February October 2015 2015
A Portfolio of Toda y a n d To m o r r o w ’s B r i g h t e s t Ro d e o Sta rs
Mick E Mouse A Legend That Will Never Be Forgotten
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Matt Triplett | Shelby Herrmann | Stetson Vest | Dale Brisby San Antonio Edition
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Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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Table of
Contents 10
Man Up Crusade
15
Tanner Byrne
28
Ray Smith
39
Jesse and Shane
53
Stetson Lawerence
19
24
Randall Carlisle
Trula Churchill
32
37
Mick E Mouse
44
Mia
57
Morgan Stanley
LVPerformance.com
49
Jeff “Shetland” Shearer
60
It’s all about the Ladies
Photos provided by the athletes’ family members.
For information on advertising or other inquiries, visit our website at www.rodeoathletes.com, email info@rodeoathletes.com or call us at (623) 777-9451. The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles in RodeoAthletes.com Magazine. The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on this material. Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making decisions. ©Copyright 2015.
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regor G c M y e ls e K : y b
Man Up Crusade
Making Awareness Now Using Purple
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Domestic violence is undermining the very fabric of our families, our society, and our nation. I believe the American cowboys and cowgirls have played an overwhelming role in forming our country and once again we have the opportunity to take the lead in setting an example for others to follow,” Donahue said.
at their rodeos. They are encouraging rodeo cowboys, cowgirls, fans and stock contractors to join the Crusade and put a stop to domestic violence. The non-profit organization was founded by Canyon County Sheriff Elect Kieran Donahue, in Nampa, Idaho in 2012. Sheriff Donahue grew up on a cattle ranch in the Central Mountains of Idaho. He learned from an early age the definition of hard work and dedication. His western heritage taught him strong family values and he understands that cowboys and cowgirls face hardship and injuries on a daily basis, but they continue to overcome adversity and focus on their goals. “In spite of the danger of the mental and physical demands of the sport, they choose to pursue their dreams of becoming one of the world’s best. That is why they are heroes to so many people,” Donahue said. As Sheriff Donahue’s career in law enforcement developed, he saw firsthand the traumatic effects that domestic violence has on victims and families. He considers domestic violence an epidemic in our society, creating a public health and safety issue. It is with these facts in mind and their belief in the timeless ideology of the American cowboys, that Sheriff Donahue and his wife Jeanie began this journey called The Man Up Crusade.
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We have to stop the chaos and move the pendulum in the other direction. Domestic Violence is devastating to our society, to our families, and to our children.
“
P
urple ! Yes the color. In April of this year, if you attended the Nampa, Idaho PBR (Professional Bull Riding), BFTS (Built Ford Tough Series), or watched the BFTS on television, you would have noticed all of the purple bandanas and Man Up Crusade stickers. PBR BFTS bull riders like Sean Willingham, Shane Proctor, bullfighter Shorty Gorham, and even renowned stock contractor Chad Berger where seen sporting these purple bandanas and stickers. This is because the PBR partnered with the Idaho based non-profit organization called The Man Up Crusade (Making Awareness Now Using Purple), to bring awareness to this important issue of domestic violence. The Man Up Crusade, “turned the Ford Idaho Center purple,” for the Nampa BFTS event. Purple is the color of choice to represent the victims and survivors of domestic violence; this is similar to the color pink for cancer awareness. The Man Up Crusade is quickly becoming a household name. In just a few short years it has partnered with the PBR (Professional Bull Riding) and with the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) sanctioned rodeos throughout the country in promoting awareness about this issue. The PRCA Rodeo committees in 10 states have partnered with the Man Up Crusade and designated a Purple Day and Night
In 2012, The Man Up Crusade established their non-profit status as a 501 (c)(3) and made contact with two of the top 20 PRCA Rodeos, the Snake River Stampede, and the Caldwell Night Rodeo. We established a Purple Night in each of their rodeos to bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence. Caldwell Night Rodeo jumped at the opportunity right away and designated
“We wanted to start a program that would not only get people talking about the issue, but a program that will exist and continue to promote positive societal change long after we are gone. Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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can’t do with our copyrighted logos and branding,” said Jeanie. The contract outlines that the event is entering into a partnership with The Man Up Crusade, that they will advertise and promote one of their performances as a Man Up Crusade Purple Day and Night. The organization provides photo ready artwork, logos, and media information for the event’s use. The Man Up Crusade, which is made up of all volunteers, realizes the committees they partner with have their hands full in producing their events and do not want to burden them. The Man Up Crusade reaches out to domestic violence shelters or family advocacy groups in the local areas and then enlists them to help provide volunteers to staff The Man Up Crusade booth at the event. “Some of the rodeos choose to promote awareness only at the event but most identify a Charity of Choice within the community that will receive funds from our partnership,” says Jeanie. “The Charity of Choice has to be a domestic violence shelter, advocacy group, or educational program that helps victims. 100% of the funds raised through our partnership is donated to that charity from The Man Up Crusade,” Jeanie said. continued from page 11 one round of their five performances as The Man Up Crusade Purple Night. By 2013, they had become The Man Up Crusade’s Hometown Rodeo and are very proud of that designation. “The program is very similar to Pink Night and Patriot Night. This is absolutely the right thing to do for any rodeo or bull-riding event in this country. Our partnership with The Man Up Crusade has been fantastic. Our rodeo is the very first to designate Purple Night in a PRCA rodeo and we carry that title proudly,” said our past CNR President, Curt Ruehl. According to Sheriff Donahue, the program has seen tremendous growth over the last two years. “In 2012 and 2013 we stayed in Idaho while we built the program and got it off the ground. In late 2013 we were invited to speak in Omaha, Nebraska at the Global
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Association of Rodeo Committees. I was humbled to stand before so many leaders in the industry of rodeo with representatives from Cheyenne Frontier Days, California Rodeo Salinas, Pendleton Round Up, and many others to talk about our program on how together we can make a difference. Cheyenne Frontier Days was the first PRCA rodeo outside of Idaho to commit to partnering with our program. As of 2015 we have now expanded to over 20 events in 10 states and the program continues to grow,” Donahue said. The program is very easy to incorporate into rodeos and other events. The Man Up Crusade’s Executive Director, Jeanie Donahue, outlines the process this way. “When an event wants to establish a day or night of their performance as a Man Up Crusade event, they simply contact us and I send them a contract that outlines what their responsibilities are, what they can and
In talking to Sheriff Donahue it is easy to understand the urgency, the need for this organization, and its public awareness message. Sheriff Donahue ended the interview stating; “Law enforcement across this country are inundated with domestic violence issues on a daily basis. Just over 50% of all law enforcement calls of service (officers being dispatched) are related to domestic violence. Can you imagine that? We have to stop the chaos and move the pendulum in the other direction. Domestic Violence is devastating to our society, to our families, and to our children. Currently 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men are victims of domestic violence. We have to start talking about it through the public awareness aspect. You are either For domestic violence or you are Against it. There is no in between. You don’t get to climb up on the fence and sit this one out.” For more information on the program go to www.manupcrusade.com
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tes Staff le h t A o e d o R : by
Tanner Byrne It wasn’t until Tanner was thirteen years old, that he started to bull ride and everyday his desire to want it would grow more and more Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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T
anner Byrne grew up in Princeton Town, Canada, where he lived with his parents, Ryan and Kelly, and two older brothers, Jesse and Bo. Rodeo has been a big part his family for many generations. Everyday Tanner and his brothers would play some sort of rodeo game, by riding calves and steering the cows around. Growing up, Tanner’s dad owned his own bulls. Some of the fondest memories of Tanner’s childhood are of when he was watching his dad fight bulls. His father never pressured Tanner into bull riding, however as Tanner would watch his father’s talent and passion in bull fighting, his own enjoyment and desire to ride bulls began. It wasn’t until Tanner was thirteen years old, that he started to bull ride and everyday his desire to want it would grow more and more.
