August2015 the roping pen

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August 2015

Vol. 24 No. 8

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FEATURES… SRA:

Carrie Putnam

KEEPING A STEADY PACE

NAT’L JR. HIGH FINALS RODEO:

BACK HOME WITH TITLES!

2 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 3

Table of Contents Articles & Features Does it seem like the harder you try to do something the harder it becomes to accomplish? Then you see people who just seem like they are cruising through life with no cares in the world and things just go their way. On the outside, people show a variety of different emotions and react to life in many different ways. Some put a smile on their face each day even through the wors of things, others grumble and snap out at people on bad occasions, and others seem to bounce back and forth. I am not sure where I fall in this category….. OK, honestly I do know where I sit and I will work hard to brighten the day when things just seem to not be going smooth.

What I wanted to get at though is the fact that no one really knows what may be going on in someone’s head at any moment in time. Even though they are laughing and smiling, there may be trouble at home, in a relationship or at work and they just continue to smile. Others who seem to be on the grouchy side may not have any fears or worries at all and just enjoy being grumpy. In any account, you never know what is, or has happened in someone’s life to make them the person they are today. I try not to judge too quickly, out loud anyway and have found when someone upsets me, if I sit on it for just a bit, I respond much better by analyzing all angles of the situation.

Responding wrong or taking on a fight that you have no way of winning can often become detrimental. I am not sure if you have heard about UBER? And I bet you probably would not have ever heard about the company if it wasn’t for the negative press they received from an industry trying to stop them from being successful. UBER would have been a great company in any respect as the concept is unique and very “outside the box,” but probably would not have become so big so fast if the press, good or bad would not have been so abundant.

I watched another company/industry do this not too long ago. What was once a towering company fell into the trap of trying to stop someone else from moving into their territory so hard that they actually gave the new company free press.

The new company now is one of the biggest pieces of that industry and will probably pass that old company by if they have not already done so.

I’m saying all of this because it seems people do not think too far out in front to determine the thought of another person or a company and its purpose. Sometimes we go on the fight way to fast without any caution to the outcome. Like I said before, I really try to avoid jumping to conclusions, try to sit back and understand the other side of things before I respond or make a decision. I am not sure if this a good trait or a bad, but it works for me.

UNTIL NEXT MONTH...

Dirt: keep it under your feet

~Ryan Davis

4 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

4 Dirt: Does it seem like the harder you try... . . . . Ryan Davis 10 NJHFR: Back Home With Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . Event Recap T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F. . .

12 Top Tips! Good Balance. . . . . . . . . . . . Featuring Charles Pogue

SRA

12 W. VA Championships, June 6-7. . . . . . Recap, Ben Clements

Southern Rodeo Association AHSRA

Alabama High School Rodeo Association FYRA

Foothills Youth Rodeo Association GHSRA & GJHRA

16 Ropers of the Round Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stuart Mitchell 16 Sweat & Balin’ Twine: ‘Cause I’m A Cowboy. . . John Rhudy 17 Down the Line: Be Confident. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stran Smith 18 N. AL Chanpionships, June 13-14 . . . . Recap, Ben Clements 26 Smokey Mtn. Showdown, June 6-7. . . . Recap, Ben Clements

Georgia High School Rodeo Association & Georgia Junior High Division

28 Lubrisyn Big Ticket! . . . . . . . . . . August Photo of the Month

LTRA

32 In The Loop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patrick Smith, Lone Star Ropes

LA Team Ropers’ Association NTRL

National Team Roping League NAFRA

Northeast Arkansas Family Rodeo Association NCHSRA • NCJHRA

North Carolina High School Rodeo Association North Carolina Junior High Rodeo Association SCHSRA • SCJHD • SCYRA

South Carolina High School Rodeo Association S. Carolina Jr High Div & Youth Rodeo Assoc

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31 Power Team Roping Q&A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rickey Green 40 Protecting Your Investment!. . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Strickland 48 Pushing The Barrier: Loops That Catch. . . . Speed Williams 49 Baby Birds and Such. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crystal Lyons 52 The Other Half: Clean Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gracie Mae 53 Event & Advertiser Index 53 Classifieds

Associations 6+ Southern Rodeo Association ~ SRA 24 Foothills Youth Rodeo Association ~ FYRA 30 Georgia Jr High Rodeo Assoc ~ GJHRA 31 Northeast Arkansas Family Rodeo Assoc ~ NEAFRA 34 Alabama High School Rodeo Assoc ~ AHSRA 38 N Carolina High School Rodeo Assoc ~ NCHSRA 42 LA Team Ropers’ Associtation - LTRA 44 National Team Roping League ~ NTRL 50 S Carolina HS, Jr Div, & Youth Rodeo Assoc ~ SCHSRA

On the Cover This Month: Taken at the Lubrisyn Big Ticket by C BAR C Photography Special note: The photographer for the cover photo in the July 2015 issue was incorrectly labeled. It should have been credited to John Dyar at JD Photography. We apologize for the error!

The Roping Pen is published monthly. Subscription rates are $20 per year for standard mail. First class and out of country subscriptions are $36 per year. New advertising should be received by the 10th of the preceding month to appear in next issue. Please call for advertising rates. Material may not be reproduced without permission from publisher. The opinions and views expressed in all editorial materials are those of the writer or person interviewed and are not necessarily those of The Roping Pen. Send all correspondence, change of address, etc. to: The Roping Pen • P O Box 328 • Tijeras, NM 87059

Editor: Ryan Davis 505-407-2151 rdavis@theropingpen.com

The Roping Pen • Periodical Permit ISSN 1559-0224 USPS-023083 is published monthly. Published by RJ Five LLC

The Publication office is located at 28 Rincon Loop in Tijeras, NM. Periodical Postage Paid at Tijeras, NM and additional Mailing offices.

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 5

CARRIE PUTNAM:

Keeping a Steady Pace

M

id July, from a beach on the Eastern edge of the country, before another weekend of rodeo we got a chance to catch up with one of SRA’s superstars this year. Sitting at the top of the leader-board of the association’s barrel racing event, Carrie Putnam seemed at home with talking to The Roping Pen and very excited to be part of the action inside the SRA. The 24-year old barrel racer has been an SRA member for the past several years and has really taken a hold of the spotlight this year with a new horse that has been taking her to the pay window pretty consistently, a career that is really taking shape and heavily in love with a sport that she has been in her life for a long time.

Carrie is a native North Carolina cowgirl and has always been in the rodeo / barrel racing scene. Growing up, for about as long as she can remember she has been running that clover-leaf pattern, competing for championships and chasing her dreams. Thanks to great parents that drove her all over the Southeast while she was growing up and who continue to support her rodeo ambitions today. Carrie has a truly heartfelt appreciation for all that her mother and father, Sam and Julie did for her that has helped her get to the point she is today. Where is that? Well, Carrie is at the top of the barrel racing leader-board in the SRA and is also number one in the IPRA Southeast Region and National standings as well. In fact we caught up to Carrie as she had just returned from attending several IRA rodeos where she had added a little pre to her pursuit

6 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

photos courtesy of SRA

of championship status.

Although Carrie has been a SRA member since she could enter the professional association and was a Jr. SRA member for many years prior to that, this year is marking her biggest push for the championship. In fact, she did not even qualify for the SRA finals last year and this is her first year competing at the IPRA level. The college graduate who has a business degree from East Carolina State University has edged to the top of the standings this year after finding that one thing every barrel racer needs. That is a great horse. Ace, the horse she has been riding since the end of last season is what Carrie says is making the difference.

“He just kind of fell into my lap,” admitted Carrie. “A lady who lived by me called me and wanted me to ride him and show him for her. She wanted to make sure he went to a good home and after a couple months of riding him, I new I wanted him and found a way to buy him.”

Ace is 13-years-old and from the looks of it quite the horse and a perfect match for Carrie. The young lady is more than a barrel racer and has many successes from years of working with horses.

These years have led her to a great start of a career. Using her 20 years of experience and her business degree, she has started a horse training business. She takes in horses to ride and tune up and is off to a great start as her barn stays pretty full. In addition to the new career and the weekend of barrel racing and rodeos, she

also rides for her friend WJ Casstevens who raises and trains quality horses in North Carolina.

“I want to build a name for myself,” said Carrie. “I can always go up in the industry. I am hoping I get more and more horses sent to me because I really love it. It doesn’t even feel like a real job because I enjoy it so much.”

It seems you can always catch Carrie with a smile on her face surrounded by great friends including her sister-in-law, Taylor Earnhardt Putnam and her brother Brandon. Traveling partners and friends the trio is tearing up and down the highways and byways of the Southeast, heading to or back from a rodeo. Carrie also spends a lot of time with her boyfriend Caleb Anderson who is currently rodeoing in the Western states with team roping partner Cory Kidd.

