Keeneland, PHT Blankets and Spring….

(pic source)

Good Morning OTRR Peeps!!
 
Well it is FINALLY gorgeous  here in the Bluegrass. It was gorgeous for about a week and then dropped off cold again and now it seems that Spring may be here to stay. This is always a wonderful time of year in Lexington as I am sure it is in your town as well. The spring meet at Keeneland will be opening in 2 days…..can’t wait for that!!!!!!!  Lots of competitors are getting ready for the spring and summer run in the arenas. I love that in a couple of months we will be running in outdoor pens. I love running outdoors! I don’t know about you guys but this is the time of the year where I start going through all my horsey stuff and purchasing new things for the season. I just purchased my first PHT blanket and I will do a full review after I use it for a couple of weeks. I also will be buying more polo wraps (can’t have enough) and then maybe some new western clothes for ME! So what is the must have for you and your horsey this season?????? What new piece of western fashion can you not live with out??? Leave us a comment or tell us on FB!

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Calgary Stampede rodeo lineup announced

*Photo Credit

Every cowboy who’s ever pulled on a pair of boots wants to compete at the Calgary Stampede.

The world’s richest outdoor rodeo yesterday released its roster for the 2010 event.

And, once again, it boasts the biggest names in the sport.

Headlined by Calgary’s world champion steer wrestler Lee Graves, 120 of the world’s top cowboys and cowgirls will compete for $2 million this summer.

Stampede vice president Paul Rosenberg said the July 9-18 event promises to be the best yet.

“Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it’s the best roster we’ve had since we changed our format in 2006,” Rosenberg said.

“We’ll have nine more Canadian and world champions than we had last year.”

Stampede senior manager Keith Marrington said the star-studded roster will make for another eye-popping event.

“Some people called last year’s Stampede the greatest rodeo competition ever staged — anywhere — and this year, our invite list boasts even more champions,” Marrington said of the roster that includes 64 current and past champions.

“Looking down the list, it’s a thrill to know we have 25 world champions, 24 Canadian champions and 15 Calgary Stampede champions in the field.” (read more)

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Cord McCoy Enjoys Wild Ride

Cord McCoy always knew he wanted to be a cowboy.

The fact that he’s been able to enjoy the Western lifestyle while still being able to compete in rodeo has been an added bonus for the Oklahoma native.

“I just love the country life,” McCoy said Thursday shortly after landing in Casper to compete in Saturday’s Professional Bull Riders event at the Events Center. “I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy life and I know how tough it can be, but it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”

BORN TO RIDE

McCoy, 29, grew up on a ranch just outside Tupelo, Okla., and attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University. While there he competed in all three roughstock events — bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding — for the Bulldogs rodeo team, qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper in 2001-03.

After graduating in the fall of 2003 McCoy earned his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association card and went out on the PRCA circuit.

But on Sept. 26, 2004, McCoy was competing in the Oklahoma City State Fair Rodeo when tragedy struck.

“I got bucked off and a horse kicked me in the head and pretty much crushed my skull,” McCoy said…(read more)

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Beanie Contest…

We are giving away our last beanie… so if you are interested, click on the facebook logo and answer the question on our Facebook page. We will randomly pick a winner!

Oh and while you are over there, you might as well become a fan! 🙂

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Spencer Turner…Cullman AL IPRA Rodeo Update

Spencer Turner, Winning Ride at IFR 2009

Date, Rodeo Name and Location
Friday I competed at the IPRA rodeo in Cullman, Alabama

Which horse did you draw?
I drew a grey horse branded 511

Stock Contractor?   
The contractor was 5M Rodeo Company

How was your horse in the chute?
When I saw the draw and figured out what horse I had, I started asking around about him. I had never been to one of 5M’s rodeos so I had no idea about any of their horses. The contractor said that he was a good bronc and bucked good, but he had some issues in the chute. He had a reputation of rearing up in chute and flipping over on cowboys. After hearing this several times from the contractor, I was coming up with a game plan. I was gonna keep people away from his head, and saddle him and get ready without anybody near him. This planned worked pretty well. I saddled him, climbed in chute slow and smooth and got out on him without any issues. He never attempted to flip over but he did act very nervous in there and was moving around a lot. The Lord defiantly blessed me with a smooth uneventful time in the chute.