Growing up in Canada, Tanner played every sport that you could imagine. He was fiercely competitive. His favorite sport to play was hockey. All throughout High School Tanner was on a hockey team, but the stress and demands of hockey and rodeo together, became to hard to manage. This caused him to finally pick what sport he was going to focus on and play. Tanner realized very quickly he had a great love for rodeo and from the time that he was little, it was something that he always wanted. Tanner recounted, “I remember watching the PBR events (Professional Bull Riding) and always thought I wanted to do that.” So Tanner quit hockey and focused just on bull riding. His parents were very surprised by this decision, but both help him every step of the way. He states that he would not be where he is at today, with out the example, love, and support of his amazing family and friends Tanner first started climbing on bulls when he was in high school. In the beginning his father was a bit nervous. Having seen a lot of people get injured or wrecked by bull riding, he didn’t want to see his young boy get hurt. Being the competitive kid that he was, Tanner got on a bull at the age of fifteen anyway. Tanner’s mother Kelly, drove him to his very first event. When he found out which bull he was to ride, no one gave him a chance, but due to his competitive spirit he was committed to win. At the end of eight seconds, he did just that; he won the event. When Tanner called home, his dad asked him how he did? Tanner replied, “I did it and I won it!” From that moment on, he was set up to be a great bull rider. Tanner told himself then, “I will win whatever event I am put into
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at whatever level I want to enter.” After high school, at age eighteen, Tanner moved out of the Amateur Association and onto the PBR. His whole life, all that mattered to him was to be a world champion, so he went for it. All of Tanner’s goals focused on going to the PBR. Last year, Tanner entered the PBR. In Arizona he got the opportunity to ride all three of his own bulls in the event, and achieved 14th in the world standings. Tanner states, “I felt like I was in the big leagues, the PBR was for the Pro’s, and I was finally one of them! It felt great!” Going to that event set Tanner off to go on tours. All of his hard work and dedication paid off and he was finally a champion. He knew that it was going to be difficult to stay a champion, but he would continue with his ethics of hard work and keep up his reputation. Growing up as the youngest, with two older brothers who never fought, made traveling with his family something that Tanner looked forward to. Bo and Jesse have always been amazing support and are willing to help him to succeed. Tanner looked up to his brothers and wanted to be as good as they are. His brothers have taught him all that they know and still do to this day. They travel, Fly, stay together, and hang out every weekend. The brothers’ all feed off from each other, “I’ll watch my brother Jesse get in the ring and make saves or get the bull to turn back for a rider. This drives me to be just as good as they are. They’re always wanting me to reach the next level.” The competition between the boys is not rough for them, if anything, they get excited to watch each other at the PBR ecents. Tanner got married last year to his high school sweet heart, Megan. Megan is expecting their first baby in February. she is such a strong support to him, travels with him, is his biggest fan, and is always keeping him humble. She really helped him see and achieve his goal of the PBR. She wants
I’ll watch my brother Jesse get in the ring and make saves or get the bull to turn back for a rider. This drives me to be just as good as they are. They’re always wanting me to reach the next level.
to be by his side every step of the way. Megan knows she married a champion and wants him to succeed. Tanner has a happy marriage, and when he isn’t working hard at rodeo, he is working hard doing everything he can to support his family. This year Tanner signed on with a man named Jared Allen. Jared wanted to get guys together and make a team. This was a different kind of bull riding. Tanner and his supervisory group got a hold of Michael Daphne, who is a world champion. Michael is his current coach. What most people know about bull riding is that it is a single mans
sport. You get on a bull and no one is with you. You have to be in a right state of mind in order to jump on that bull and do a good job. Pairing Tanner with Michael has created a great team. This pairing has given Tanner insight on what to do and how to make him a better bull rider. They are a very close team and every weekend they fly to events. Jared says that, “Tanner is the most dedicated person that I know. He is always willing to help anyone out who needs it and loves making new friends.” This is a sport where everyone gets along and Tanner love’s that. Tanner is very thankful for everyone who has supported him in pursuing his dreams and goals in this sport. He truly knows that without the help of his family he wouldn’t be the person or the athlete that he is today. His dreams of being a professional bull rider and making it to the top are finally coming true and he hopes to continue riding bulls for many years to come. Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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y by : Alice Gand
Randall Carlisle, Overcomer
Legacy of Hoops and Loops Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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The smile on my face doesn’t mean my life is perfect. It means I appreciate what I have and what God has blessed me with.
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P
rofessional Tie-Down Roper, Randall Carlisle, has done something no other cowboy has been able to accomplish. In high school, he became the Nation’s All-Time High School 3-point shooter with a 516 record that he still holds today. Randall had a basketball in his hand from the age of 2. It was his Grandfather Carlisle that put a rope in his hand at the age of 5, beginning a three-generation legacy of hoops and loops!
calf horse. Buster led the organizing team for the Louisiana Rodeo Cowboy Association. He and his wife Frances, were inducted into the LRCA Hall of Fame honoring their contributions to the sport. Randall’s dad Randy, began playing basketball at an early age, playing on the Junior High team when he was in the first grade. Randy is still the Nation’s All-Time High School Assist Leader with 1,592 assists. He signed with Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA, but his heart longed for the rodeo.
Clyde “Buster” Carlisle, Randall’s Grandfather, coached high school basketball in Louisiana and Texas for over 40 years. When he retired, he was the 3rd coach in America with the most wins, but his passion rested with a good
Randy built a reputation training calf horses and participating in tie-down roping events, while his sister Carol, excelled in barrel racing. Carol shared the family passion and competitiveness for rodeo and basketball as well. Tragedy
struck the Carlisle family, when Carol was fatally injured in a car wreck returning home from a rodeo. Randy blamed his sister’s death on rodeo. He quit training horses and stopped competing. Carol had always encouraged Randy to coach high school basketball like their dad, and as a tribute to her memory; he decided to complete his education. It wasn’t until Randy attended college that he met his future wife, Tammy Clark. She also loved basketball and rodeo. As per Carol’s wishes, Randy became a high school basketball coach, so he and Tammy made sure their first-born son had a basketball in his crib! Randy taught Randall basketball drills and tricks that greatly enhanced his son’s coordination. By the age of 4, Randall was invited to travel with the Harlem Globetrotters overseas because he could dribble a basketball in each hand in a manner that dazzled observers. The invitation was graciously declined! Randall loved to visit his grandfather and be around the horses. It wasn’t long before Buster had Randall roping the calf dummy with his left and right hand. Buster told Randy that Randall was very talented, but rodeo life was still too painful for Randy. A few months later, Randall followed his dad to the horse barn, as Randy had reluctantly agreed to train a friend’s horse. As Randy walked the horse out of the stall, she wheeled and kicked Randall in the head, sending him flying in the air, bleeding profusely. The frantic parents rushed him to the emergency room. Xrays showed a crack in the first layer of the skull, no brain damage, he had two black eyes, and a long row of stitches on his forehead. As the family drove home from the hospital, Randall tapped his dad on the shoulder and said, “Dad, I know I wasn’t supposed to be behind that horse, but I really want to rope.” Those words struck a chord at Randy’s heart, deeply moving the standout
basketball coach and once standout rodeo man. It was the turning point for Randy, who realized Randall, at just 5 years old, had the passion and drive to fulfill his dreams of rodeo. Randall began competing in tie-down roping events a year later. Within two years, Randall had competed in six world-championship caliber shows, winning five of them.
One night as the family gathered at the Carlisle home to celebrate Randall winning the American Junior Rodeo Association event, at 8 years of age, his two-year old sister Bethany experienced a horse accident. Her horse got spooked and she hit the ground so hard that the impact lacerated her liver, broke several ribs, and collapsed her lungs. She had to be airlifted and stayed in the hospital for over 3 months. Once again, Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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the Carlisle family overcame near-fatal adversity with stronger love for each other and increased faith in God. Randall continued to compete in rodeo events and began playing basketball in junior high. In the eighth grade he began to practice shooting incessantly. Randall played under his dad as a freshman and his grandfather as a sophomore. Randy stated, “Randall was a marked man by the age of 14. From the time he crossed midcourt, he was guarded by the other team’s best defenders.” His last two years of high school, Randall played at Lipan and Texas, and he led them to a state title his senior year. He ended his basketball career by playing in the Texas All-Star Basketball game. Statistics from that game document that Randall made 42.6 percent of his 3-point attempts during his high school career. The 5-foot-9 guard, said he used to shoot up to 1,000 shots a day at school, then come home and practice roping. Randall’s dedication and talent to basketball helped him greatly in roping; it was the wrist action of his basketball skills that greatly improved Randall’s ability to tie with lightning speed. After graduating High School, Randall decided to pursue his passion of tie-down roping and joined the PRCA, finishing 35th in the World Standings for 2006 and 38th in 2007. He was 7th in the World Standings in August 2008, when his horse Annie, became crippled. She did not recover and had to be put down. Obstacles and trials never stopped Randall, but made him more determined. Funding his traveling expenses with his winnings, he made it to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas by placing 14th in World Standings. He won Round 2 with a time of 6.8 seconds and was able to present his winner’s buckle to his grandfather, who was in a nursing home. Buster’s dream was seeing his grandson make it to the WNFR before he died 3 months later. Randall finished 20th in World
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Standings in 2008, 28th in 2009, 64th in 2010, 297th in 2011, and 52nd in 2012. In 2014, Randall barely missed the WNFR, as he was 17th in the World Standings. Randall was ranked 9th in the World Standings in May of 2015, when his horse Ricky Jack, became ill after arriving in Canada to participate in numerous rodeos. Within two days, the diagnosis required the horse be put down. The Overcomer, Randall Carlisle, is back on the rodeo circuit seasoning two new horses. This close-knit family supports each other. Randy and Tammy go to rodeos when they can and Randall attends as many basketball games as possible. Randy currently coaches boys and girls at Summerfield High School. In fact, his girls won State this year bringing the Carlisle legacy to a total of 9 State Championships. Randall is very quiet and humble, yet attracts children. He is kind, compassionate, and respectful, yet determined, dedicated, and committed to his goal. Randall is an excellent positive role model for children and young adults! He is also faithful to reading his Bible each day, attend church, and tithe all his earnings, whether on the road or at home. His favorite quote reveals his grateful heart, “The smile on my face doesn’t mean my life is perfect. It means I appreciate what I have and what God has blessed me with”. His motto is Proverbs 21:31, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.” Because of his faith and his family’s example, Randall Carlisle will be known as an overcomer long after he accomplishes his dream of being a World Champion Tie-Down Roper! This young man considers it an honor to continue the Carlisle legacy of hoops and loops with utmost integrity.