As the season turns the final corner and the SRA, as well as the IPRA heads towards home, Carrie is looking forward to the finals and a couple of months ahead of her and the chance to continue to win on the rodeo trail. It is not an easy road to be on and Carrie, the seasoned, 20 year veteran of the event can truly testify to.

However, the fun and excitement of the chance to compete and win is what defines the sport. Competition at its best, hours with great friends, a great horse to ride and the paychecks are just a few of the great memories that the rodeo trail offers and ones that Carrie will always remember.

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 7

UPCOMING RODEOS • SRARODEO.COM FOR MORE INFO!

2015 POINT STANDINGS RANK

NAME

POINTS

ALL AROUND COWBOY 1 CODY MOUSSEAU......7029.43 2 JUSTIN THIGPEN.........6321.15 3 SHANE PROCTOR.......5544.63 4 JOSH AUSTIN............4403.20 5 JACOB DAGENHART...4080.94 ALL AROUND COWGIRL 1 TAYLOR EARNHARDT.. 3675.69 2 KRISTIN MULKEY....... 2703.76 3 MIKAYLA ALMOND.....2450.42 4 TAYLOR DIGH............2298.44 5 ADDIE FAIRCHILD.......1926.14 BAREBACK 1 MATT SMITH..............3653.40 2 HAROLD MILLER........ 2812.54 3 JOSH CRAGAR........... 2357.80 4 WADE DOTSON.......... 1733.20 5 CASEY CASON............. 391.00 6 BRANDON RIPPY.........283.36 SADDLE BRONC 1 AUSTIN STEWART.......2599.00 2 SHANE PROCTOR........2537.10 3 EDDIE PARLIER.......... 2061.90 4 TRAVIS DEAL............. 1264.08 5 BEN MAYTON.............. 618.30 6 JOSH MOATES.............598.00 7 LUKE MORGAN............586.80 8 PETER HALLMAN..........586.80 9 BUD HUMPHRIES.........368.00 10 HAYDEN PHIPPS..........266.80 11 HARRY KING...............229.50 12 PRESTON FOWLKES III.220.80

NOTES TO KNOW… • ALL FINES AND TURN-OUT FEES MUST BE PAID BEFORE ENTERING A RODEO. • SRA memberships must be purchased prior to rodeo in order for points to count. Membership applications can be printed from the SRA website and are available for purchase through the SRA office and at SRA first-sanctioned rodeos. You may not be able to purchase a membership at rodeos that are not SRA first-sanctioned rodeos.

• JrSRA, NHSRA & NIRA cards are accepted for rodeo entry.

Unless otherwise noted, Permits are accepted as needed at a cost of $10 per rodeo.

ADD’L RODEO FEES: (unless otherwise noted in listing)

• SRA FIRST-SANCTIONED RODEOS:

• Office Fee: $2 per contestant • Finals Fee: $5 per entry: • Stock Contractor Fee: Amount as listed on rodeo info is per entry (per team in team roping) • IPRA/SRA RODEOS: Finals Fee: $2 per contestant CES: $8 per contestant

ABBREVIATIONS USED: ADM ADDED MONEY BB BAREBACK RIDING BR BULL RIDING CBA COWGIRLS BKWAY ROPING CBR COWGIRLS BARREL RACING CES CENTRAL ENTRY SYSTEM CR CALF ROPING

8 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

CST CENTRAL STD TIME EF ENTRY FEE EST EASTERN STD TIME SB SADDLE BRONC RIDING SC S TOCK CHARGE SCF STOCK

CONTRACTOR FEE SW STEER WRESTLING TR TEAM ROPING

BULL RIDING 1 JP COOK...................3804.06 2 COLT GALVAN............3346.96 3 SHANE PROCTOR....... 3007.53 4 WESLEY JOHNSON.....2665.90 5 BRADNEY TART..........2389.63 6 JEREMIAH KEY...........2332.50 7 CODY MARTIN........... 2125.20 8 LUKE POWELL............1991.20 9 CHAD VANAMBURG.... 1839.35 10 WESLEY BUCKNER..... 1743.04 11 RICK BYNUM............. 1654.35 12 DREW FLYNN............. 1624.90 CALF ROPING 1 THOMAS LINTON........3113.35 2 WILL CHARPING.......2862.90 3 BRADLEY BULLARD.... 2713.54 4 JUSTIN THIGPEN........2635.56 5 CORY KIRK................2224.28 6 ALLEN LIVENGOOD.... 1851.22 7 JACOB DAGENHART...1716.06 8 EARL BRADLEY...........1416.66 9 JAKE THOMASSON..... 1269.69 10 CODY MOUSSEAU..... 1235.07 11 DARYL MATTHEWS..... 1232.80 12 BRANDON PUTNAM....1150.20 STEER WRESTLING 1 CHET KIDD................ 3201.94 2 CODY MOUSSEAU...... 2798.01

RANK

NAME

POINTS

3 BRIAN BAREFOOT......2642.40 4 JUSTIN THIGPEN....... 1893.24 5 BRAD STEWART......... 1868.26 6 JAKE THOMASSON..... 1794.58 7 JOSH AUSTIN............ 1538.90 8 JASON BAGWELL....... 1396.20 9 CORD SPRADLEY........ 1235.25 10 JOSHUA HEFNER.........649.80 11 JOHN LEINAWEAVER.... 612.00 12 JOE COOK...................555.70 TEAM ROPING - HEADING 1 JASON TUCKER..........5223.79 2 DANIEL MCLAMB....... 3318.25 3 CODY MOUSSEAU.......3171.85 4 JD YOUNG................. 3152.58 5 JOSH AUSTIN............ 3145.82 6 LANGDON PLEASANT..1951.81 7 ALEX BROOKS............ 1860.57 8 JUSTIN THIGPEN....... 1792.35 9 JACOB DAGENHART....1761.88 10 CASEY HILLEY........... 1570.44 11 JW BAUCOM............... 1411.97 12 DARYL MATTHEWS...... 1111.36 TEAM ROPING - HEELING 1 CLAY FUTRELL...........4048.83 2 HEATH LEROY............ 3301.97 3 CALEB ANDERSON.....2908.85 4 CORY HONEYCUTT......2590.46 5 ADAM TOOLE.............2246.64 6 ALEX BROOKS.............1690.12 7 STEPHEN BRITNELL.....1608.16 8 BRETT SEARS............. 1604.27 9 DUSTIN RASH.............1501.97 10 ROSS BLAKENEY........ 1408.80 11 ADAM PLYLER............. 1381.17 12 CODY ARMSTRONG.....1321.69 BARREL RACING 1 CARRIE PUTNAM........9062.56 2 MEGAN LYERLY.......... 6267.88 3 REBECCA OWENS.......5036.72 4 TIFFANY DEAL............ 2581.95 5 TAYLOR EARNHARDT.. 2394.60 6 MICHELLE LUMMUS....2324.18 7 HANNAH WARLICK..... 1960.58 8 NANCY GARRISON..... 1932.08 9 JILL RIEBE..................1881.83 10 JESSICA GILBERT........1701.36 11 VANDY WALDEN......... 1659.42 12 LAUREN SMITH.......... 1505.08 BREAKAWAY ROPING 1 JAMIE ELLSWORTH....3053.94 2 KRISTIN MULKEY.......2455.36 3 LUCINDA FLETCHER...2320.64 4 HANNAH KIRK...........2034.91 5 CARSON DENNING......2017.82 6 ROBIN PRUITT........... 1988.40 7 BAILEY LIVENGOOD... 1935.79 8 AMANDA STEWART.... 1772.79 9 KYLA MATTHEWS........1769.16 10 MIKAYLA ALMOND..... 1684.46 11 MARLEE MALCOM.......1627.59 12 HAYLEY JOH KNOX..... 1366.60

POINTS AS OF 7.14.15

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 9

Nat’l Jr. High

Back Home

T

he National Jr. High School Rodeo Finals Rodeo played out at the end of June and many are returning from the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa in championship style! The competitors east of the Mississippi River were prepared to compete and the results were great. The Southeast area of the country was well represented throughout the event and every competitor should be proud of their accomplishments and the chance to compete at this great event.

Finals Rodeo:

With Titles

BOYS AQHA HORSE OF THE YEAR: 1. Little Cantiana, 485, 2. Skip’s Hickory Leo, 360 3. The Rodeo Dash, 90 • GIRLS AQHA HORSE OF THE YEAR: 1. Missin Blu Jewel, 520; 2. Wingfoot Top, 450; 3. Leo Skippa Diva, 430 • ALL AROUND COWBOY (top 10) 1. Dawson Cantu, Zolfo Springs, FL, 1,980; 2. Kash Cattoor, St George, UT, 1,565; 3. Garrett Elmore, Springer, OK, 1,485; 4. Colton Clary, Lone Rock, WI, 1,445; 5. Jessen James, Moyers, OK, 1,360; 6. Ethan Lombardo, Marshville, NC, 1,100; 7. Shad Mayfield, Clovis, NM, 1,075; 8. Cameron Southern, Thallon, 1,070; 9. Braydin Evans, Stockton, UT, 1,050; 10. Colton Oliver, Blanding, UT, 1,010 • ALL AROUND COWGIRL (top 10) 1. Caxton Martin, Alma, KS, 1,160; 2. Britta Strain, Davie, FL, Jaxon Tucker And Braxton Culpepper 1,120; 3. Kaiden Ayres, Woodlake, CA, 890; 4. Aly Ghormley, Madisonville, TX, 815; 5. Kodey Hoss, La Junta, CO, 800; 6. Greeley Eastep, Bainbridge, IN, 795; 7. Kamryn Duncan, Denham Springs, LA, 740; 8.

