PRORODEO Sports News - Nov. 7, 2025

NUTRENA HORSES OF THE YEAR: THE TOP HORSES IN PRORODEO By Zach Alvira and Alex Dodd S uccess in rodeo doesn’t fall on just the cowboys and cowgirls. Horses play just as big of a role when they step into a PRORODEO arena. The Nutrena Horse of the Year Awards presented by AQHA recognize PRORODEO’s top horses.

PRCA photo by Click Thompson

PRCA photo by John Pyle

STEER WRESTLING TELLE EM PYC “BANKER” Owner: Justin Shaffer Rider: Justin Shaffer, Tucker Allen, Jesse Brown, Hold en Myers and Jace Melvin Why the horse is special: Banker sets himself apart from other horses with his speed out of the box, his discipline and his ability to adjust to different riders. His intelligence allows him to be successful in every arena he enters. That was on display multiple times this season, in cluding the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, S.D., where Justin Shaffer won the steer wrestling crown. Banker is 10 years old. He’s 15.5 hands and weighs 1,150 pounds. This is his first Nutrena Horse of the Year Award. Hear it from Justin: “He’s very deserving. Just hav ing that conversation with Tucker about the exciting news … Tucker Allen rode him all year. It’s very deserving to the horse whether I own him or not. I take a lot of pride in owning him but the horse himself deserved it.”

TEAM ROPING HEADER MR. JOES SHADOW BAR “JOE” Owner: Clint and Darren Summers Rider: Clint Summers Why the horse is special: The best word to describe Joe is consistent. He doesn’t try to stray away from tech nique during a run. When Summers rides Joe, he knows exactly what he’s going to get out of him. Whether he is during a slower time of the season or in the middle of a summer run, Joe always provides the opportunity for Summers to score at rodeos. Joe is 14 years old and 15.1 hands. It’s the second time Joe has been named Nutrena Horse of the Year, as he also won in 2023. Hear it from Clint: “He’s got a lot of grit and a lot of try to him. Every steer, no matter how many miles or hours he has been on the trailer, he still gives you every thing he’s got. He’s always on your team. That makes a difference.”

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Nov. 7, 2025