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Web: www.backontrackproducts.com Call: 1-888-758-9836 Email: info@backontrackproducts.com Rodeo Athletes Magazine / July 2015
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by : Janet Truitt
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Trula Churchill A Different kind of Cow Girl
T
rula Churchill can’t remember a single day that she wasn’t totally horse crazy. Her horse Ace, made runing around our pecans trees in the front yard, look to fun. Trula would run and run after him around these trees. Other than a few scrapes and bruises, she can still claim fame to having never knocked over any of these trees. As Trula grew older, a third generation cowgirl that was bound for the big city lights, what better way to ride into town than on a second generation WNFR qualifying horse. They call him “The Worm”. Born late at night, long, skinny and dirt brown, had a Shetland pony. Nobody but his own mother, NFR Qualifying Steer Wrestling Horse Jetta Rita, would have believed he would grow into the rodeo worlds most coveted horse by cowboys. Many people think of Friday nightlights being those of a football stadium. This was not true at the Truitt household. These lights were an indication that the Calvin and Hill Top in Muskogee were having a play day. Immediately after finishing up at school we were loading horses and getting ready to make our way to play day or MRCA Rodeo. Trula made it fine on the short runs getting there, but getting to Muskogee proved a much bigger challenge. Whether it was the excitement of going or carsickness, who knows. We always stayed at her Aunt Dixie’s house close to Mounds. One particular time, she saved her Mom a fine as we drove
through Mounds. Admittedly I was going a little fast but Trula was really sick. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw police lights light up. I pulled over, the police officer walked up to the car and asked what the hurry was. Before I could even reply, Trula looked at him and threw up all over the place. Never have seen anyone move that fast as he hollered, “have a nice day”. Trula has a very strong competitive streak in her DNA, whether it’s rodeoing, playing basketball or shooting guns, she likes winning. A prime example of this was when she came to my school to help with Super Kids’ Day. The college football coach threw down the challenge of her, mom, the coach, and another coach running in the tire tube race. The object was to run down the field and around a barrel all while being together in a bicycle tube. Everything was going good, we were ahead in the foot race until she whipped me around the barrel. I came out of the tube and went rolling across the field. Trula yelled “get up Mom, we’re going to lose the race.” Got to love a winner.
As Trula grew older, a third generation cowgirl that was bound for the big city lights.
When Trula was growing up, trying to figure out what to get her for Christmas, birthdays, or surprises was not hard. While the other girls were wanting Barbies, Cabbage Patch Dolls and jewelry, Trula’s desire was anything having to do with horses or rodeos. Whether it was Breyer horses, stables, trucks and trailers or her designing horse blankets and halters for us to construct, this was what she loved the most. Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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As everyone knows, Trula’s grandfather was Dick Truitt, World Champion Cowboy and an original member of the Turtle’s Association, which later became known as the PRCA. His gold card is number #5. Trula’s great uncle is Everett Shaw, another World Champion Cowboy and Turtle member. Her cousin was Sonny Worrell, a World Champion Steer Roper. Her blood stream is rich in rodeo history and she has loved it forever. So may the generation of cowboys and cowgirls grow. Most high school graduation speeches are things you learned, what you will do in life and people you would like to thank. Trula’s was a little bit different. Trula compared her life and the lives of others in terms of the growth cycle of horses. Some like foals would spend their lives playing and never getting settled, while others would mature a little, get on with life and then some, like racehorses. They would run with life and accomplish their dreams. One of her teachers leaned over to her dad and said, “Who would ever guess she would relate her speech to horses.” I loved it. After high school, Trula attended East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.
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She graduated with a degree in Biology and a teaching certificate so she could teach junior high and high school Science. After meeting WNFR Steer Wrestling qualifier, Linn Churchill, at a rodeo in Oklahoma City, it was only a matter of time before they were married. Trula then moved to Nebraska and continuing her love of teaching. The options were a 1 room school house, she loved it, but the arena and a growing blue colt kept drawing her back. When not on the road, Trula and Linn tend their own cattle and raising quality horses. The Churchill’s never wanted to just raise barrel horses, steer wresting or just any one event kind of horses. Churchill’s pride them selves on raising the kind of horses that anyone from any event would want. Her love for rodeo grows every day and I am proud to say, she is good at what she does.
Jody Johnson
Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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rs by : Amy Shive
Ray Smith The Alaskan with a Gold Buckle Dream
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Ray’s love for rodeo developed when he was 2 years old when his Grandpa Shivers, asked him if he wanted to ride in the Kenworth to haul in the livestock for the local Little Wranglers Rodeo in Wasilla, Alaska. Ray was more than excited to help Grandpa. After arriving at the arena, his Grandpa asked Ray if he thought he could ride a sheep. Being the confident and determined little cowboy that he was, he didn’t hesitate to take on the challenge. His grandpa signed him up and entered him in the Mutton Busting and a roping event. I arrive to hear the news and ask where Ray is. His Grandpa and Uncle Jim had taken their eyes off of him for a second and he had made his way into the center of the back pen. Needless to say, this mom was a little rattled at the sight of her toddler standing in the middle of a pen of rank bucking bulls with a smile on his face. Little did I know, that was the beginning of his dream and passion for rodeo. The Little Wrangler’s Rodeo weekends quickly became everything to Ray. He won all of his events and that season was just the beginning of the next 23 years of competing in the sport. It was February 1, 1996 in Anchorage, Alaska. Ray was 6 years old and I was on my way to pick him up from school when I had car troubles. I quickly phoned Ray’s dad Pat, and asked him to pick him up. I told Pat that I would call him back if I needed a ride too. A few minutes later I had help so I called him to let him I know that I had a ride. This is where we had a miscommunication, so no one showed up to get Ray. Ray, always being a fearless and independent thinker, took it upon himself to attempt walking home from school. He set out with a friend and reached the crossing guard that did not recognize them as usual walkers. She denied their request
to cross the busy intersection and told them to return to the school. Ray and his friend decided to keep going and attempted to cross on their own about a half mile down the road. At the time, we lived 10+ miles away and it was February in Alaska. The roads were icy and it was 10 degrees above zero that day. Ray reached a point on the road where he thought he could cross. He darted out across the road and was hit by a Dodge Van. The impact threw Ray nearly 40 feet down the road. By this time I was on my way home and felt like I should make sure he was picked up. As I turned down the busy road, an ambulance passed me with sirens blaring and I knew in my stomach that he was in there. As I kept driving I came up on the scene and saw his tennis shoes on the road. My heart dropped and a mom’s worst nightmare became my reality. This accident put him in the hospital, but never slowed him down. He stayed tough through all the stitches, broken bones and rehabilitation. As Ray likes to say, he took on a Dodge Van that day and earned his first battle scars. He has never been one to complain about pain or let it hold him back. Time and time again he has displayed the same resilience. Ray’s friends would all agree that he’s one tough son of a gun. Every year in Alaska, residents receive a Permanent Fund Check that is revenue from the oil. In 2004, a 15 year old bull rider by the name of Ray Smith had made plans for his check long before it had arrived. He convinced me to enroll him in a correspondence school that allowed him to do school work on his own schedule, travel and rodeo. This young bull rider was doing everything it took to pursue his passion. A bullfighter saw talent in Ray’s riding abilities, gave him a copy of a Humps-N-Horns magazine and suggested that he should advance his talents by
Ray has always believed that dreams have to be so big, that they are bigger than any fear or why not to always aim higher.
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Wyoming. Over the winter months, Ray did not let the harsh cold weather keep him from training. He built a bucking barrel that was parked in the snow where he and a fellow bull rider would spend hours practicing to be the best. I even spent hours out there bucking that thing for him. My shoulders would be burning from exhaustion but it was worth it to see his drive.