McKenzie Watkins, Bloomfield, NM, 730; 9­10. Payton Feyder, Lamoille, NV, 720; 9­10. Mikayla Joh Almond, Olin, NC, 720 • ALL AROUND Two National Champions heading back ROOKIE COWBOY (top 10) 1. Ethan Lombardo, Marshville, NC, 1,7100; 2. Zane Kilgus, Watsontown, Pa., 920; 3. Mason Spain, Forney, to the Southeast are Laney Robinson from TX, 860; 4. John Rose, Burns, Ore., 810; 5. Rawley Johnson, Ririe, ID, North Carolina who earned the National 665; 6. Tanner Brown, Florence, MS, 570; 7. Trevor Hale, Perryton, TX, 450; 8. Wyatt Vankoll, Brush Prairie, WA, 435; 9. Wyatt Allen, Dadeville, Barrel Racing title. She beat out a number AL, 285; 10. Lawson Tallie, Beebe, AR, 185 • ALL AROUND ROOKIE of great racers from across the country. The COWGIRL (top 10) 1. Greeley Eastep, Bainbridge, IN, 795; 2. Wacey Britta Strain Reached All-Around Status Second contestant who took home top honDay, Fleming, CO, 460; 3. Mindee Munns, Riverside, UT, 290; 4. Caity Looney, Searcy, AR, 155; 5. Jaycie Cundall, Queen Creek, AZ, 450; 6. ors was Dawson Cantu from Florida who Gabriella Pargas, Grants, NM, 420; 7. Macey Cook, Monroe, NC, 320; 8. captured the prestigious All-Around boy title.

Kylie Conner, Welsh, LA, 290; 9. Jade Tribe, Hallsville, 120; 10. Carlee Arnold, Hutchinson, KS, 80 • Girls Breakaway Average (top 5) 1.

These two great competitors will no doubt Caslyn Weidenbener, Queen Creek, AZ, 8.08; 2. Amanda Coleman, West continue to be dominant figures in the rodeo Melbourne, FL, 8.25; 3. McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, UT, 9.6; 4. world and continue to represent a growing Josey Murphy, Keachi, LA, 9.84; 5. McKenzie Watkins, Bloomfield, NM, 10.05 • BOYS BREAKAWAY AVERAGE (top 5) 1. Jake Raley, Brush and great number of cowboys and cowgirls Prairie, WA, 7.59; 2. Tegan Kohles, Hutchinson, KS, 8.44; 3. Jory Boote, from the southeast area of the country.

Binford, ND, 8.84; 4. Kason Davis, Lumberton, MS, 8.87; 5. Ty Christensen, Plain City, UT, 9.07 • BAREBACK STEER RIDING AVERAGE All-Around Champion, Dawson Cantu Others who placed well at the event were (top 5) 1. Jayco Roper, Oktaha, OK, 208; 1. Colton Clary, Lone Rock, WI, team ropers Jaxon Tucker from North Caroli208; 3. Ethan Lombardo, Marshville, NC, 201; 4. JC Mortensen, Paulden, AZ, 190; 5. Michael Merchant, Oxford, MS, 176 • SADDLE BRONC na and Braxton Culpepper from Georgia who STEER RIDING AVERAGE (top 5) 1. Parker Glenn, Edmond, OK, 178; placed well in the team roping, Britta Strain 2. Davis Mardesich, Gridley, CA, 177; 3. Cameron Southern, Thallon, 163; 4. Dillan Winn, Nehpi, UT, 154; 5. Jace Logan, Yampa, CO, 150 • who was the runner-up champion in the BARREL RACING AVERAGE (top 5) 1. Laney Robinson, Mars Hill, breakaway roping, as well as the Reserve AllNC, 46.407; 2. Greeley Eastep, Bainbridge, IN, 46.549; 3. Taylor NichAround Champion cowgirl and Michael Merols, Morristown, AZ, 46.61; 4. Jessi Jane Portenier, Caldwell, ID, 46.644; 5. Jaycie Cundall, Queen Creek, AZ, 46.706 • TIE­DOWN ROPING chant who was one of the dominate figures AVERAGE (top 5) 1. Dawson Cantu, Zolfo Springs, FL, 31.44; 2. Shad in the bareback riding event. North Carolina’s National Champ Barrel Racer Laney Robinson Mayfield, Clovis, NM, 32.2; 3. Reed Boos, White Cloud, KS, 34.68; 4.

Colton Oliver, Blanding, UT, 35.69; 5. Tom Crouse, Gallatin, MO, 36.17 • Eathan Lombardo did not only place in the GIRLS GOAT TYING AVERAGE (top 5) 1. Kamryn Duncan, Denham All-Around Cowboy standings, but was the Springs, LA, 25.75; 2. Sydney Bottom, Cheyenne, OK, 25.99; 3. Kodey Rookie All-Around Cowboy Champion and Hoss, La Junta, CO, 26; 4. McKenzie Watkins, Bloomfield, NM, 26.67; 5.

Wacey Day, Fleming, CO, 26.98 • CHUTE DOGGING AVERAGE (top placed in the Steer Bareback Riding. Staying 5) 1. Ross McGuire, Webbers Falls, OK, 10.07; 2. Quade Potter, Camin North Carolina, Mikayla Joh Almond placed bridge, NB, 10.96; 3. Avery Lopez, Bermuda Dunes, CA, 11.46; 4. Ross Barnett, Poplarville, MS, 11.6; 5. Colton Clary, Lone Rock, WI, 15.09 • in the All-Around Cowgirl standings, and RIBBON ROPING AVERAGE (top 5) 1. Jesse Chase, Mandaree, ND, Macey Cook placed in the Rookie All-Around Ashley Goldade, Baldwin, ND, 22.68; 2. Dawson Cantu, Zolfo Springs, Cowgirl standings. Mississippi cowboy Kason FL, Britta Strain, Davie, FL, 23.58; 3. Rylee Johnson, Happy, TX, Kater Rough Stock Contestant Michael Merchant Tate, McLean, TX, 24.74; 4. Garrett Elmore, Springer, OK, Kaitlyn Ramer, Davis was in the hunt for a championship in Snapping One Out In The Bareback Riding Sulphur, OK, 26.37; 5. Colter Figg, Clovis, NM, Carson Mills, Loving, NM, the Boys Breakaway finishing in fourth place, 30.09 • BOYS GOAT TYING AVERAGE (top 5) 1. Jake Anderson, Goshen, UT, 26.99; 2. Alex Darbonne, Moss Bluff, LA, 28.62; 3. Trevor Singleton, Pueblo, CO, 28.89; 4. while fellow Mississippi cowboy Tyson Etheridge placed in the Cooper Slavin, Goodwell, OK, 29.08; 5. Colton Oliver, Blanding, UT, 30.07 • POLE BENDING AVERchute dogging event. Mississippi was well represented as the duo of AGE (top 5) 1. Kaiden Ayres, Woodlake, CA, 60.864; 2. Payton Feyder, Lamoille, NV, 61.316; 3. Sophia Mason Theriot was a top roper in the Ribbon Roping with partner Gresh, Greenville, IN, 61.401; 4. Riley Donnelly, Elk Point, S.D., 61.437; 5. Shayla Dees, Paola, KS, 62.836; 5. Lena Johnson, Choudrant, LA, 62.836 • JUNIOR BULL RIDING AVERAGE (top 5) 1. Kyle Marion Scott.

McDaniel, Fort Worth, TX, 191; 2. Mason Spain, Forney, TX, 167; 3. Jake Lockwood, Volborg, Mont., 141; 4. Sticky Gleaves, Amarillo, TX, 129; 5. Cameron Southern, Thallon, 109 • TEAM ROPING AVERAGE The annual National event captures the heart and soul of the sport (top 5) 1. Blake Bowler, Enterprise, UT, TJ Bowler, Enterprise, UT, 34.16; 2. Tanner Brown, Florence, MS, of rodeo. These are the beginnings of many great careers in the roMatt Watt, Geiger, AL, 34.8; 3. Trevor Hale, Perryton, TX, Stran Morris, Woodward, OK, 35.52; 4. Brody deo arena and places that these young men and women can learn Grebe, Melstone, Mont., Corbin Fisher, Ashland, Mont., 37.17; 5. Mason Pitts, Haughton, LA, Morgan Sparks, Marthaville, LA, 37.69 • TEAM STANDINGS (top 5) 1. UT, 9440; 2. OKLAHOMA, 7810; 3. TX, and find the courage to compete. Congratulations to all of this year’s 7800; 4. LOUISIANA, 6125; 5. ID, 5140; 6. KANSAS, 4795; 7. ARIZONA, 4545; 8. CALIFORNIA, 4455; National Jr. High School Finals Rodeo competitors and to those who 9. FLORIDA, 4350; 10. MONTANA, 4345 • GIRLS TEAM STANDINGS (top 5) 1. Texas, 3105; 2.

