ProRodeo Sports News June 14th, 2019

Haynes, of Athens, Texas. “We usually have our chiropractor come out and pop bones that really need it,” Sammy said. “Like before we go to the (Wrangler NFR), we have him come and adjust our horses and bulls.” Stock contractors also have doctors float teeth in their livestock, which helps them eat better. “Our (roughstock animals) are what make our living for us, so we have to take care of them,” Jacel said. “They eat better than we do. They get fed before we get fed.” IMPORTANCE OF FEED AND OTHER FACTORS Like Sammy Andrews, Lori Franzen, of Powder River Rodeo, knows the importance of keeping roughstock healthy. “We do all kinds of things,” Franzen said. “If a horse requires something or a bull requires some type of exceptional treatment, we do it. We go to Dr. Gregg Veneklasen (at the Timber Creek Veterinary Hospital in Canyon, Texas). For instance, Craig at Midnight wasn’t feeling very good at the NFR. He wasn’t quite on. We took him to Gregg, and they found that he was low in Vitamin E which can cause atrophy in muscles and stuff in horses. We are firm believers in giving them every bit of the care that we can.” Craig at Midnight was the 2016 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year and the top bareback horse at the 2017Wrangler NFR. “As soon as they got Craig back on Vitamin E, he gained his weight back and all his muscles filled back in,” Franzen said. “We took him to the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up (April 19-21), and he was the top bareback horse there. How cool is that? It proves you can keep these horses feeling at their very best by taking care of them.” Franzen operates Powder River Rodeo with her husband, Hank, and their family. They have run their stock contracting business for more than three decades. “The most important thing to us is feeding,” Lori Franzen said. “You have to give them the correct feed. If you feed your body very, very well, you’re going to perform at the top of your game. There’s not a single cowboy who isn’t on a special diet and special weight program anymore, and it is the same, exact thing for horses. We feed them a special feed that we have made specially for us in Logan, Utah. It is more expensive than your regular old oats and regular feed, but we think it is extremely important that they get those mineral packs. We are a firm believer in our almost-customized feed program of our animal athletes. “You can see the difference in an animal that gets plain, old oats versus one that’s getting mineral packets. Their coat is shiny, and they feel better and have more jump in their kick. After you take care of them inside, I do believe in giving them updated medicine to help prevent pain. They need to be treated like they’re human. We have not got to the point where we have had to use laser therapy, but I do think it is wonderful technology. Anything they can do to make them feel better is great. “People do not understand; they think an animal bucks because you make them buck. They don’t. They only buck because they want to buck, and if they want to buck, they have to and want to because they feel good. If you can give an animal the best chance at feeling good, which is wonderful feed or if they need things for their feet or legs or joints something to help them, then yes, you’re giving them a longer career and letting them do what they love to do.” Lori also said they have used chiropractors on their horses’ backs and use dental care. “We treat our horses like they are our kids,” Lori said. “We don’t buy horses, we raise all of our own. When you watch them born as a colt and then turn into like Craig at Midnight and Miss Congeniality (PRCA saddle bronc riding horse of the year in 2005 and 2007) and those kinds of horses you have raised from babies, it is the most gratifying feeling in the world to watch them perform. I think in the last 35 years we have moved to better feed and better vet practices. Everything we have done in the last 35 years has been to keep our rodeo at this top-level game. You have to progress. If you don’t progress, you are going to be left behind.”

Photo courtesy Andrews Rodeo Co. Stock contractor Sammy Andrews uses laser therapy on his horse Cat Walk. Andrews has been using laser therapy on roughstock animals since January and has been pleased with the results.

Photo courtesy Andrews Rodeo Co. Equine dentist T.J. Bohlender floats the teeth of Andrews Rodeo’s Lock- N-Load. Dental care is part of keeping roughstock animals healthy.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer Preventive care from Dr. Gregg Veneklasen of Canyon, Texas, for a Vitamin E deficiency helped Craig at Midnight return to his usual self.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/14/2019

ProRodeo.com

47