learning from the guru. In that magazine was an advertisement for a boot camp bull riding school at the World Champion Gary Lefew’s ranch. The bull fighter had worked on Gary’s ranch and made arrangements for Ray to fly to Santa Maria California, a couple weeks before the school, to earn his tuition by building fence and working on the ranch. He spent over a month absorbing info and doing what cowboys do best. Looking back, Ray was learning some hard lessons and growing up fast. He came home hungrier than ever for a state championship buckle. Shortly into the 2005 rodeo season he fractured his riding hand and opted to switch hands rather than sitting out. He was leading in points in the Alaska High School Rodeo Association. After switching riding hands, he proceeded to ride 7 out of 7 bulls in a row. Earning himself the Alaska High School State Championship and was selected for the elite 2005 Wrangler All-Star Rodeo Team. He was the first Alaskan cowboy to ever compete at the Nationals in Gillette,
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In 2006 Ray was on fire. He qualified for Nationals in Springfield, Illinois, selected for Captain of the Wrangler All-Star Rodeo Team, won the Alaska State Fair Championship and found out that he was going to be a daddy. On October 7, 2006 Raymond ‘Lane’ Smith was born. Little did we know that Lane was going to become quite the rodeo competitor himself and have the same love for bulls and riding as his father. Being a young dad, his desire to be a champion in and out of the arena only grew. As with everything in life, there are easy times and hard times and Ray has managed to continually push himself to grow and live by his faith in God and his dreams. In 2013 Ray was trying to make as many PBR (Professional Bull Riding) events that he could afford. He spent months jetting back and forth across the country. On October 12th at the Cowboy Dance Hall in San Antonio, Texas, he had drawn a bull by the name of Capt. Maroney. Ray had called me in California, to let me know who he drew and where he was in the lineup. He then told me that he would call me after his ride. I waited and waited for the call. Finally about 11pm, I get the call that every mother fears. Ray was in ICU with a broken jaw and fractured neck. He had gotten whipped down and knocked out before hitting the ground. While he was out, the bull stepped on his jaw and broke it in two. He came to unaware of what had happened and attempted to walk out of the arena on
his own. Thank goodness the team in the arena wasn’t letting that happen. They loaded him up on the stretcher and a paramedic had snapped a picture of him and wrote, “this bull rider Ray Smith has a lot of heart. He had to make sure the quiet crowd got a hang loose sign from him because it was more important to let the crowd know that he was ok when he needed serious medical attention. This is true grit and what bull riders are made of”. I immediately got on a flight and in Texas the next day. He tried to assure me that he was ok and not to worry. While the nurses were lecturing him on his sport of choice, he told them that he plays a man’s sport, which means he pays a man’s price. The next day after surgery, Ray again didn’t want friends and family worrying about his condition and asked for a picture to be taken of him that showed he was just fine. He got himself up and poised for the pic in true Ray Smith fashion. Through it all, he kept us laughing and stayed positive. He never once stopped thinking or talking about when he would ride again. Sometimes accidents like this make riders want to end their careers, but not Ray Smith. The day he finally talked the doctor into taking the wire out of his mouth, he was on the highway headed to a practice pen. You would’ve thought that he had just won the lottery. He has always said that we have to remember to refocus our attention and not beat ourselves up anymore. Ray has always believed that dreams have to be so big, that they are bigger than any fear or why not to always aim higher. Ray’s faith in God is strong and he will be the first one to tell you that it is truly all a man needs.
Rodeo Athletes Magazine / July 2015
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Mick E Mouse A Legend That Will Never Be Forgotten 32 |
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hen you think of the name Mick E Mouse the first thing that would come to anyone’s mind would be the cartoon character, well this was anything but that. A black body, white face with 2 black spots around his eye made this bucking bull the highlight of anyone who attended the rodeo. My name is Marlene Henry, I have raised cattle for years and this story of my bucking bull Mick E Mouse, will make you want to raise bucking bulls yourself. I had a bull calf I was raising from a bottle from Robbie Harrington. He was the son of Dillinger and I had raised him from a bottle till he was about 17 or 18 months old. I didn’t have any bucking cattle at all, I had to cross breed him from my cattle. One day this bull jumped a fence and bread my cows, months later I had four heifer cows that was out of the same bull. A friend of mine had this bull on the PBR (Professional Bull Riding) bucking bull and named him mighty mouse. So when those heifers became of age, my friend Tracy and I decided that we would breed them to Mighty Mouse. Four of them became pregnant. Mick E Mouse was the only bull calf born that had potential. I started bucking Mick E Mouse when he was about three years old by going to jackpot rodeos. Not knowing anything and what I had, soon found out that he was really good. Eventually he made it to the ABBI competitions of the 3 and 4 year olds. He did really well there, so I moved him into the ABI competition. He started out way at the bottom and I thought if I could get into the top 35, I can get into the Las Vegas ABBI. I went from the very bottom, all the way up to number 3 and got him to Vegas, his first year as an ABBI classic bull. He did really well there. I had no idea what I was doing, but I just had a bunch of people that were telling to me he was something special and they taught me things
that I needed to know. It took everyone about a year to convince me that I had a good bucking bull, and that he could compete with the big boys. I never, in my wildest dreams, dreamt that he would become what he did. At three years old, he received an injury in his bowel and he had to stay in a real small pen for six months. We got through them, and he came back and continued to buck. He had a couple more injuries, but recovered and came bucking stronger than ever each time. During everything that was going on with me and him, he was my best friend in the whole world. He had to stay in a little pen, and he was bored to death. He wasn’t able to be exercised or do anything. I would take a lawn chair out in the afternoon and talk to him. I just can’t believe going back and looking at pictures and videos, he belonged to me. He weighed 2,000 pounds, and to do what he did was just amazing. But he was just an awesome animal. It’s hard to see a bull and say “this one is going to buck”. I never had an urge to raise bucking bulls. I used to have racehorses and I never like to run race
When he came out he just exploded, he bucked him off in 1.8 seconds.
Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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horses when they were two years old. I always felt like if they weren’t mature, their bones and structure wasn’t developing, it wasn’t supposed to be. I felt the same thing about the bulls. Everything is just not all that together stable the way it is supposed to be. As he grew up and developed, I had friends that raised bucking bulls. I met with a guy who said “there’s a little place down the road form me I want you to bring your bull over one Sunday and see how he will do”. I never put a dummy on him, went straight from not bucking, straight to a rider. I took him over there and the first couple rounds he showed a little bit of potential. He would go out there he would start bucking, it wasn’t like he would come out of the gate and then turn right back in the gate, but he didn’t run off. Some of them would run off like a racehorse, he didn’t do any of that either. Then finally he is getting this. I kept entering him and trying to get into an ABBI events. Of course the
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bull not being known, it was very hard to get that done. Finally, after I kept on entering him and I finally got him entered into an event, but it was all the way in Colorado. That was all along ways where I lived. I hauled one bull all the way to Colorado, I was an absolute nervous wreck. I had no idea what I was doing or the people there, I couldn’t believe I was doing this. He first drew Marco Eguchi and I thought “oh no, first row out of the box I have a Brazilian with my first fail. Marco was hurt and he couldn’t ride him. So Savanah Alvarez wound up with him, Savanah didn’t have a clue who the bull was, but I don’t think he thought anything of it. I will just never forget this as long as I live. When he came out he just exploded, he bucked him off in 1.8 seconds. When Savanah got up from landing on the ground and looked at the big screen, his mouth was wide opened. It was like he couldn’t even believe he didn’t know who the bull was. It was like “who is this bull, where did this bull come from”. Every one just gasped. It was my most exciting moment to see the look on everybody’s face, and one of my most memorable times we had. He was a bull that he had the best personality, if he had a pile of sand he would play and roll around in it. He did a lot of cute things for big animal, his personality was the best. When my friend Kevin and I started hauling him, I told Kevin they are all making fun of me because I was in love with a bull. I told him “I promise you, in one month’s time if you had this bull, you are going to feel the same way I feel about him”. Sure enough he did. I could have never picked a better person to be a caretaker and to haul that bull. Kevin absolutely loved him, just like I did. He took phenomenal care and taught him everything. Mickey was honestly just a cool animal, he had a lot of personality. I used to
tell people if I talked and you looked at his facial expressions, he knew when I was around. Even the CBS sports guys would laugh. In the shoot, where they keep the bulls before the event, you could watch Mickey’s face and whenever I was walking around there, he would hear my voice. They had all the pens where you couldn’t see me and he would look over the top of the pen to try and find me. One of the CBS sports reporters in Huntington Beach last year, took a picture of him peeping over the truck because he could hear my voice, but couldn’t find me. He said “look, he’s looking for you, He knows your voice”. He and I were so close and had the best relationship. Whenever Mickey was away for events and then was on his way back home, and got within a mile of my house and he would know that he was close to home. He would start circling in the trailer and start bellowing. How Mick E knew, I would never know. In the off-season he always came back home for a few months and Kevin would start laughing when he got here. Kevin told me when he would get right down the road from my house, he would start doing the same thing he did our first trip back home. Even after being away from me and being someplace else for the whole season, he still did that same thing. He knew it was home. The way my house is set up, right behind my house is a barn. When he would come home he had to stay in the barn behind the house. So when I walked out my back door within 25 feet of the barn and pastor there he was. I fed him twice a day, it was funny, he would follow me all the way back to where he ate his feed. He knew that this was home and like I said, he could go and be gone for a while and then come back and it would still be home. Some people just don’t get the concept of how smart animals are. He was probably one of the smarter bulls that you will ever be around and not just things like that, even in the arena he knew where that rider was,
every moment that rider was on him and he knew where the rider was when he hit the ground. He never stepped on a rider or turned around and would try and fight a rider. He was smart, he knew if you were a left or a right hand rider, very intelligent.
He was on the road a lot and I didn’t really train him, but he was smart. He picked up a lot on his own. He wasn’t crazy, some of them get in the shoot and they flip upside down, he was never that way. I don’t know if it was just nature or if it was just being raised right in my backyard and seeing me every day, but he was truly an amazing bucking bull. A lot of people that have bucking bulls, don’t have the one on one time I had with Mickey. I think that makes us different from the time he was eight months old and I weaned him, until he turned five and went to Kevin’s with me. I think it made the total difference, he was just a smart animal more so than a lot of them. I think that the reason why Mick E Mouse was such an outstanding bucking bull, is because I am a patient person, I don’t give up. I have raised horses and you have to be patient with them. Mick E passed away March of 2015. He still owns the title of 2nd best bucking bull in 2015. I love raising bucking bulls, and I am so glad that I had Mickey in my life.
Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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LVPerformance.com Horses are our Passion
by: Michael and Anabella Mueger
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VPerformance.com was started with the idea that someone needs to offer products to the equestrian community that actually works. And with little or no governance over equine supplements, there are a lot of misleading products available on the market. Unfortunately, horse owners across the country are spending thousands of dollars on products with questionable results. That’s why equestrian and veterinarian’s assistant Anabella “Bella” Mueger founded LVPerformance.com, to provide horse owners with quality products that work with some added peace of mind. Mueger, who spent much of her life riding, working with and treating horses, is a cancer survivor who trained her focus on equine health after overcoming a personal about with cancer.
is a significant amount, but is higher than most equine probiotics on the market. Probiotics are defined as “good” bacteria that nearly any animal with a gastrointestinal tract can benefit from. When an animal (or human) digests food the body breaks down the nutrients while at the same time creating bacteria. Some of those bacteria are good probiotics while others are bad pathogens. By taking supplement that includes multiple probiotic strains we are populating the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) with good bacteria, it is necessary to fight off the bad pathogens. Probiotics are a necessity for a good balanced GIT.
Mueger’s passion for horses and her intense focus on health are the heart and soul that has grown LVPerformance. com from a small idea into an equine success story. The result, LVPerformance.com works hard to offer products that will do what they claim and is now the proud manufacturer of its own equine probiotic, Great-Gut probiotics. While looking for the top products on the market, LVPerformance.com found that not many companies were supplying a quality probiotic. Hence, LVPerfomance.com not only sells quality supplements for horses, but also offers its own probiotic designed specifically for the equine community. Many probiotic-based products do not contain living, viable probiotics and certainly do not contain equine specific probiotics. Great-Gut has over 1 billion CFU’s per 2 oz. serving which not only
Mueger’s lifelong love affair with horses is why her focus on providing quality equine products is so strong. Mueger started riding horses at the age of seven and has been passionate about the equine community ever since. She rose to be a highly ranked amateur rider when a terrible ankle injury sidelined her from rising further. But her love of horses was never sidelined. She continued her equine career as a barn manager and veterinary assistant for many years. Cancer temporarily took her focus away from horses and on to her own health. Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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It was during this battle that she found and experienced the need for quality supplements to help her through her own cancer treatments. Mueger wanted to get back to what she loved, the equine industry as soon as her own disease was in remission. The cancer survivor now brings her love for horses and her personal experience with catastrophic illness together to help the clients of LVPerformance.com make informed decisions about what they are giving their horses. “It takes years of experience to look at a horse and see what it may be ailing from, but it takes even more to listen to a client and get a verbal explanation of what may be wrong and try to point my customers in the right direction for supplements” Mueger said. “Because our customers are all over the country, I can’t possibly travel to every barn and help evaluate a horse. I now have to rely on the description from a client, which makes carrying only quality supplements even more important. I want to know that my chances of helping a horse are in the horse’s favor, not the pocket of a manufacturer.” How many times have you heard “read the ingredients of the supplement you are buying”? This is becoming a mantra for so many “experts” trying to inform the masses. Consumers often buy a product or supplement simply because someone recommended it or because a flashy advertisement caught their eye. Unfortunately, our horses can’t communicate or register results from a supplement that does not work or make them feel good. They rely on our observations and knowledge to keep them healthy. With this in mind it is paramount not only to our horses’ well-being but also our pockets for us to know what we are giving our equine friends. Probiotics have recently become a huge focus among savvy consumers. As this new supplement is also now increas-
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ing awareness in the equine market, LVPerformance.com is determined to provide its clients with a quality and reliable probiotic. LVPerformance.com is certain Great-Gut will bring a new standard of equine probiotics to the horse community. Great-Gut is among a very few probiotic supplements on the market today that come in a liquid form and one of the only that does not require refrigeration. There is a lot to consider when purchasing a product such as cost, ingredients, and whether it is made in the USA. LVPerformance.com encourages you to go beyond the pretty label and fancy advertising and really look at the product. It has been studied that when using probiotics to promote a healthy gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that host-specific probiotics have a greater chance of surviving and colonizing in the GIT. Colonization is critical as it is the ability of a probiotic to stay within the GIT and harvest additional probiotics compared to simply flushing through the system. When we feed human, or bovine, derived probiotics (which is what is in most of the equine probiotic supplements today) to our horses there are some benefits but when using equine specific probiotics we greatly increase the chance of success. “Generally, host-specific strains are believed to be able to colonize the GIT of the indigenous host for longer periods of time.” (A. Schoster, J.S. Weese and L. Guardabass published 9/17/2014) Great-Gut is specially designed to help your horse manage digestive stress caused by hay fluctuations, stress, competition, transport, surgery, hospitalization, disease, training, unhealthy diet, or changes in diet. It may also help prevent some forms of colic. The organic acids in Great Gut are what really separate it from all other probiotic products on the market. The organic
acids are not added to the product but they are a natural by-product created during the fermentation process. Organic acids lower the pH in the GI tract, creating unfavorable conditions for harmful bacteria like salmonella to survive. This results in reduced uptake of harmful bacteria by the horse and a smaller bacterial load within the GI tract. The reduction in overall bacterial load, in turn, reduces the competition between the host and its gut microflora for nutrients creating an ideal digestive environment. In short, the mission of LVPerfomance. com is to bring your horses the best possible equine supplements on the market today. We continue our commitment to helping horses and furthering not only their ability to perform at the highest levels but also to live a happy, healthy life no matter what discipline they are in.
ey by : Lynn Maun
Jesse and Shane Born to be a Rodeo Family
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“G Their love for rodeo will never end, as they support each other and live each other up like no couple I have ever seen before.
rowing up in a rodeo family, our lives consists of just that,” Said Lynn, Jessie Proctor’s mother. Tim Jessie and JB’s father was a steer wrestler in the Southern Rodeo Association and I was a secretary at the rodeos. We had two beautiful children, Jessie and JB. When Jessie and her brother JB were young, we started taking them to the Junior Southern Rodeo Association, she was 8 years when she took off at her very first rodeo adventure. JB was a just a sheep rider at that time, and Jessie ran in the barrel racing event. Jessie started out with a little barrel racing pony that was like the little engine that could where she learned the ability to ride and handle horses the way she needed to to be able to move up in the industry. One day Tim and I decided that she had out grown it and was too big of a girl to go to a rodeo with that pony, so we borrowed an old roping horse from a friend of ours and went to a rodeo. The horse made three laps around the arena and never turned a barrel once. I thought “okay, that’s it, she will never do this again” She was a very shy kid. After the rodeo a really good friend of mine Dennis, came up to me and said, “I need for you to come to my house tonight, I got something for Jesse.” When we got there, he put her on a little horse called Midget. At that moment is when my daughter fell in love with horses. Jessie and Midget rodeoed in Junior rodeo’s for four years. She competed all the way through out high school, and her senior year of high school we took her to Springville Illinois to compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo. Soon after that she turned her horses out to pursue other dreams. I remem-
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ber telling her that rodeo was in her blood, and someday she would come back to it. It wasn’t till years later Jessie would see that and return to her true passion. In 2007 Jessie would go through a trial that would forever change her life for the better. Right after it her brother JB loaded her up and took her to an event to help her clear her mind, and this is where she met the man of her dreams Shane Proctor. Since then they have been the perfect rodeo team and couple. They met at the end of July, in 2007, and would see each other on and
off at different events, and soon started dating. In June, 2008, our family went to Florida for a vacation, and Shane decided to come with us. He has been apart of the family ever sense. In 2009 Jesse and Shane got married on a show called the Poses. But the real story is that they ran off to the court house earlier that year, and told no one about it until they were married at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. They have been together since. They moved back east to North Carolina on the road that we lived on, and my grandfather had his dairy farm until two years ago when
they decided to move north to a place they could call their own. Shane came from a rodeo family as well with parents that were both teachers on the Reservation by his home town in Washington State. So in college he followed in their footsteps going to school to be a school teacher while college rodeoing until he got his first break in the PRCA, and decided to drop out and follow his true passion of rodeo. Shane is not very many credits shy of becoming a teach, and may finish someday when his rodeo career is over. Shane still travels out to Washington every
year where he puts on a bull riding school for kids wanting to follow in his footsteps, and has been doing that for 3 years now as a pro bono event where he and his sponsors do it for no cost to the students. Great friends, Brother In-Laws, and rivals Shane and JB compete against each other in many rodeos and PBR events. This has been the greatest things for them as they set on the sidelines and cheer one and other on. JB and Shane love to bring each other up in times of trials in the sport of bull riding and you will always find them telling each other Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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her best just as her husband. Jessie’s ability to being able to let Shane go get on a plane or in a van, and to manage everything makes her a very supportive wife. she mow’s the yard takes care of the pool, manages the 9 horses that they have, and cheers him on. When he is on the road and going to all the different events, the fact that he knows that she’s at home taking care of things, enables him to go and stay focused. Every time before Shane rides, he calls Jessie. They talked before he gets on a bucking bulls and as soon as he’s done. It takes a strong woman to be able to stay at home on the side of a world famous athlete like Shane, but Jessie is a true believer that what they are building is all worth the time apart.