Louisiana, 2705; 3. Arizona, 2630; 4. California, 2585; 5. New Mexico, 2575 • BOYS TEAM STANDcontinue to represent their states and compete in the greatest sport INGS (top 5) 1. Utah, 8200; 2. Oklahoma, 6790; 3. Texas, 5365; 4. Louisiana, 4080; 5. Idaho, 4050

on dirt!

10 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

photos courtesy of C Bar C Photography

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 11

I

t has been a hot, and for many a wet, summer! As the skies are bright and the heat is here, many are looking forward to what lies ahead on the team roping trail. Finals – Finals – Finals! From your local rodeo sanctioning body to the USTRC, World Series and NTRL Final events, the next few month will find many preparing for that chance to win big!

GOOD BALANCE For many, time is an issue. Full-time jobs often get in the way of quality roping practice and every minute spent in the arena seems to be quality time practicing for those big events.

“I understand many guys have jobs and don’t have the time to do as much as others,” added Charles. “They want to get home and rope, but I feel it is worthwhile for them to trade a little bit of time in the arena with time just in the saddle. I also believe that keeping your horse in shape will help them avoid injury when they compete.”

With the Fall months approaching and the chances of filling their pockets with a lot of cash at these events comes that time to really prepare. That means more time in the roping pen. For many, this is the We continued by asking Charles about what to watch for if we are time of year to make it or break it. However, is there such a thing as putting too much pressure on our horses inside the arena. “If they too much practice? Too much pressure on our horses? start not wanting to score, seem to be on the muscle or just not workWe went to our friend Charles Pogue to see how to balance time ing, I’d say they’re needing a break. Good exercise outside the arena spent practicing versus the time spent outside the arena fence. Many will help take the edge off. It allows the horse to relax.” ropers understand that too many runs can actually be detrimental to Charles also added a few tips for those who may not have time each their horse, and quality practice is often more important than quanday to keep their horses in shape. “I suggest to those who don’t have tity. the time to exercise their horses daily to at least turn them out into a “I think it is really important to ride your hoses outside the arena,” Charles said. “A guy can’t just rope on their horse all the time. I usually try to rope two to three times per week, run a few head and score a few, but I try to put a mile or two on my good horses every day.”

pasture if you can,” he said. “Let them work out soreness on their own.

They’ll get more exercise that way than just standing in a stall all day.”

So as the big events start coming, be sure to keep a good balance between practice and conditioning. Keep your horses exercised and ready with a solid schedule of both inside and outside the roping pen.

This may not seem like the right course of action when really wanting to be prepared. Practicing roping is what many believe will Tune into TotalTeamRoping.com for more tips from Charles and improve their skills, but to answer that Charles added, “In my experithe rest of the TTR pros. They are adding more and more videos from ence my horses seem to be in better shape when they are rode outside more past and current top ropers each month. Pick up a tip that can and they feel more like performing when I do rope.” give you that edge to be among some of this year’s biggest winners.

W

infield Arena and Winfield, West Virginia is the host of the West Virginia Championships. Steve Rickly produced the annual event and team ropers from around the region came to enjoy the action.

The #13 Division kicked off the weekend of roping. The winners were the Winchester, Kentucky team of Waylon and Ethan Taulbee.

They received trophy Gist knives and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

The next roping of the day was the #12 Division. Waylon and Ethan Taulbee teamed up again to win first place in the roping. The pair caught four steers in a time of 56.03 seconds for the win of the average. The win was worth trophy Gist knives and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place went to Trent Gilliam from Johnstown, Ohio and Shane Rickly of Stoutsville, Ohio. They were also the incentive champions. Third place went to Rickly and David Wright.

The #12 Gold Plus Division was the next roping of the day. When it was all said and done, the team of Donald Wilson from Vincent, Ohio and Mike Hall from Pennsboro, West Virginia won the average with a time of 42.56 seconds on four steers. They took home $798, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Joe Buchanan and Larry Habrun were second place and the third place team was Zach Waggoner and Kenny VanPelt. The team of Waggoner and VanPelt won the incentive average.

The #11 Division was next on the agenda and the winning team was Waylon Taulbee and Shane Rickly. They were 27.37 seconds on four steers and earned $1320, plus $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings and trophy Gist buckles. Second place was Zach Waggoner and Kenny VanPelt and third place went to Donald Wilson and VanPelt. Taulbee and Rickly won the incentive average also.

12 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

W.O. CRAWFORD ARENA • 1555 FEDERAL DR • MONTGOMERY, AL • BOOKS OPEN AT 8AM ROPE AT 9AM

SAT, AUG 15 • 9AM #15 Pick 1/Draw 1 or Draw 2 • 4 Hd $100/roper Must be 5 or above header/6 or above heeler #13 Pick • 4 Hd $40 roper #11 Pick 1/Draw 1 or Draw 2 • 4 Hd $100/roper #10 slide Draw 5 • 4 Hd $150/roper #9 Pick • 3 Hd $40/roper

AWARDS

In 2014, approximately $9,500 was added money from Sponsor Packages HOT HEELS for High Point roper of the weekend 3 Leon Welden Saddles: #7 or above, #6 or #5, and #4 or below Jake Steer, jackets, ropers, buckles, and other prizes will be given away

SUN, AUG 16 • 9AM CHURCH SERVICE AT 8 AM

#12 Pick 1/Draw 1 or Draw 2 • 4 Hd $100/roper #9 (capped at 5E) Pick • 3 Hd $40/roper #10 slide Draw 5 • 4 Hd $150/roper #8 Pick • 3 Hd $30/roper #7 Pick • 2 Hd $25/roper

In order to rope in Finals, you must have attended any Allen Roping Productions roping (US roping and/or monthly roping held in 2015) and purchase a $100 Sponsor Package (value of $125). The monies from the Sponsor Packages go toward added money in each roping of the weekend.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

The #10 Division was the final roping of the day and the champions were Roland Osborne and Shane Rickly as they finished the roping with a time of 43.21 seconds on four steers. They won $1992 trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Trent Gilliam and David Wright with a time of 44.47 seconds on four and third place went to Zach Waggoner and Wright. The incentive winners of the #10 Division were Chris Papotnik and Bob Coppock.

The final day of the West Virginia Championships began with the #10 Gold Plus Division. The team of Joyce Pasley and Jeff Balser won the average with a time of 41.09 on four steers. They took home $1086, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. The team of Pasley and Karr were second place and the third place team was Zach Waggoner and Kenny VanPelt. Pasley and Balser won the incentive average.

Josh Cox from Hickory, Pennsylvania and Zach Waggoner from Belpre, Ohio won the average in the #9 Division. They completed the roping with a time of 33.76 on four steers and earned $3108, plus trophy Gist buckles, and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Zach Wills and Phil Bush and third place went to Wills and Ethan Taulbee. The team of Wills and Taulbee claimed the win of the incentive average.

The final roping of the weekend was the #8 Pick/Draw. Corey Kirk and George Cole were 41.82 seconds on three steers and won the average. The win gave the team $2190, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place went to Matt Hobbs and Bill Litman and they received $1642, plus $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings and trophy Gist buckles. Third place was Dusti Jo Stapleton and Jim Costanzo.

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The Magazine for America’s Roper • 15

BY STUART MITCHELL

THE BIGGEST EAST (THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN)

As preparations began, my expectations were high Trucks, trailers and money were on my mind The only thing left, the right partner to find

Winning at “The East” was always a goal I wished to obtain To be a champion with saddles to ride and buckles my belt to ordain

Money and fame are spoils of victory to those with patience and skill Those who rope the fourth steer in the short round at will My practice for weeks before the roping begins Should pay off big today in the end Partners are entered with at the show My feelings are good, inside I’m aglow

The roping progresses just as I’d planned With one to go and three in hand Clean on three we are sitting swell To cash in our chips deep from the well

Our fourth steer had eluded us But no need to grumble, complain or cuss

There have been others who lost much more And never asked to even the score

There were World Series won by walk off home runs Super bowls lost by only one NFRs lost by tenths of a second Or won by the same in just an instant

But no one ever gave more in His life Than when Jesus was made a sacrifice When you think you’ve got it bad Just think of all Jesus could have had He gave His life that we might live Are we to proud to learn to give?

