! All other stalls can be handled through the Stall office upon arrival. If you are prepaying for reserved stalls, these must be phoned in or mailed by Jan 12, 2019. Please do not call Pam after the event has started! Go to the stall office – someone will be there around the clock!

• RV reservations are made by calling Pam at 423-963-8106 during normal business hours, Monday thru Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm EST. Please do not call this number once the event has started. Go to the stall office to check in. Someone will be there around the clock. RV spots usually fill up!

•Remember, even if you do not have any Shoot-Outs, you CAN still rope at the NTRL Finals.

•This year every roper gets 2 (two) Shoot-Outs for showing up.

•You can rope in all the Preliminary Ropings • You can rope in the Shoot-Out Ropings if your partner has a Shoot-Out. Only one member of a team has to have a Shoot-Out. •You can rope in all the Specialty Ropings: Century, All Girl, #7.

• If you are in the top 10% in the Preliminary Roping you are eligible to enter in the Shoot-Out. • Be prepared to win a lot of Cash and Prizes.

• Most importantly, HAVE FUN! If you have any questions at all, please call me at 423-575-2295.

See ya at a roping soon!

Pam Blevins

2019-2020 NTRL Schedule A = Affiliate; Q = Qualifier; R = Regionals

DECEMBER December 28-29, 2019 December 28-29, 2019 JANUARY January 3-5, 2020 January 22-26, 2020 FEBRUARY February 8-9, 2020 February 14-16, 2020 February 28-March 1, 2020

Live Oak, FL Tuscumbia, AL

A Regional

Bob Holmes Covered Arena Longhorn R Arena

Scott Elliott Chip Phillips

Perry, GA Jacksonville, FL

USTRC NTRL Finals

GA National Fairgrounds Jacksonville Equestrian Center

JX2 Productions NTRL

Sarasota, FL Memphis,TN Sarasota, FL

A NTRL/USTRC/WSTR NTRL/USTRC/WSTR

Triple J Ranch Agricenter Triple J Ranch

Jay Holmes JX2 Productions JX2 Productions

Triple J Ranch

2020

Sarasota, FL

H3 Arena

470 Phifer Road, Cleveland, NC 27013 FMI: Jeff Hammond 704-320-5879

FEBRUARY 8-9 Check Triple J Facebook or Website for Formats & Details

TripleJRanchFL.com

JANUARY 22-26

Triple J Ranch 861 Sinclair Drive Sarasota, FL 34240

BIGGEST PAYOUT

Stalls/RV’s Contact: Rhonda Holmes 941.232.4617

JACKSONVILLE, FL • Jacksonville Equestrian Center SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE FOR FULL DETAILS!

East of the Mississippi

Global Handicaps Only. 2020 USTRC Membership or 2020 WSTR Membership Required. Membership may be purchased on site.

NFTR Earnings

|Advertiser’s Index 5-Star Equine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Gist Silversmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Southwest Equine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

A Cut Above; Andy Andrews . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Gold Buckle Beer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Tony Lama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

ADM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Hatco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

USRider Equestrian Motor Plan . . . . . . . . . 58

American National Property And Casualty Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Heel-O-Matic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Wrangler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Ariat International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Hot Heels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

| ROPING EVENTS

Big Country Livestock Equipment . . . . . . . 24

Jake Barnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

WSTR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-83, 85

Cactus Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

L&H Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Shelley Productions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Cactus Ropes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CV2

Les Vogt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Watson Team Roping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Cactus Saddlery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Lone Star Ropes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

California Shootouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

California Horsetrader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Lubrisyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Triple T Productions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88-89

Cavender’s Boot City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

National Roper’s Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

DruStew, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Cinch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Nature RX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Elite Teamroping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Classic Equine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Noble Outfitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CV3

All Star Team Roping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Classic Rope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

ParTrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 51

Mountain States Cattle Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Clay O’Brien Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Premier Livestock Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Lazy E Arena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47, 94

Clovis Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Quicksilver Arenas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Randy McCracken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Cowboy Classic Saddlery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Ram Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

USTRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96-99, 101

CSI Saddlepads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Rattler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

JX2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100, 102-104

Dechra Veterinary Products . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Red River Arneas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Fire-It-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Desert Dream Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Rodeo West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

OTRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Downunder Horsemanship . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

SmartPak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 49

Yost Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107-109

Horse-Craft Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Fastback Ropes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CV4

ADVERTISE YOUR ROPING EVENT Contact Nick Griggs: (806) 622-2225 or nick@myhorse.com

TEAM ROPING

The

JOURNAL

BOOK TODAY! Space closes

for the March issue

110 | TRJ | January 2020

CLASSIFIEDS EQUIPMENT

REAL ESTATE

ROPER’S QUICK RELEAS Safe and Easy to Use Jim Yarbroug gh

List. Look. Love!

Sanger, CA

(559)875--8 8548

THE SOURCE for real horsepeople.

EVENTS

TRAVEL/TOURS/VACATIONS

NFR and PBR Rodeo, Las Vegas. www.

NFR-Rodeo.com or (888)NFR-RODEO, (888) 637-7633 and www.PBRTickets. com. A+ rated member of Better Business Bureau (BBB).

ENJOY THE ARIZONA SUNSHINE! Full RV Hook-ups, covered stalls, washer/ dryer, 160x325 ft. arena, 50' round pen on 16 acres. Miles of desert to ride in Eloy, AZ; just 8 miles east of Casa Grande. Only 15 minutes to any of 4 different ropings each week. Arena can be rented for team roping or schools. Call (480) 589-9120.

HORSES

250 Head Sell Winter Catalog Sale

January 25

Classified Rates start as low as

$2.75

per word

(10 word minimum)

Billings, Montana • 406-855-1947

www.billingslivestock.com INSURANCE

Perfect for Selling: Apparel & Accessories Saddles & Tack Books & Video

LIVESTOCK

RADFORD’S CORRIENTE CATTLE FOR SALE Smyrna, Tennessee 615/459-7773 • jamesradford@att.net

Real Estate Barns & Equipment and much more!

Book your ads today at http://bit.ly/trjads

Contact us at (760) 546-1192 trj@aimclassifieds.com

JOIN TODAY! (800) 844 -1409 www.usrider.org

January 2020 TRJ | 111

T R

TRJ FILE PHOTO BY KAITLIN GUSTAVE

|Final Thoughts

“The biggest thing that’s helped my horsemanship this year is no deadlines. Used to be, I’d come home and I’d know I only had two weeks here, three weeks here, and then I’d be gone and have three weeks to get ready for something. It’s nice not having any timelines and really really going by what the horse needs. They’re all different. They mature faster in some areas than the other horses do. But then they’ll catch back up. But the thing that I’ve learned the most is I would have made most every deadline faster doing it this way, I just didn’t have as many mistakes to fix along the way.”

—Trevor Brazile, 25-time World Champion on “The Score,” a podcast by The Team Roping Journal, available to stream or download wherever you listen to podcasts.

112 TRJ | January 2020

OPEN HERE

CARL

ODEGARD

The Official Glove of the

WSTR & USTRC