what they should do to keep each other at the top of the game. As a mother I want both of them to go out there and do the absolute very best that they can do with what they draw. Lynn always tries to tell people that don’t know the sport of rodeo, “it is not like other sports, you don’t pull against anybody. It is a fun sport that every one can get along and achieve their dreams in.” Jesse growing up was never a very competitive, she was just happy to be there and loved going and being a part of it with her family. But a few years ago Shane and her were blessed with the most amazing horse named Boggie. Once Jessie got going and started competing with him she got going a taste of what it was like to be on such an awesome horse, and the competitive side came out. She now practices every day and is always on a horse, and if it’s raining and wet it drives her up the wall knowing that she can’t ride for several days. She knows what she wants to do and she loves being competitive, she likes going and doing
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One day this last year a tragic thing happened to Jessie’s horse Boggie at the end of her run Boogie hit head on with a flat bed of a truck in an arena, and sustained a life ending injury. After being pulled out from under the wreckage Jessie called me, and said I need you to be here, so as a mother I drove as fast as I could to get to my little girl. This was just about one of the hardest things that Jessie has had to go through when the vet had no choice but to put her down. So later that night I called the same friend that had given Jessie her first horse Miget , and said “I have a horse that meant the World to Jessie and I need you to please load him up and take him home to Jessie and Shane’s place in North Carolina, so they can give him
a proper resting place.” A few days later Shane called a guy that had a horse he and Jessie had been looking at before the accident named Miss T, but felt she was overpriced, and conclusion if it was meant to be, it’s meant to be. A few days later, Shane called and told Miss T’s owner Denis that he want her. Shane new the only way to help Jessie was to get her back running, so he went up and picked her for his wife as a get back in the saddle and ride gift. When Shane pulled up Jessie and I walked out to look at this mare, and I was completely shocked that Miss T looked exactly like Boggie, “the resemblance between the two horses was unreal,” and ever since Jessie has been back running her heart out like the athlete she has always been. Jesse and Shane “Born to be a Rodeo Family” travel together and ride together, and with not having any kids make it fun to enjoy their time together as husband and wife. Their love for rodeo will never end, as they support each other and live each other up like no couple I have ever seen before.
Rodeo Athletes Magazine / July 2015
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Mia She has become a great role model by being the first to tell a competitor good job. No matter what happens in the arena, she walks out with a smile on her face.
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by : Stacey Elias
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t was obvious very early in Mia’s career, that she was very talented in goat tying. Mia’s mother Kat, was not raised around rodeo, so she was not exactly as sure about this fact as the rest of us were. Kat and I were sitting together at a youth rodeo one day and she looked at me and asked, “Do you think she will ever be any good or are we just wasting our time and money?” At the time, Mia was in the fifth grade and was tying as fast or faster than many of the high school girls in our area, so this question took me by surprise. We all look back on that day and have a good laugh about it now.
Kat and I were sitting together at a youth rodeo one day and she looked at me and asked, ‘Do you think she will ever be any good or are we just wasting our time and money?’
In Louisiana, we live on a compound. One of my favorite memories is of Mia running across the compound after softball practice all the while still pulling on her jeans and carrying her boots in order to get in a little roping practice with her grandfather before dark. She literally ran from one practice to another. I cherish the time I spent holding goats for her until long long after everyone else had gone to bed. Mia’s introduction to rodeo was as soon as she was born. Her father was competing in steer wrestling and team roping at the time. As a toddler, she would often stay up until two or three in the morning just to watch her dad rope. By the age of three, she was warming up and cooling down my steer wrestling and heading horses. That experience really helped out when we were trying rope horses for her. At that time, we tried several different horses that didn’t quite fit. We were about to leave, when the seller said he had one more but it was not a “kid’s horse.” That’s when Casper came along. I roped on him first and thought he was way too much horse for her. Well she begged us to let her rope on him and she “hammered” every calf right out of the box. The seller just shook his head in amazement saying,
“Most grown men can’t ride that horse that well.” Needless to say we brought that horse home and it has been her go to rope horse for most of her career. Mia and Casper have pretty much dominated at goat tying for the last six years or so. She is always happiest when sitting in the saddle. Even at that early age I knew she was something special. With Mia’s natural athletic ability and Stacey’s coaching, it wasn’t long before this little eight year old was tying with the high school girls. I had to laugh at my wife when she stated, “Do you think she will ever be any good?” I had to explain to her that for a nine year old to tie a goat in nine seconds was quite amazing. We went through a lot of horses and practice stock in those Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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early years. Mia won six straight Louisiana State Goat Tying Championships. Out of the twelve rounds in her State High School Finals, Mia won eleven back to back NHSRA Goat Tying Championships (2014, 2015), NHSRA Rookie All Around 2102, NHSRA All Around 2012, and NHSRA All Around 2014. I guess to answer my wife’s question, “Yes, Mia will be alright!” Mia and her cousin participated in many playdays and rodeos. They also enjoyed tubing and spearing fish with arrows in the river that runs below our house. The only “real vacation,” as Mia calls it, is when the family goes skiing and snowboarding during the Christmas Holidays. Mia has become an accomplished skier and snowboarder over the past sixteen years. People ask me all of the time, “what makes Mia such a great competitor?” First, she has God given athletic ability and she is also very coachable. Second, her work ethic is unbelievable. I have watched her tie until her hands were bleeding. She would wrap her hands with electrical tape and then go back to practicing. She is never satisfied with a run, so when she ties in 6.8, she wants to know how she could have been 6.5, and then we go to work on that. Third, and possibly the most important, she has never had to worry about her parents or myself being upset with her if she lost. It is very hard to beat someone that competes with nothing to lose. It’s not easy being a returning champion. The pressure from the media coverage, people around you, and the pressure you put on yourself can be brutal. This summer was a tough one. Mia had set her sights on winning a third All Around at the NHSRA finals, but an injury to her break-a-way horse kept her off of him most of the year and she didn’t qualify for nationals in the break-a-way event. After a tough
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short round in Shawnee at the IFYR, she was fighting her head, struggling in the practice and jackpot arenas in Rock Springs. I was concerned about how the week was going to turn out for her. We had to sit down, get refocused, and set some new goals for the week. She was determined to win back-to-back titles in the goat tying and in order to accomplish this goal, she really needed to slow herself down and make smart solid runs. People think I’m crazy when I tell them that a 6.6 second run was the product of her just slowing down and making a smart run, but that is exactly what she did, and it paid off in a big way. I’m most proud of her for how she is outside of the arena. She has become a great role model by being the first to tell a competitor good job. No matter what happens in the arena, she walks out with a smile on her face. She is kind, genuine, and compassionate to others. You won’t hear her telling anyone about the awards she has won or boasting about her abilities. Mia enjoys the opportunity to talk and to meet girls from all over the country that have become not only her competition, but have become her friends.
Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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r by : Lisa Sheare
Jeff “Shetland” Shearer
A Cowboy from Birth
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t was early May on Mother’s Day weekend, and also falling on the weekend of the Sonora Rodeo when the man most know as Shetland was born, so it only seemed fitting years later when that baby boy grew up that wanted nothing more than to be a cowboy. The little brother to Patti, was born in the mid 60’s to Lee, oldest son of a school teacher and Security guard for the now closed Hersey Chocolate Factory in Oakdale, CA. and Wanda, the oldest of seven children to share croppers and part time horse traders.
The Sierra Foothills, just east of Oakdale California was the perfect back drop for a boy to grow up in. Rolling foothills with very few fences, a big river full of swimming and fishing holes, And of course a good rope swings here and there. It was so perfect that many Hollywood film productions would come north to use the picture perfect landscape in many TV shows & movies, such as Bonanza & Little House on the Prairie.
The influence of wanting to be a cowboy really must have come from Jeff’s mother Wanda. To those who knew her well she was “Sug”. The nick name Sug was given to her by her own father. Sug was larger than life in all 5’2” of her. In the early 1950’s Oakdale hosted the first Oakdale Clover Rodeo, Wanda Weekes, was the very 1st Rodeo Queen. Her prizes included a horse and all the tack to go with it. Jeff’s father Lee, a Cal Poly Graduate was also a Collegiate bull Rider. One of Lee’s class mates was none other than the Hall of Fame and Legendary Stock Contractor and rodeo production masters, Cotton Rosser. The exact turning point to be a cowboy was very early in Jeff’s life, and It would have to be when one of his mom’s best friends Ace Berry. Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductee, Class of 2009. Just 15 years, 11 months old when he qualified for the National Finals Rodeo the first time in 1962 – the second-youngest competitor in NFR history – Ace Berry remained a fixture there into the mid-1970s, competing at both ends of the arena. The Oakdale, California cowboy qualified for the NFR in team roping 14 consecutive years (1962-75), with 10 different partners, and earned a spot in the NFR bareback riding competition six times (1967, 1969-73). Berry and Phil Lyne are the only men to win NFR average titles in a rough stock event and a timed event in the same year. Berry won the 1972 NFR team roping title with John Miller and the bareback riding with what was then a rodeo-record 685 points, the same year that Lyne won the average in bull riding and tie-down roping. Berry also won NFR average titles in team roping in 1967 and in bareback riding in 1971.** Credits to Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Jeff was probably 5 or 6 years old when Ace put him on his first calf. Jeff was hooked and hung on to every word Ace would ever tell him. They have an ongoing friendship to this day. Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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The early 1970’s where full of colorful times. But to this small town boy nothing was more fun than loading up with Bill & Kay Martinelli and their daughters to drive around to the circuit rodeos. Bill had qualified to the National Finals Rodeo eight time and won the finals in 1965. After retiring Bill stayed close to his two loves, Rodeo and wife Kay. Bill had gone to work for the RJ Reynolds Company as the “Winston Man” taking the Winston scoreboard around to all the PRCA Rodeos. Legendary Rodeo announcer Bob Tallman said for Bill’s nomination into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City “His style has been copied by hundreds of bronc riders who may never have a chance to meet him.” When Jeff was finally old enough to enter Junior rodeo’s he start riding calves. It wasn’t until High School that Jeff started to get on bucking horses and went on to compete in Bare backs,
Jeff has spent his whole life living his dream, and from the looks of it he will be doing it for many years to come.