Instead of anger, learn to love As He loves us from above

But things don’t always go as we planned in our heart Even when we’ve tried our best to do our part

The next time you find yourself down after a run Look up to Heaven and talk to God’s Son

No run is over til the twine is tight So don’t look for prizes til they are in sight

The Biggest East is a roping we all love to enter But Heaven is the prize of the ultimate winner.

It takes two to makes things work And sometimes that can really hurt

‘CAUSE I’M A COWBOY

My pockets are empty, my jeans are patched The soles of my boots are worn out I’ve counted chickens that’ve never hatched And my love life has gone south

A rank horse left me with a bum knee An angry bull put the scar on my brow A weekend in Nashville rearranged my nose, you see And my back’s bad from wrestlin’ cows The list of my exes gets longer with time All the old flames have gone out I figure all the heart-broken tears have dried They’ve all found new loves by now

The woodpile is shrinkin’, the nights are so cold The wind’s found each draft in the house The horses and dogs are eatin’ me out of house and home There’s hardly anything left for the mouse

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He has the ultimate prize waiting for you If we humble ourselves as he asks us to

The trailer’s broken down so I can’t go ropin’ Hell it don’t matter, I don’t have the cash Between the doctor bills and truck payments I’m still hopin’ Part of my paycheck will last Many people have asked me many times Why don’t I just give up and quit Always I have the same old reply “You ain’t heard half of it yet”

Between the sun rising in the east end of the valley And it setting there in the west I debated and figured and contemplated and tallied And I still don’t know which one is best

Maybe when everything’s covered with new fallen snow Or a newborn calf on the ground The times up on Beartown seein’ the valley below It all adds to the peace that I’ve found

Havin’ the horses nuzzle me while I lean on the fence Or smelling freshly mown hay The dogs runnin’ and playin’ like they’ve lost all good sense Listenin’ as the night sounds close out the day There’s other jobs with more in the way of financial gain But this one’s the one brings me joy You ask why I put up with the heartache and pain Simple, ‘Cause I’m a Cowboy.

Be Confident I

remember whenever I was in junior high and I thought “When I get a little bit taller I will be able to dunk the basketball” I couldn’t wait until I grew just that little bit more that I could be big enough to dunk it. I thought when I can do that I would be set and nobody could stop me. Well I’ll have to say I was wrong. I should have spent more time practicing my shot.

In my life I have to fight that all the time. I am a planner and I always like to be looking ahead. But you have to be careful because you find yourself always looking for the next best thing. The next great horse, the next rodeo, the next good calf, the next year, the next rig, for some it might be the next season. If your always looking for the next best thing you might miss out on what you have right now. In psalms it says“For those that trust in the Lord they have all that they need.”. You have to remember that God has given you everything that you need for the season that you’re in right now. If you don’t have it right now, you don’t need it right now.

In second Samuel 12:8 it says “If you would have needed more, God would have given you more…”.

When I was in my 20s, to my knowledge, I only had 1 picture autographed for me. It was from Shawn McMullen. He was signing

www.STSRanch.com autographs at the NFR and we got to talking and he was joking around and signed me an autograph. It was my first NFR and I hadn’t even won anything yet and he wrote on the picture “If it aint happenin now, it just aint happenin yet.” Little did I know that would be the only chance I ever got to get his autograph. Less than a year later we were in a car wreck together and he died. That picture is framed and hanging in my office still to this day and I look at it every day. I cant tell you how many times I’ve said that out loud “If it aint happening now, it just aint happening yet”. I think its real important to use what God has given you to accomplish your mission for today. You have exactly what you need to fulfill your destiny. Don’t dismiss yourself or sell yourself short. You have the gifts, the talents, and the abilities to be able to get your job done whatever it might be today. So be confident in that. David just had 5 smooth stones. Sampson just had a jaw bone. Moses had a staff. Don’t underestimate what you have. You have all the right people, tools, and equipment to accomplish your mission. Now be confident enough to go reach your full potential today. If God breathes on what you have, you have more than enough.

God Bless. Until next time, see you down the line....

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 17

North Alabama CHAMPIONSHIPS NE ALABAMA AGRI- BUSINESS CENTER • RAINSVILLE, AL

June 13-14, 2015 •Produced by Ed Allen • Story by Ben Clements he North Alabama Championships produced by Ed Allen was #8 held on June 13-14, 2015 and went off without a hitch. Team ropers enjoyed a great set of cattle and while the temperature soared outside the confines of the Northeast Alabama Agri-Business Center made it comfortable for all in attendance.

​T

The first roping of the weekend was the #15 Division and the champions were the team of John Alley and Josh Clayton. They were 28.06 seconds on four steers and won $2120, trophy Gist Knives and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Cody Inman and Pineapple Figgeroa from Tennessee. Third place was Keith Bentley and Figgeroa.

​ eath King from Leicester, North Carolina and John Alley of H Adams, Tennesse won first place in the average of the #13 Division and earned them $2710, trophy Gist knives and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place went to Derrick Crawford and Pineapple Figgeroa and third place was Joel Colgrove and Figgeroa. ​The team of Blair Kelley of Florence, Alabama and John Alley finished in first place in the average of the #12 Division. They were 30.21 seconds on four steers and earned $3750, trophy Gist knives and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Kelley and

#8

#10GP

#11

#13

#10

#12

#15

JUNIOR LOOPERS

#12GP

#9

18 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

Lance Arviso and third place went to David Gaddis and Steven Farmer. The incentive champions of the roping were Michaela Williamson and Cole Curry.

​David Gaddis and Billy Lam teamed up to win first place in the average of the #12 Gold Plus Division. They finished the roping with a time of 32.18 seconds on four steers. That earned them $2040, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Steve Horne and Ed Allen and third place was Tish Luke and Rick Scruggs. The incentive winners were Joel Colgrove and Greg Mitchell. ​ Savannah Warner of Martin, Tennessee and Garrett Smith of Lebanon, Tennessee won first place in the average of the #11 Division. They were 33.51 seconds on four steers and earned $4440, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place in the average went to the team of Jacob Dicks and Glenn Davis and third place was Quick Brigance and Blair Kelley. Brigance and Kelley went home with the win of the incentive average as well.

​ he West Point, Mississippi team of Jake Pollard and Cole T Stewart won first place in the average of the #10 Division. The pair took home $4800, trophy Gist buckles, $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place in the roping went to Walter Taylor and Tyler Watt. The third place team was Kyle Inkenbrandt and Matt Darden. Jimmy Bennett and Cal Green took home the incentive win.

David Hamilton and Brandon Stepp teamed up to win first place in the average of the #10 Gold Plus Division. They finished the roping with a time of 39.38 seconds on four steers. That earned them $3090, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Jonathan Gillespie and Greg Mitchell and third place was Sonny Mooney and Fred Dobbs. The incentive winners were Gillespie and Mitchell.

The average of the #9 Division was won by Ethan Wheeler of Pisgah, Alabama and Riley Kittle of Woodland, Alabama. They were 32.47 seconds on four steers and won $6760, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place in the average went to the team of Junior Mattox and Alec Edmonson. The team won $4510 for their efforts. The third place finish went to the team of Wyatt Allen and Rodney Acker. The incentive was won by Dustin Reid and Tristan Gillespie.

​The final roping of the weekend was the #8 Pick/Draw. The team of Easton Samples and Marc Koehn won first place in the roping and took home $3450, trophy Gist buckles and $6000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. Second place was Devan Gilbert and Chris Jones and third place went to Cody Graham and Kevin Ellis. The curtain dropped on the North Alabama Championships and producer Ed Allen was pleased with the production. photos courtesy of C Bar C Photography

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Foothills Youth Rodeo Association rodeofyra.com • Follow us on Facebook!

24 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

Photos courtesy of FYRA

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 25

Smokey Mountain

SHOWDOWN 8TH ANNUAL EVENT • MORRISTOWN, TN • JUNE 6-7, 2015

J

X2 Productions teamed up with Carol original Wear for another year of great team roping in the Smokey Mountains. The Smokey Mountain Showdown in Morristown, Tennessee was well anticipated form the many ropers who have grown to enjoy this annual event. Ropers packed the house and got a chance to win lots of cash and great prizes.

Up for grabs throughout the weekend of June 6-7 was a 2-horse trailer, 4 cactus trophy saddles, 10 Maynard trophy buckles and lots

Buckle Winners

of JX2 Tack Shack Vouchers. In addition, there was plenty of cash to be won and plenty of ways to do it. The event featured five World Series of Team Roping events, (#9, #10, #11, #12 and #13) as well as 3 ropings and the big Trailer and prize roping that wrapped things up on Sunday. Least to say, ropers had chance to fill their pockets and plenty did as the roping played out.

Congratulations to all of the winners of the 8th annual Smokey Mountain Showdown!

