Exchanging Equine and Entrepreneurship

EQUINE &

WESLEY THORP WESLEY THORP

Rodeo Life: What was it like winning your first World Champion Title back in 2019? Do you think winning a second World Title will feel differently?

Wesley Thorp: Winning the World Title in 2019 was an incredible experience. It was as if everything I’d worked for all those years had paid off. It was such a rewarding feeling. I think winning a second World Title would be really cool just to prove that I could do it twice. I think it would be a different kind of excitement.

RL: With 5 NFR qualifications and a World Champion Title under your belt, does having as much experiencing competing at the Thomas and Mack Center as you do give you an advantage going into your 6th qualification? What has competing at the NFR level taught you as a Cowboy and as a person?

WT: I do feel like having 5 trips to the NFR does give me an advantage going into the 6th because I have a good idea of what to prepare for. I have a good idea of how I want to practice and where I need my mindset to be for competing. The NFR has taught me to remain humble and that there is always someone out there trying to take your spot. The first year I qualified was a very humbling experience because I did not rope as well as I would have liked.

RL: Do you remember your first NFR performance? If you could go back to that moment, what advice would you give yourself?

WT: I remember my first performance at the NFR extremely well. I was like a kid in a candy store. I was so excited to have qualified that I couldn’t even focus. The main thing I would tell myself if I could go back would be to relax enjoy the moment and when I ride in the box to act like it’s just another practice run.

RL: How was competing at the NFR in your home state last year? How do you feel about Cowboys and Cowgirls being back to taking over Vegas again this year at the Thomas and Mack?

WT: I enjoyed competing at the NFR last year in Texas. I think it was great to see the interest in all the people that wanted to make an effort to go to the rodeo since it was in their home state. It is exciting that it’s back in Vegas this year just because the atmosphere out there is really exciting.

RL: How has competing and the rodeo life changed since starting a family and having your sons Matthew and Charlie? Do you hope they get involved in rodeo one day?

WT: Rodeo hasn’t changed too much since Matthew and Charlie have been born. I try to take them with me as much as I can because I do not like leaving them at all. As far as them competing one day, I would support it if it is something they really want to do. There are some great life lessons in rodeo and I think there are a lot of positive things they can be a part of and learn. Although, I do hope rodeo has been taken to another level by the time they are in the picture.

RL: What inspired you to create the Equine Exchange app? Being a professional cowboy is a business in itself, but what is it like shifting from roping and livestock to entrepreneurship and algorithms? Has the app been launched?

WT: The Equine Exchange idea came about from some good friends of mine who were always wondering what horses were for sale at certain events. I was in the process of trying to grow my horse program myself and the hardest thing is always finding quality horses. It started out as an idea 2 years ago and it now has turned into a finished app that has just launched. The app will also have coaching in the near future for people to get their videos analyzed by the leading competitors in the industry. Learning how algorithms and coding work was a very cool experience to see the process.

RL: How much do you rely on your heading partner and your heading partner rely on you? What makes a good team successful?

WT: I definitely rely on my heading partner a lot. He’s the quarterback. Knowing each other’s roping styles is very important for making consistent runs.

RL: What made you choose Team Roping over the other roping events? What about Heeling over Heading?

WT: I chose Team Roping over the other events because my dad roped and I could go to a lot of jackpots and rope a lot. I enjoyed the social side of Team Roping growing up and all of the people I got to meet.

RL: What buckle have you been sporting this season? Which one will you be sporting at the NFR? WT: I sport my world championship buckle all the time just because it has a lot of meaning to me.

RL: Are there any rodeos that you haven’t won yet that you hope to win during your career?

WT: I have not won Salinas, Cheyenne, or Pendleton. I think those would be really cool rodeos to win.

RL: What advice would you give anyone wanting to live and compete in the rodeo lifestyle? Do you have any advice for Team Roping Heelers specifically?

WT: The advice I would give young people wanting to compete in the rodeo lifestyle would be to use it as a learning experience and meet as many people as you can. Heelers in particular I would say quality horses and make sure you have someone to help you stay on the right track as far as practicing, how to enter, and fundamentals in general.