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Saddle Broncs and the Bull Riding. At 16, when Jeff got his Driver’s license, he was 4’10” and weighed in at 88 pounds. Jeff tells a story about being at a high school rodeo and behind the bucking chutes trying to get on a horse or bull when a parents tried to shoo him out of there thinking he was someone’s little brother. Which he was, but Patti was in the stands and Jeff was entered. Jeff recalls his first “real” bull that he ever got on was #2 Shilo, a red bull from Don Kish. He says the ride did not last very long. After High School and before College, Jeff moved north to runaway with the rodeo. Working for and learning from some of the best stock contractors in the country. His adventures took him all the way to the South Pacific, to the island of Guam, with Jim Pratt, world class Saddle Bronc rider, pick-up man
that nobody else could or wanted to ride. Most of his pickup horses in the beginning were either horses that were bred to buck and did not or horses bred to be saddle horses but bucked. Jeff has since became one of the greats in the arena as a pick-up man, and Linsay Sumpter still loves telling the story of waking Jeff up early one morning at Reno Rodeo telling him to get up, there’s a horse for him to try. It is not uncommon for people to show up at a rodeo to sell a horse they just don’t want to deal with anymore. That morn-
and well known stunt man. The job for 6 months was to put on a Rodeo Show for the Japanese Tourist. Jeff’s job was to get on Bare back horses, Saddle Broncs, ride bulls, fight bulls, double mug and when needed barrel race. But When the tour was over in Guam, Jeff came home and went to College at West Hills in Coalinga, CA for coach Bruce Hunt. College rodeo led to adding timed events to his roster of events: Team Roping and Steer Wrestling. Jeff qualified to the College National Finals in all 5 of his events. Jeff was the College Regional All-Around Champion several times. Jeff graduated from West Hills with a degree in Agriculture Business Management. Jeff headed north again after college to dedicate his life to rodeo and the western lifestyle. Little did Jeff know that a fun night out at a local jackpot team roping would be the night he would meet who become his future wife and mother of his children, Lisa. But it would take another almost 20 years to close that deal… In the early years of Jeff’s career as a pick-up man he always rode the stock contractor’s horses. As time and money could afford it Jeff would buy horses
ing a very nice lady with a young girl runs into Linsay. Linsay having grown up in this world knew exactly what she was looking for. But she was looking at what looked like a grey giraffe! All legs and neck but the structure was good, and he seemed really gentle. Jeff saddled him up after a long night, climbed on board, trotted down the back alley of Reno Rodeo, came back at the lope. Slid to stop, spun the giraffe around, jumped off and told the lady “I’ll take him.” They named him Ding Dong because at the time Jeff had a Palomino named Twinkie, it was only fitting for a horse that had so much personality. The Ding Dong that people see today looks like the Ding Dong that first showed up at Reno in 2004. Ding dong has been back to Reno every year as a pickup horse since. Ding Dong is a 2001 double registered in the American Registered Paint Horse and Pinto Horse Associations. Yet to see him he
is white/grey and can only see his paint spots in summer when he is wet. Since the day Jeff bought Ding Dong he has been one of his main horses and trusted steeds that all of his pick-up man partners in the arena have admired. So a few years back when Bobby Marriott was short a horse to take to the NFR Jeff told him to take Ding Dong. Where Bobby picked up and
used Ding Dong in the Bareback. A few years later Matt Twitchell also made it to the NFR as a pickup man and took Ding Dong as well. As a pick up man the greatest tool is your horse, and The Shearer Team of Pick-up horses are a mellower and kinder bunch of souls that have the pedigrees of champions and this is why so many look to Jeff when they need a great horse for World class events. Jeff and his family: Wife Lisa, Son Wyatt (4), and Daughter Sterling (2), a few dogs and anywhere from 3 to 10 head of horses depending on the rodeo travel together as often as possible. As a family the Shearer’s are known as one of the greatest families to be around, and that’s why after a rodeo it has never been a surprise to see all the rough stock riders at their camp telling stories and catching up as lifelong friends. Jeff has spent his whole life living his dream, and from the looks of it he will be doing it for many years to come.
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s Staff e t le h t A o e d o by : R
Stetson Lawerence
A Champion in the Making Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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S
tetson Lawerence grew up in the rodeo life style his whole life. His dad Troy Lawerence, was a bull rider for many years. Troy knew that Stetson would be good at rodeo, he would teach himself the things he had to know to be successful at this sport. Sometimes he would watch his dad for hours, learning how he rodeoed. Stetson had a brother and sister who also loved to rodeo and would all cheer each other on through the years. Him and his brother are very close, they love to watch each other in the ring and when they are both done, they talk to each other on what they did right and what to work on. Stetson family eats sleeps and breaths rodeo. His favorite part of being in a rodeo was looking out in the crowd and seeing his family cheering him on. Stetson loved to play Football and basketball, he was a running back in football and point guard in basketball. Stetson played sports all the way up until his senior year of high school when he jaw broke. When he finally felt better, doctors said that he couldn’t play both sports and do rodeo, so he chose to do one and went with rodeo. His coaches were upset, seeing that he had a lot of potential in both sports, but it became to much to do both. His hard work and dedication paid off in the long run. When Stetson got out of high school he was ready to be a pro, he would save every penny to travel. he even worked on the oil field for awhile collecting what he had so he could try and make it into the pros. Day dreaming would keep him up at night, wishing he could be where he wanted to be. When he started getting sponsors, they were so kind enough to help him out with traveling. It became a lot easier for him to practice and get his head in the
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game with out the stress of finances. Traveling was fun for Stetson. He got to meet so many people and build many lifelong friendships. Stetson soon met a beautiful women who later on became his wife, Teri Kay. She was a dental assistant in his hometown, and every one that knew her would tell Stetson that they would make a great pear. She was a barrel racer in the rodeo for many years, and was very good at it. They soon got married and with no kids, they focus all of there time on rodeo. They both travel together and she supports him every step of the way. Stetson’s favorite bulls to ride is Percolator and Roy; and if it wasn’t for his sponsors he would have never had the opportunity to be on the Built for Tough Series. His sponsors helped him make his dreams come true. he wouldn’t be where he is at today. Stetson constantly tells himself to never hold back and push through everything, “it’s not easy so when times get tough just put your head down and go after your dream.” He also says “It’s not always going to be there, and you’re not going to always going to be able to do what you love so make it count.” Stetson got an offer to be in the PBR and says,“It was just getting my foot in the door and knowing the right people.” Before he got offered this amazing offer, he had been riding bulls for 3 years. His wife was ecstatic about the offer, it was finally happening. All of Stetson’s hard work and dedication had finally paid off and then they were off to fulfill their dreams together. Traveling 2 or 3 months at a time can really wear on someone, but with the support of his wife by his side it makes it fun. Stetson likes to work out when he is not practicing for the Built Ford Tough events, and says It helps
him stay in shape so he can be fresh and ready when he jumps on a bull. He hopes to be as good as the World Champions of the past one day, so being in shape ready, and in the right mind set keeps him pushing for the fame he has always dreamed of. His wife also likes to keep up in rodeo and barrel races every chance she gets. Being a bull rider is not easy, it’s a one man sport and anyone can tell you that but with Stetsons team and family helping him makes him not want to let anyone down. “I push myself until I feel like I’m going to quit, then when I feel like I’m about to give up, I keep pushing”. Stetson said. Noting is more important to him then his family and he wants to make them proud. He also wants to impress every sponsor out there, he wants to be the best of the best and he’ll do anything he can to get there. Stetson and T.K. would love to have a family one day, that is on next for a dream to come true. He would love for his wife to continue barrel racing. “She is the best I’ve ever seen”. Said Stetson. Teri is kind and the best supporter in making Stetson’s dreams come true. Stetson will continue riding bulls and hopes to become the World Champion of the PBR one day in his future. Stetson would love to raise cattle but for now, no bucking bulls, He’ll leave that for the pros. “I take off my hat for the men and women who do that”. Stetson hopes for one day for his name to be up in lights. It didn’t happen over night for him to get to where he is now, but he hopes that everyone can hear about all of his hard work and the determination that he has put in to get him to his dream of being where he is today.