#11 WSTR Winners: Travis Brown/ Payden Emmett

#11 Slide Winners: Heath King/ Rick Scruggs

#10 WSTR Winners: Coleman Simmons/ Chad Simmons

#9 WSTR Winners: Dale Simmons/ Eddie Epperly

#12 WSTR Winners: Benji Roberts/ Scott Davis

#10 WSTR Slide Winners:

#13 WSTR Winners

#9 WSTR Warmup Winners

Trailer Winner

26 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

photos courtesy of C Bar C Photography

Saddle Winners

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August 2015 PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Lubrisyn Big Ticket! © C Bar C Photography 28

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actiion photo courtesy of C Bar C Photography & group pics courtesy of GJHRA 30 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

It was a quick turn around from our state finals to nationals. Georgia took 16 contestants to the nationals in Des Moines, Iowa. While the week didn’t go as well as had hoped for our talented team, we did end on a couple of high notes. Joey Denney tied for 2nd in the 2nd round of the boys breakaway.

Jaxson Tucker and Braxton Culpepper had the fast time in the 2nd round and the short round of the team roping and took 8th place in the average. We will all head home to prepare for another great season and begin to look forward to the Fall months when the rodeo High School and Jr. High School rodeo season kicks back into gear again.

See you all then! ~ Joy Daniell

SHANE ASKS: Why can’t I seem to stay focused on the heels? It seems like I always look up at the back or who knows what.

RICKEY’S ANSWER: If you have ever heeled you’ve been through that Shane, what I do is to count the hops as soon as the steer leaves the box. It always brings me back into focus.

UPCOMING RODEOS: August 28-29 7 pm 3 Trees Wynne, Arkansas Sept 18-19 7 pm Rector, Arkansas FINALS: October 30-31 For Schedule Dates & Details, Contact Valerie Carr: 870.243.3724

FIND US ON FACEBOOK! SEARCH: NORTH EAST FAMILY RODEO ASSOCIATION

A FAMILY RODEO TEACHING FAMILY VALUES AND GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP For More Information – Valerie Carr: 870-243-3724

C U R R E N T MUTTON BUSTIN Jack Robbins - 20 Caleb Allison - 9 Ethan Foresythe - 9 MINI BULLS Mason Stark - 10 Konnor Maxwell 9 John Watson - 8

S T A N D I N G S :

OPEN GOAT Chandler Henfling 19 Amerra Pulley 10 Sam Massengill 9 Young Gun Barrels Jack Robbins..18 Colter Hunt - .16 Marke Andrews..7

STEER RIDING Ty Anderson 20

JR. BARRELS Chandler Henfling 20 Emily Morris 9

GOAT UNDECORATING Colter Hunt - .19 Jack Robbins 17 Marek Andrews..12

OPEN BARRELS Heather Hopkins..10 Ashley Scott 7

JR. BREAKAWAY Emily Morris 10 Sam Massengill..9 AMT TEAM ROPING Header Emily Morris ..19 Healer Sam Massengill 8 OPEN TEAM ROPING Header Jeff Jones..26 Heeler Jarred Tubbs 21 Header Luke Massengill..23 Heeler Jace Mcdaniel 18 Header Sam Massengill..15 Healer Luke Massengill

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 31

With the summer rodeos in full swing and a successful “Cowboy Christmas” behind him, we thought we’d ask Patrick Smith to give us a little insight into his ideas on maintaining his number one horses.

Patrick, how do you manage to keep your “A-String” horses tuned up and sound with respect to practice?

PATRICK’S RESPONSE: It’s not always easy to get practice on the road. Over the years, I have been fortunate to meet a lot of great people across the United States who allow me to stop in when I’m in their part of the country. This gives me a place for a quick tune-up if needed. Rodeoing for a living takes a lot of behind the scenes people to help make it easier and I appreciate all of them.

As far as soundness and health, I use Outlaw Equine in Decatur, Texas. Dr. Josh Harvey has been keeping my number one horse, Amigo, going for the last five years. Amigo has had two knee surgeries and dealt with some other minor injuries over the years.

When I get home, I like to get him to Josh and let them rehab him for a week or two. This usually involves swimming, cold salt water therapy and TheraPlate (vibration therapy), among other things. I try to always get my horses to a soft place where they can rest after a hard drive and do all I can to make the ride as comfortable for them as possible. Plenty of feed, water and the most rest possible is what I look to give to my A-String horses.

32 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

About Patrick Smith.

The two-time World Champion Smith, a native of Midland, Texas, is on a quest for a 12th qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He didn’t begin team roping until he was eighteen years old when he made some friends who were involved with roping. Just five years later, at 23, he joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, winning Rookie of the Year honors and qualifying for his first WNFR. Two years later, he won his first of two world championships. In addition to his two world titles, Smith has earned championships at almost every major rodeo, qualified for the WNFR 11 times, won two WNFR average titles and amassed over $1.6 million in PRCA earnings alone...this doesn’t include wins at the Bob Feist Invitational, George Strait Team Roping Classic, or USTRC. Patrick prefers to rope with The Shark from Lone Star Ropes in a hard medium. Smith, 35, and his wife Christi make their home in Lipan, Texas with their children Kylee, Kenzie and Elijah. At press time, Smith, who enjoys golf and riding motorcycles, held the number three spot for heelers in the Windham Weaponry PRCA World Standings with $56,603.

If you’ve got a question or comment for “In The Loop”, submit it to lonestarintheloop@gmail.com.

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 33

Alabama High School Rodeo Association National Team: Bailey O’Ferrell • Belle Carpenter • Carli Hodges Carmen Maness • Casey Cox • Charlie Langley Cole Harmon • Cross Dunn • Arica Johnson Gus Maraman • Hannah Rogers • Jared Rollins Jordan Whitman • Dustin Hyson • Josh Jeter Jacob Jeter • JW Farren • Kade Murphy Kyle McDonald • Lauryn Hoagland Lizzy Sexton • Logan McNeill • Lukas Taylor Robert Haley • Ryan Bibb • Sara Hubbard Shelby Wicker • Syndey McQueen

snapshot photos courtesy of AHSRA group shot by Jennings Photography 34 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

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North Carolina Jr High & HS Rodeo Association N

orth Carolina would like to welcome home the 2015 JUNIOR HIGH NATIONAL BARREL RACING CHAMPION... LANEY ROBINSON!!! What an outstanding achievement for Laney and her family. Laney and the rest of the North Carolina team represented the state with pride. Laney is an outstanding cowgirl, with strong roots in the rodeo business. She is a fierce competitor and stands behind all of her friends that compete win, lose, or draw. Laney carries around a positive attitude at every event she enters and represents herself, her family, and the NCHSRA with pride and respect. It is always a pleasure to watch her work on the arena floor. Miss Robinson has a bright rodeo career in front of her and I look forward to watching her compete at the High School level of competition and beyond. Congratulations again to Laney and all of the contestants that represented the NCHSRA this year!

The NCJHSRA had a great time in Iowa, congrats to those of you that made the trip and represented North Carolina! Thank you for being a part of our great association.

As the High School competitors head to Rock Springs I would like to wish them the best of luck. There are some talented athlete’s on this year’s NCHSRA team. Don’t be surprised if someone brings home another national title. ~ Adam Bolatto, President NCHSRA

Way to go, Laney!

38 • The Roping Pen • August August 2015 2015

Action shot courtesy of C Bar C Photography Other photos courtesy of NCHSRA

39

I

have wondered about what to write about for this month’s article for a couple of weeks now. I am on the road (like many of you) hitting the high school rodeo tour. After making several stops this trip which ends in Rock Springs, Wyoming I have had numerous calls about insuring a horse for a month. Or maybe to lease a horse for a month and some even to only insure them for a month. Not real sure why you would want that, but ok we can do it!

Each time we stop on the road and at different venues I get the same question. Can I insure my horse for short term? Most insurance agencies offer short term policies, but most are based on yearly rates and/or minimum amounts of premium. This means they have a minimum amount in which they charge to insure your horse. They cannot insure it below a set amount. Let’s say your horse is valued at $10,000. A yearly rate would be in the neighborhood of $340 per year. If you wanted to cover him for say only a month it would cost a minimum of $150. If you horse was only valued at $2,500 the yearly rate would be in the minimum premium earned of $150. For a month it would be the same amount. Make sense? I hope that is clearer than the mud I have been in at Shawnee, Oklahoma this year I hope!

Most companies will also allow you to lease horses and insure them as well. I have done this several times for clients over the last few weeks on their way out west. Normally you have to provide a simple lease agreement with the application to do so. Same rates apply and are all based upon a yearly term. We will provide a generic lease agreement if our clients does not have one available.

The policy is written in both parties name’s so that the owner is listed as “additional insured.” This gives them rights to any coverage’s under the terms of the policy. Lease agreements and the insurance carried on them can be extended out to one year before renewing. So, if you lease a horse for a month or any time longer you are covered. At times we have had lease horses that are bought at the end of the lease agreement. Normally we write these so that we try to benefit the client (buyer) and the insurance can then be left intact for the remainder of the term (which is normally one year).

on the policy. The only way to do this is to cancel the existing horse and add the new one. I usually discourage anyone from doing this for two reasons. For one it can’t be done legally. Two as soon as you cancel one and add the new one it seems the old one will be the one that will come up and need the insurance. Don’t ask me how or why this happens it just seems to work that way!