Did you learn about the horse before hand?
The guys I asked said that he was gonna be a good a good bronc (after the whole flipping over in the chute thing). They said he was one of the horses to have in this string of horses.

Tell me about your ride, did you feel strong, did the horse perform the way you thought it would?
After getting out on him smoothly from the chute, I was ready to make a good ride. He started awesome, he didn’t cover much ground the first jump and hung in the air, I laid back and spurred him really high in the neck, the second and third jump was exactly the same. I was sick all weekend and wasn’t feeling good at all, but Laying back and spurring a good bronc, makes ya forget about feeling sick. After a few awesome jumps and me spurring great and riding great, the horse had enough. He then decided to start run bucking down the arena. He started run bucking to the other end of the arena, and gaining speed, he slowed and hopped a little when he came to the fence. I spurred him the best i could while he was run bucking but still only scored a 73 because he didn’t buck great the whole time. That score was good enough for me to take 3rd place. Even though I was sick all weekend and the rodeos didn’t turn out like I wanted, I am still blessed to be out on the road doing what I love to do, which is riding bucking horses, and I thank the Lord for that.

Comments about the rodeo? committee, hospitality, etc.
This was my first time to Cullman, AL. The coliseum was nice and the crowd was packed.

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Rodeo Update from Spencer Turner…

Date, Rodeo Name and Location
On Saturday, I went back to Montgomery, Alabama for the IPRA National All region Finals

Which horse did you draw?
The second round I drew a horse branded 226 and i think his name is Spongebob

 Stock Contractor?
The owner of this horse is Treadway Rodeo Co. There were a lot of contractors at the Finals, but I happened to draw 2 horses from the same string.

How was your horse in the chute?
He was a bigger horse and took up a lot of the chute, but he stood just fine.

Did you learn about the horse before hand?
I asked a few cowboys about the horse, they all had pretty much had the same answer. They said that he was really bucky, and that he took a lot of rein. When they say that a horse takes a lot of rein, that means that the horse bucks with their head really low and close to ground. The rein measurement is a crucial part of bronc riding, if you give a horse too much rein it’s hard to stay in saddle and lift of your rein and ride good, if it is too short then the horse can pull you over the front and possibly throw you over his head.

Tell me about your ride, did you feel strong, did the horse perform the way you thought it would?
As I mentioned in a previous update, I was really sick this weekend, and trying to block it out of my head (which is easier said than done sometimes). The horse stood well in the chute, with the advice the other guys, I gave him a lot of rein. When he left the chute, he reared out and was kinda strong. He was bucking pretty good, I was trying to get going with my spurring, but just couldn’t get things rolling like I usually do. The rein measurement I gave him was way, way too long, I was trying do deal with it, and continue to ride. Eventually the obstacle of too much rein, caught up with me and I got run out the back of my saddle and my stirrups came off my feet (which is a disqualification) and I double grabbed and jumped off. I again was disappointed with the outcome but I know that there are plenty of rodeos left in 2010. I have no excuses of getting a no score. If I was to draw that horse again, I would probably give him less rein. I have nothing against the guys who told me to give him a lot of rein. In any other circumstance that horse might buck with his head on the ground and take a lot of rein.  Some Horses buck different in outdoor pens than they do in Indoor pens. Some horses take a lot of rein outdoors but when they get indoors they buck with their head up and don’t take as much rein. Its kind of a guessing game sometimes. This weekend, I assume, I guessed wrong .

Comments about the rodeo? committee, hospitality, etc.
As I mentioned in the other update, this was first year for IPRA All Region Finals in Montgomery, AL and I think It was a big hit and I’m looking forward to going again next year.

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Rodeo Houtson Winners: Stran Smith, Sherry Cervi, Corey Petska and Turtle Powell, Ryan Gray, Rod Hay, Cody Cassidy and Shawn Hogg!!!!