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Morgan Stanley
Financial Saving, Investing and Planning Strategies for Professional Riders, Athletes and their Families Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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An unpredictable income, short career span, and the risks and potential of premature retirement due to injury all play into the importance of implementing smart financial investing and saving strategies for professional riders and athletes. The typical athlete’s prime earning potential lasts just a few years. Successful athletes, successful investors, successful people often employ similar methods to help protect, preserve, invest, grow and save their hard earned wealth. Taking a cue from those habits can help one follow their success and improve one’s odds of having financial success long beyond a professional athlete’s career. 1) Have a PLAN: set clearly defined goals and objectives (Budgeting, Cash Flow, Retirement Objectives, Investment Objectives) 2) Identify a STRATEGY: identify the people and means necessary to achieve the plan’s goals. Start saving early, set a budget and an investment strategy
Warren S. Cohn, Senior Vice President International Wealth Advisor Sports and Entertainment Director Morgan Stanley Wealth Management | Financial Advisor 9665 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 600| Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Phone: +1 800-458-9838 Direct: +1 310-285-6553 Fax: +1 310-285-2696 Warren.Cohn@morganstanley.com Click here to view my website: http://www.morganstanleyfa.com/ warren.s.cohn/
3) Ensure you have a TEAM: Choose a financial professional who has solid experience working with professional athletes, and make sure that professional has access to resources, the capabilities of a full-service firm and the team and means necessary to deliver a customized financial advisory approach 4) Remember WHAT MATTERS: Charitable Giving, Establishing a Legacy, Having an Impact: be mindful that this is a long-term game, lasting beyond seasons and careers. Success is not counted purely by dollars and cents. This is life! It is important the professional rider and athlete understand how imperative it is to set a plan, stick to a budget, bring on the best financial resources and advisors to help achieve goals & objectives and as a team work together. As a Sports and Entertainment Director at Morgan Stanley, Warren Cohn and his team can help riders and athletes create and develop wealth planning strategies to be financially sound and secure long beyond the riding career. Please reach out and contact us for a deeper discussion on how we can help you.
Warren Cohn is a Financial Advisor with the Global Wealth Management Division of Morgan Stanley in Beverly Hills. The information contained in this article is not a solicitation to purchase or sell investments. Any information presented is general in nature and not intended to provide individually tailored investment advice. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Investing involves risks and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest. The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC, or its affiliates.
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Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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sser o R L y d in C : y b
It’s all about the
Ladies
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T
hey say behind every great man, is a good woman supporting him. Well I do believe that, and it’s the same in the sport of rodeo and raising bucking stock. The bulls and the broncs get applauded, but it’s the female that gives the superstar animal athlete 60% to 70% of its greatest abilities. Pick up any Racehorse Sale Catalog and what is listed first on the page of the Sale Horse? The female pedigree is the first thing that is listed, what she has produced, what her accomplishments are, and at the bottom is the Sire. This has been proven on the thoroughbred by collecting and analyzing many years of data in regards to great running and producing females. These days, many breeders buck their heifers at a young age before breeding them to their bull. This will give you an idea of what you have, but lineage on the female side is most likely your best information. We all got our start with grade cows, FI cross cows, and just mean high-headed big horned girls. Through the process of DNA, started by Bob Tallman in 1996 called the RSR (Rodeo Stock Registry), we are able to prove this cow produced this calf and this bull produced this bucking bull son of a gun. Over ten years ago The Professional Bull Riders Inc. (PBR), purchased the RSR from Bob, leading to what is known today as the American Bucking Bull Inc. The registry is set up to record and preserve the pedigrees of the world’s premier American Bucking Bull Breed. This registry allows these animals to retain value and proof of progeny through a bucking bull lineage. At one time a bull skeleton was even dug up at a burial site in order to recover a piece of bone to prove that the great bulls calves’ were his through the DNA process of the ABBI. This shows you just how important proof of pedigree is in this day of age.
In the Bucking Bull industry, producing females are at demanding good prices. Such as SJR 49 World Champion, bred by Steve and Julie Ravenscoft, (ABBI Classic World Champion Black Pearls dam) in 2011 sold for a record of $ 100,000. She also produced great bulls such as: Time Bandit, Pearl Jam, Buck Tail Jig and Alabama Jig. This year a number U50 Cactus Flower sold for the large amount of $ 91,000. She produced Inferno who is an ABBI Futurity Champion (winner of over $ 110,000), Nightmare, Cross Fire, and AMS 40B. All of these bulls are all money earners, and the oldest bull is out of Cactus Flower and is only four years old.
It is interesting that some cows produce futurity calves while others produce bulls with longevity in the PBR (Pro Bull Riding), PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cow Boys Association), CBR (Champion Bull Riding), and the many rodeo and bucking bull events in and across North America. Lady Rocker, Bred by Neal Gay, produced a handful of long time buckers that have also sired some great bulls. CP number 1 Kung Foo, an original Charlie Plummer cow, produced such greats as Rooster, Panhandle Slim, Superstition, and Automatic. These history-making bulls are just a few that have gone on to sire 100s of great animal athletes.
MS number 0, who was by Big Bend and bred by Monty Sanford, gave us such greats as: Night Life, Wild Life, Life of the Party, Life Sentence, Ground Zero, and 25 to Life. One of leading producing cows at this time through the process of embryo transfer is Mossy Oak Mudslinger. The Page Family has been producing great bucking bulls for many years. History shows that their bloodlines make champion bulls which they have raised. The Mr. Juicy cow TBB K319, bred by Don and Janelle Kish out of a Wolfman daughter, is producing many great buckers at this time and I am fortunate to own buck Big Naughty, who is a son of this super producing female. The Bucking Bull Breeding business started because of rodeo. The Benny Butler cow number 13 is a grade cow, however she has produced many buckers in the PRCA ranks. The Multi Embryo Producing cow, McClure number 68, born in 1987, could produce embryos in the teens to over twenty embryos, graded number one in a single flush. This ole black cow’s first calf number 94, a female, was bucked at the Junior rodeos many times and was an outstanding bucker. It was then decided by Gary McClure to breed her mother number 68, who was then flushed to the multi producing Champion Bull Whitewater Skoalm, and then to PBR World Champion Bucking Bull “Little Yellow Jacket.” Flushmates from number 68 an Whitewater were: Far North, Northern Chill, Northstar, Due North, North Wind, North Pole, along with others bucking in the Columbia River Circuit Rodeos, Bull Ridings these past years, along with several trips to the NFR and PBR Finals. The star of flush number 34 North Star had 123-recorded outs and an average score of 21.88. This just goes to show you what one ole cow can produce, and I have been told there are more embryos from her still frozen in storage for further use. Ole McClure number 68 will live on for years to come. Rodeo Athletes Magazine / October 2015
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Baby Brother, Skat Kat, Diamond Cat, Gunslinger, Houdini and Diamonds Ghost (the grand dad to “Bushwacker”), may have never existed if it weren’t for Mikel’s research.
So if you want to start a breeding program, start with good females and you will be ahead of the game. Like I said its all about the Ladies!
Many time World Champion, “ Bushwackers” Dam number 13, was bred by David Fournier with no recorded dam for her. She has produced Bushwacker, only from a live cover to Reindeer, but due to female problems that she was born with, it was decided to do In Vitro Fertilization on her to produce more calves from this Champion producing cow. She now has produced full brothers and sisters to Bushwacker through this process who were born this year. Next year through past IVF, the mattings of Troubadour and Whitewater calves will be born to the credit of number 13. Technology has given cows like number 13 the opportunity to produce when they no longer can through live cover or embryo transfer. A few of the Leading American Bucking Bull Sires of Producing Females are: Skat Kat, Mossy Oak Mudslinger, Whitewater, Mr. Juicy, Oscar Velvet, Super Dave, Houdini, Lyons King, Wolfman, Tyrell, Bodacious, Hotel California, Typhoon, Diamonds Ghost, and A6. My late son Mikel J Moreno, studied bloodlines at an early age and encouraged his dad to incorporate some producing bloodlines into our herd. Thanks to Mikel’s wisdom, some super producing cows by Durango,
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I cannot finish this story without talking about bucking horse mares. I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to watch some of the greatest bucking horse mares in the west buck at places such as Reno, Red Bluff, and Salinas. These great ladies are Angel Blue, Spring Fling, Madonna, Dreamboat Annie, Skoal Salley, Diamond Lil, Moulin Rouge, Heavens to Betsey, Manzanita Moonshine, Hot Toddy, and Floodwaters. I have to say my favorite mare of all times is Skoal Salley, the cranky little kicking ole girl. She bucked at the NFR 9 times, in the BB and SB, voted NFR horse of the finals in 1996 and 1997. She was bred to Cinnabar (Flying 5), producing a bucking stud colt named Cinnabar Sal, who also produced a handful of colts for the NFR before his untimely death. Salley’s colts bucked too darn hard, leading to 3 being injured in competition. There are now three mares in the breeding herd by Salley. All sired by different studs and those girls bucked. Two of the studs were by my barrel horse Sires and one a Peppy San Badger son. It goes to prove that Salley was bred to four different studs and every one of the colts out of her bucked. I tried the process of embryo transfers on her, but was unsuccessful due to the fact that frozen horse semen is much more delicate than bull semen. So now I am looking to a granddaughter of Salley’s to flush and produce future bucking horse stars. So if you want to start a breeding program, start with good females and you will be ahead of the game. Like I said its all about the Ladies!
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