As stated above, I have had some callers with questions about wanting to insure for one month. We can do it and it’s absolutely fine. However, I would almost bet you can insure them for almost six months for what it would cost you for one month due to the minimum premium cost. My rule of thumb is its way easier to pay $340 a year for a horse valued at $10,000 than it is to shell out $10,000 for a new horse if it passes, breaks it leg, colic’s, etc. So always ask what the minimum amount of premium would be versus trying to insure for a month.

So in short, yes short term insurance can be written but it is also based upon yearly rates. Most insurance agencies also have minimum amounts of premium for coverage’s. YES I can insure your horse while on the road! Keep calling, emailing me, and texting me with any questions about insurance coverage’s. Good luck to all of you guys at Shawnee Oklahoma and in Rock Springs Wyoming. If you see me stop me and say hello!

I have also had several calls this month about folks changing horses or buying horses to go out west with and want to swap coverage from one horse to the next (or new horse). This cannot be done. The insurance is basically a contract on the horse listed

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LouisianAssociation Team Roping

• • • • A lateamropingassociation.com • • • •

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• • • • 337 263 0036 )

Be sure to follow us on Facebook! •

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• • •

Meet coy & cade...

the baxter boys!

C

oy and Cade Baxter from Ethel, Louisiana, are 2 brothers that share a common interest, their

love for Roping and Rodeo. Coy is 13 years old and in the 8th grade and Cade is 10 years old and in the 5th grade, they are both homeschooled students.

They have both been on the back of a horse since before they could walk. You could always

count on them to tag along with dad to work cows or put hay out in the winter. Both Coy and Cade have competed in local youth rodeos since the age of 3.

The very first time Coy picked up a rope he was hooked and hasn’t put one down since. Coy has competed in local rodeos and won several all around titles with team roping being his main event. He is a member of National Junior High Rodeo Association, Louisiana Team Roping Association and USTRC where he competes in Team Ropings throughout the year.

He is also a member National Little Britches Rodeo, where he won champion heeler for Louisiana Little Britches in Sulphur, LA in 2014, champion heeler for Cajun Little Britches in Deridder, LA in 2015, and qualified for Nationals in Team Roping in 2014 and 2015 in three events.

Cade is a member of National Little Britches and won the 2014 Rookie of the year at Louisiana Little Britches in Sulphur and qualified for Nationals in 2014. He has also qualified for Nationals in 2015.

Cade is just beginning to rope and is a memeber of Louisiana Team Roping Association where he entered his first ever team roping and won 2nd place youth header. Thanks to LTRA and their support of our youth, Cades love for roping has begun. Cade won the dummy roping at the Kajun Klassic roping in 2015. He is also a USTRC Jr looper.

These brothers share the same dream as I am sure most cowboys do, to someday be roping at the National Finals Rodeo and, who knows, maybe even as a team.

42 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

photos courtesy of LTRA

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 43

44 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 45

46 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 47

Heading Loops That Catch

L

ately the headers coming to my place have had questions about where to swing their loop, at what angle, and where their tip should point. A lot of headers watch reachers rope and see them swinging their rope with the tip pointed two or three feet over the horns.

This works, in this case, because the combination of distance and gravity allows the loop to reach the target. This particular swing does not work well when running close.

I want to talk about running close and being able to catch every cow.

This is totally different than reaching. I’m talking about riding your horse to the cow, swinging your rope and being able to deliver your rope right out of your swing. When doing this, if you swing over top of the horns and come across the horns, without changing the angle of your swing to throw, your odds of catching increase dramatically.

It just doesn’t make sense to swing three feet above your target and at the last minute, throw it down. Your odds of success when doing this are not very good.

When playing pool, advanced players use “English” to get control of the cue ball. In roping, when you swing below the horns and then raise your rope to throw it, there will be a lot of action on your rope. The problem is if you don’t have a lot of control, you’ll often split the horns.

Being able to catch every cow is especially handy when you’re high team. Your heart is pounding and all you have to do is catch. That’s when it’s crucial to ride to position and come out of your swing and rope the horns. Many people struggle with this because they think

they need to have action on their rope, but roping out of your swing is much more consistent. Once you can catch every cow, then you can be concerned with action. Like in pool, you first have to learn to make the shot before worrying about putting English on the cue ball.

On speedroping.com there are some videos where I discuss in detail swinging left to right versus roping both horns at the same time. If you’re only willing to learn to rope one way, then you will be unable to overcome the obstacles that invariably come during competition. I’ve seen this in high numbered headers who love to reach. When all they have to do is catch, they miss and split the horns because they didn’t learn to run close and catch. If you miss your high team steer, your partner will not be happy.

WHAT’S NEW WITH ME: Lately I’ve been riding a horse that was trained as a Reiner. As such he’s got some bad habits in the roping pen I’ve been working on. He tends to run with his nose inside, won’t lock on the cow, and stops with his head down. However, he’s very broke and has a lot of buttons. We have some videos of me riding him and looking like a monkey riding a border collie.

My kids are in the middle of baseball and softball. Hali was picked up by the 1st place team and they’re headed to state. Gabe and his team are undefeated this year and headed to district. We’ve been having baseball and softball camp every morning. We film the kids and then have them watch themselves on video. I hired a 16-year-old softball player so I could film her and have our girls watch their film and hers simultaneously. It’s very much like roping, where little things make a big difference.

Baby Birds and Such F

smack dab into the ceiling fan that was currently operating at a high rate speed. It sounded something like….chirp, chirp, chirp, FRAP!!

by Crystal Lyons

ound a baby bird at the barn. He was fluttering around on the ground just barely escaping his doom from a horse’s hoof. I couldn’t find a nest anywhere and it became apparent that I had him to raise or leave him to his obvious fate. So the “mother bird” process began……

I am NOT going to dig for worms and grind them up as some suggested. I reverted to canned cat food instead. Besides….I found it rather fitting to feed a bird cat food. It was sort of a whimsical touché to catdom everywhere! At any rate, it must’ve been right because he grew strong on it. He loved to sit on my kitchen windowsill and eat. He excitedly bounced around on his two little bird legs and happily fluttered his wings and chirped during feeding. In fact he NEVER stopped chirping…..even with a full mouth…the chirp sounded rather muffled while gulping down food but it was still a chirp none the less.

48 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

He had begun to fly and I would let him run loose outside. (Run loose….is that an accurate description for a bird?? Fly loose just doesn’t have the right sound.) Anyway….he would fly high up into a nearby tree….still chirping…..and when he got hungry and heard my voice he would fly out of the tree and come to “momma”. Into the house we would go and it was again, “happy meal time” on the window sill. One such feeding time, he decided to take a short flight across the living room. Off he flew….chirping as he went….and flew

I spent the next 30 minutes looking all over the room for a dead bird. Finally about 30-40 min. later I heard a rather faint half chirp.

He was on the floor behind a piece of furniture where he obviously got batted up side the living room and then slid down the wall….. knocked smooth out. He was pretty sored up for almost a week before he fully recovered. But one thing I noticed afterwards was for a while he quit flying high. He would only fly low….under the radar sort of flying. Obviously he figured that flying high was detrimental to his health! Not knowing the situation and the circumstances surrounding his eventful near death experience…..he just figured, “no more flying high for me”!! What he didn’t realize though, is that was the most dangerous thing he could do! He eventually got over his fear and took to the skies again, but it made me think.

I’ve been slapped senseless in “flight” before….slid down the wall and slowly came around in time with a massive hurt for a hangover.

And just like that bird, I concluded that seeking to reach higher is dangerous to my health, not to mention painful! So…..like him (or her..?) I decided to not reach higher, just lay low and play it “safe”.

The only problem with that is…..something inside you begins to shrivel up and die. Like becoming cat bait, the devil begins to hold you in his grasp, toying with you like a cat tortures its victim by playing with it until it stops moving altogether. Yes….we NEED to become wise to know when the atmosphere is conducive to flying or not…..but like a bird…..fly we must if we are going to become who God intended us to be! So…..exercise those wings of yours…..take an Ibuprophen for those aches and pains…..and get back up where you belong!

The Magazine for America’s Roper • 49

What is a CHAMPION?

W

ow!!! What a whirlwind this year has been. Highs, Lows and everywhere in between. Our State Finals had several shockers. At least for me anyway. We took 16 kids to Iowa for the NJHRF! What a FANTASTIC group that was.