 

EXTREME PAYDAY AT 2010 RodeoHouston ™ BP SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP — MARCH 20, 2010 — HOUSTON — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Stran Smith excelled past competitors to win Tie-Down Roping with a time of 8.5 seconds to win $50,000 in the BP Super Series Championship Shootout, winning a total of $54, 175.

“I rode a new horse this year. He’s one that Stetson [Vest] has been riding, but when it came to the $50,000, I knew I needed to ride a fast one,” Smith said. “ I had already figured out exactly what I would need to qualify for the NFR, so the $50,000 is an added bonus that will just make my year a little easier.”

Bareback rider Ryan Gray took the Championship by storm with a score of 90.5 to win the $50,000 prize money in the BP Super Series Championship. Gray’s total winnings equaled $55,350.

“It feels good to have that money in my pocket now looking forward to the rest of the year,” Gray said. “Winning Houston will give me a chance to get my knee fixed and take a few weeks off, then come back strong. I just had a really good ride, and it feels good to win.”

Turtle Powell and Cory Petska ran a 4.1 second run in Team Roping to win the Championship winning a total of $112,500.

“The steers in the [Championship] are always good, and to see Chad Masters and Jade Corkill run a 4.8, I knew that we had to do our best,” Powell said. “I got an outstanding start and it could have gone either way — tonight was my night.”

Petska said, “I knew that I just had to go fast, because of the guys running a 4.8. Turtle was getting out fast and turning them fast, so I just had to do my job. Winning here will take away all of the all-night drives and long-distance trips.”

Saddle Bronc Rider Rod Hay had a good night with a score of 87.5, winning a total of $54,250 and the BP Super Series Championship.

“My horse really hesitated tonight. I expected him to come out hard, but he still did a nice job tonight,” Hay said. “I won it the first time I came here and have always had good luck, but it’s been hard to get the buckle. So it feels good to finally win Houston.”

Cody Cassidy ran a time of 3.8 seconds in Steer Wrestling to grab the BP Super Series Champion title and $52,650.

“To come here and compete with the 50 best guys in the world, then come out on top just feels indescribable. My steer was supposed to run good then throw well, so I just stayed close on the barrier,” Cassidy said. “I owe all of my success to the horse I rode tonight — he’s 24-years-old and probably knows more about steer wrestling then I do. Before San Antonio I was thinking about just going home, but I’m glad I didn’t.”

Bull Rider Shawn Hogg held on for four rides to win with a score of 86.5 for the $50,000 and the BP Super Series Championship. His total earnings equaled $56,250.

“Every guy in the rodeo is great, and to start off the year with $50,000 is just great,” Hogg said. “I got my finger caught in the rope after about 4 seconds, so I just tried to float him and keep the pressure off my finger. Luckily, everything worked out. I won the 2007 circuit finals in Texas, but nothing compares to winning this. Houston definitely tops my list.”

Sherry Cervi ran a time of 14.63 to win the BP Super Series Championship and $50,000, and a total of $61,500.

“I’ve been giving my horse a break, so Fort Worth was her first one back; then bringing her here and winning is amazing. Tonight was really a tribute to my dad since he is the breeder of my horse and Cory Petska’s horse,” Cervi said. “It just really feels great to come here and win it, especially since I set a new stadium record in the Semifinals for the short pattern.”

 The RodeoHouston Super Series continues with an Xtreme Bulls competition March 21. For complete results and more information, visit rodeohouston.com.

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Fred Whitfield ropes in trip to finals

Tie-down roper Fred Whitfield has a fever — and the only prescription is more calves like Thursday’s to rope.

The local legend secured his in a sizzling 7.7 seconds to win Semifinal II and advance to the RodeoHouston Championship round for the first time since the Super Series started in 2007.

“I had that calf in the third round (of Super Series III) and tied him in 8.7 so I knew he was a really good calf,” Whitfield said. “I just wanted to take a safe start and then try to execute in the field, and I love it when a plan comes together.

“I got that calf turned around perfect and when I got to him (made) no mistakes.”