Let me tell just a little of what we dealt with. Now I’m sure there are other states and Countries that handle similar things but for us this was unique. We had a Rookie that had ridden the same horse all year, had gotten very comfortable with this horse. She had improved so much from when she was in the Youth Division. Well for Nationals, since this was a “haul” for us, she borrowed a horse that she just practiced on a few times. Well guess what??? She ran the FASTEST time of the Rodeo in Pole Bending!! Made it to the Short Go. For a ROOKIE. A 6th grader. So awesome. We had another Rookie. This boy does everything. He rode in the First ever National Bareback Steer Riding. Guess what??? Had the HIGHEST score of the Rodeo. Finished 3rd overall in that event. He also won Rookie All Around. AWESOME. We had 3 of our kids go to the Short Go. That is the most I believe that we have had make it that far. Let me just say GO TEAM SC!!

Now that was the Feel Good story. Now for where my Title came from. At first thought you think; Well a Champion is the Winner. In our case that wasn’t necessarily true. Our Champions came from the trials and struggles we experienced and how we handled them.

We had a horse colic after arriving in Iowa. Had to go to Iowa State to be taken care of. This was not just any horse. This was Sweets. A horse that has taken care of so many kids. Taught so many to ride.

Was going to be used by several at this rodeo.

Well true to Sweets big heart, she came through like a “Champion” so that a little girl that was a little nervous to begin with could go ahead and do her Breakaway on her. We had kids that had competed against each other all year come together and offer their horses so that all events would be covered and not over use Sweets. Champions… A contestant from another state qualified in only 1 event, during her practice her horse had an aneurysm and passed away. How do you deal with that? We had kids from not just our group but other states and countries offering their mounts for this girl. Didn’t know her but felt her pain. CHAMPION!!! We had parents and grandparents in the stand SCREAMING and cheering for all the kids. Let me stress, ALL THE KIDS not just the kids from TEAM SC. CHAMPIONS. We had a mom that sat in the stands and videoed EVERY run that each of our kids did, with the exception of 1 that ran at the same time as another one of our kids was competing. Champion! We had a couple of kids helping in the roping box, giving pointers and calming nerves of contestants that were so nervous it was hard to sit still. These same kids had just had a disappointing go in their own events. Could have been whining but chose instead to forget and help! CHAMPIONS. I love all “my kids” and parents. Lloyd and I have been so blessed to be a part of this group.

Not sure how it can get any better but in just a few short weeks it starts all over. Many moving up to High School and starting another chapter in their lives. I have no doubt that whatever they do they too will know how to answer the question of What is a Champion.

For me, when I am asked What is a Champion? I know exactly how to answer… TEAM SC!!!

50 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

Photos couretsy of SCHSRA The Magazine for America’s Roper • 51

THE

Other Half

Clean Out G

© The Other Half , Melinda Clements melinda@clements.net

oodness knows it was long overdue. It was one weekend when we had no roping to go to. Yes, it’s true it was one weekend we actually stayed home. It just about killed my ropers, but nevertheless it turned out good. I guess???? Who am I kidding? It was absolutely pointless.

It was way past time to have a general clean out. The tack barn needed cleaning, the feed barn needed cleaning and the trailer was beyond description so we all agreed it was time to clean out, evaluate equipment, go through junk piles, establish a trash pile and get rid of all that stuff that was just taking up space.

They say if you haven’t used or worn something in two or three years it is pretty likely you are not ever going to use or wear it. Before we started, we had a little family pow-wow and everyone agreed we would keep the good stuff, get rid of the duplicates, throw away old stuff and maybe even have a pile to give to people in need of horse equipment, tack and other assorted items if there was, indeed, such a person.

We started in the tack barn. June Bug was in charge of carrying out and establishing the piles. Of course, she had her own personal pile and, heaven forbid, if anyone should throw away something she might need like the little pink halter that belonged to her rocking horse when she was two. By all means, it had to go in the “June Bug” pile.

I never cease to be amazed at how many ropes we have. There are good ropes, medium sorts of good ropes, and worn out ropes. Sorry, I take that back it seemed on this particular day all ropes could be used for something. Boss even commented that this one old rope could be used as a towing rope in case a vehicle breaks down. “They are much better than chains,” was his reasoning. Whatever!

Saddle blankets and pads ranged from orthopedic to wool to the very latest in saddle pad technology. I suggested, just keep one to use now and maybe two extra. Oh my gosh, you would have thought I was condemning them to the saddle pad graveyard. I mean, how many saddle pads can you use in a month or even in a year? Pretty soon we had a saddle pad pile.

Overreach boots, splint boots, and even cowboy boots soon had their own pile. Just tell me what good is one overreach boot if it has no mate.

It would be like me wearing a pair of sandals to Wal-Mart and them not match. Of course, June Bug had one pink overreach boot and one black one but we couldn’t throw them away, “just in case,” we found the other ones.

Buzzy seemed to hone in on breast collars and halters. “Look, Mom, it is the breast collar I won when I was four at the play day.” It was designed for a pony and we didn’t have a pony. I suggested giving it to the little girl down the road who had just the right size pony and he about wigged out.

A girl could never use his first breast collar. So started the breast collar pile.

Boss went along pretty well hauling stuff out of the barn until he ran onto a bridle that he used on his very first head horse. Ok, I understand sentimental attachment, kind of like Buzzy’s breast collar, but the shanks on the bit were bent and it was rusted and a sliver of metal was exposed.

The leather was worn and twisted. It wasn’t something you would use on a horse if you had any common sense at all.

Boss caressed it in his hands and I suggested it go to the trash pile. He took it there only to retrieve it minutes later and add it to the “sort of” good stuff pile. I looked at him and he only shrugged and went to gather up more stuff.

52 • The Roping Pen • August 2015

Thoughts of a Team Roping Spouse...

by Gracie Mae

Suddenly, I noticed we didn’t really have a trash pile and we had not even started on the trailer or the feed barn. We had about six different piles of assorted tack, blankets, buckets, and reins; in short, we had a lot of stuff in a lot of piles.

The bucket pile seemed to grow rapidly. If a bucket has no handle, seeps water and had been mashed by a runaway steer, would you not consider it an applicant for the trash pile? Evidently not!

What they were all saying was we are keeping all this stuff so we need to put it back into the barn. Finally, I sat down on the twisted and deformed bucket. It crumbled at my weight and I’m not quite that robust.

“Guys,” I said with kindness, patience and understanding in my voice.

“Look at all these piles. We have no trash pile. Are we cleaning out or not?”

Boss stammered and looked like the fox eating the chicken. “Look Gracie, I’d like to see you go through your closet and give away all your clothes and shoes.” I explained to him that very recently I had donated clothes to the local church and tossed out old worn out tennis shoes and worn out boots. I pointed out that I made myself give it away if I had not worn it in a year. If it had holes I trashed it. He had nothing to say.

“Here’s the deal,” June Bug spoke up. “It’s our favorite stuff. We just forgot we had it. When you forget you have it then it seems like new stuff.

When it is new stuff it is better to keep it.” Such rationalization!

Suddenly, Buzzy’s eyes lit up. “Look Dad, here’s that rope we won the average with at San Angelo.” He picked it up and began swinging it in his best header type fashion. It didn’t matter that the tail was full of stickers from being left on one of the roping steers after practice. “It’s better than the new one we bought,” he explained.

I gathered myself up out of the dirt where my bucket had collapsed.

“Here’ the deal,” I said. “Let me help you all put all this stuff back in the barn. We need to, at least, maybe organize it.”

You have never seen them move so fast. It was almost as if I was the grim reaper hauling their stuff to the bon fire. June Bug picked up a bunch of stuff in her pile and headed away from the barn.

“Where are you going?” I asked. “That stuff goes in the barn. It isn’t going in the house?”

“I’m putting in the trailer in case I need it,” she hollered back.

“That’s a good idea,” Buzzy chimed in as he gathered up an armful of assorted items and headed toward June Bug. “Here Buzzy,” Boss hollered. “Take this rope and this headstall. I’ll probably change those out.”

Did I miss something here? Am I walking around in a fog? Clean Out!!!

What do those words mean to you? So now we cleaned out the barn and will start on the trailer. Are you kidding me?

I squatted back down in the dirt. I watched the frenzy to gather up stuff. Honestly, ropers baffle me. Their sense of reasoning and common sense is, well…who knows what their sense of reasoning and common sense is?

I’m not a pack rat but then again I’m not a roper. I realize every little piece of leather, every old headstall, every used up rope can be used for something. Even those roping gloves can be salvaged and used for something. After all, everyone needs some old worn out, burned up, holey roping gloves. They work really well in a variety of situations.

Next time you plan a clean out do it when all your ropers are gone for the weekend on a roping run. It will go faster, it is your judgment call and above all they won’t miss what they don’t see.

Keep Ropin’... Love, Gracie

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C Bar C Photography . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Cactus Ropes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Priefert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Red Bluff Buckles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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Kim Jones Memorial Roping . . 36 SE Regional Finals USTRC . . . . . 37 NTRL News & Events . . . . . . . . . . 44 Beast of the East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 SE Showdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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