The Cypress native couldn’t afford to in a semi that saw two ropers under 9.0 — which won the first semi — fail to advance. The 7.7 was a tenth of a second off the Houston record.

Whitfield said slower times Wednesday had more to do with bigger, harder-running calves, and even better, he expects his batch to return for the 10-man final. But his semi was solid, too.

Ryan Jarrett, a former all-around world champion, was second at 8.0 and Shane Hanchey, currently No. 2 in the world, was third with an 8.4 and the Super Series earnings tiebreaker.

Trevor Brazile and Cody Ohl, with 17 world and three Houston championships between them, failed to move on. Brazile was 7.3, (read more and photo credit)

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Two more Canadians earn berths in $1.5 million rodeo finals

Curtis Cassidy won $53,000 at Houston last year and led professional rodeo’s world steer wrestling standings for the next nine months.
That won’t happen this year. He was skunked in the qualifying rounds of the $1.5 million rodeo, the regular-season’s richest stop in the U.S.

But, his younger brother Cody has a chance to duplicate the feat.
The Donalda, Alta., cowboy snuffed a steer in 4.4 seconds in Thursday night’s semifinal to tie for second three ways and advance to Saturday’s championship round.

He earned $650 for his effort and boosted his Houston income to $2,650.
The top four finishers in each of the two-leg semifinals advance to the championship round.

Lindsay Sears, the 2008 world champion from Nanton, will join the younger Cassidy in the final-day showdown. She tied for second in the barrel racing semi=final to earn $875, hiking her total income for the first 17 days of the rodeo to $5,875.

World champion Lee Graves from Calgary broke the barrier to win (read more and photo credit)

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Spencer Turner tells us about IPRA National All Region Finals

Date, Rodeo Name and Location
On Thursday and Saturday I attended the IPRA’s National All Region Finals in Montgomery, AL

Which horse did you draw?
Thursday I drew a horse branded 660. I’m not sure of the name they called it.

 Stock Contractor?
Treadway Rodeo Co., I think they are from out east, but I am not really sure, cause I have only entered one of their rodeos in the past.

How was your horse in the chute?
He wasn’t to bad, He just kinda stood there like a champ.

Did you learn about the horse before hand?
I had some cowboys that attend IPRA rodeos quite often and attend Treadway rodeos, tell me that this was one of the horses to have in this round. They said “He was just going to jump and kick in a circle to the left and just be real rider friendly”. I was kinda excited to have a horse like that for the first round of the National All Region Finals.

Tell me about your ride, did you feel strong, did the horse perform the way you thought it would?
Well, I haven’t been to many rodeos yet in 2010 and was excited to get on the road and head to Montgomery, AL. I went down there with Billy Griffin a bareback rider from Oak Grove, MO and past IPRA World Champion and Great Lakes Circuit Champion. On the way down there Wednesday night, I started feeling a little sick. By the time I woke up at my friend, Jeremy’s house in Illinois, I was feeling terrible. I totally felt bad, and really didn’t feel like driving the rest of the way down there and competing, but I did hoping I would feel better by the time I rode. Well we were running a little late and got there about 15 minutes before it started (ya think that with a combined years of rodeoing of over 33 years between Billy and I, that we would think to check when the rodeo started). So we get there with 15 minutes to spare, and I still felt TERRIBLE and was needing to adjust my saddle. So in between, helping Billy in the bareback riding and getting sick, I found a few minutes to adjust my saddle. He stood just fine in the chute and when I nodded I was really hoping he would do what the other cowboys said. Well horses are animals and can be unpredictable, knowing this, I wasn’t too surprised when he went straight down the arena and wasn’t near as bucky and rider friendly as they said he would be. I was 71 points with no option for a reride. I was a little disappointed but I know that everything happens for a reason and I was looking forward the rest of the weekend of rodeoing

Comments about the rodeo? committee, hospitality, etc.
The rodeo committee was great and the fans were even better in Montgomery for the IPRA National All Region Finals, this is the first year for the Finals in Montgomery and I think it was a hit.

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