ProRodeo Sports News - 2021 Year End Edition

STOCK OF THE YEAR

Chiseled, Onion Ring, Xplosive Skies

BY TANNER BARTH S tanding out among a crowd of exceptional roughstock requires a perfect balance of animal athleticism and the cowboys capable of showcasing that talent. The 2021 PendletonWhisky “Let ’er Buck” Stock of the Year recognized Powder River Rodeo’s Chiseled as Bull of the Year, Korkow Rodeo’s Onion Ring as Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year and Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies as Bareback Horse of the Year. “This is really cool and really unexpected,” said H.D. Page of D&H Cattle. “I was really expecting to win second this time because we won it last time. We were tickled to death to receive this honor. Chiseled had the right characteristics, but mostly it is his intensity. It’s hard on to put a finger on it until you watch him in person. He has a little of intensity some of the others don’t have. He gets off the ground and kicks and does a little bit more than most do.” Chiseled, 6, made it two years in a row as the Top Bull of Year. He is owned by H.D. Page of D&HCattle and bucks under the Powder River Rodeo umbrella. Chiseled weighs 1,700 pounds, but he has a gentle side. In 2021, only two cowboys could stay aboard Chiseled for eight seconds. Colten Fritzlan had an 89.5-point ride on him at the American in Arlington, Texas, March 7. Most recently, Josh Frost had a 92.5-point trip on Chiseled at the Lawton (Okla.) Rangers Rodeo Aug. 11. ONION RING Korkow Rodeo 2021 Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year “This makes us quite proud to CHISELED Powder River Rodeo 2021 Bull of the Year

Chiseled has taken top honors for the past two years. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Alaina Stangle

Onion Ring’s second season competing in saddle bronc. He is one of the few horses that have been selected to compete in both the bareback riding and saddle bronc riding at the NFR. Onion Ring, who weighs 1,200 pounds, made multiple trips to the NFR as a bareback horse and was second in the 2018 Pendleton Whisky Let’er Buck Bucking Stock of the Year and tied for third in 2017. XPLOSIVE SKIES Calgary Stampede 2021 Bareback Horse of the Year “As a 6-year-old that horse went to the Canadian Finals as a bronc and the next spring we moved the horse to bareback and never looked

2021 TOP STOCK

BAREBACK RIDING 1. Xplosive Skies – Calgary Stampede 2. Gun Fire – Frontier Rodeo 3. OLS Tubs Stevie Knicks – Macza Pro Rodeo SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Onion Ring – Korkow Rodeos 2. Wild Cherry – Calgary Stampede 3. (Tie) All or Nothing – Andrews Rodeo Kool Toddy – Big Bend Rodeo Co. BULL RIDING 1. Chiseled – Powder River Rodeo 2. Smoke Stack – Beutler & Son Rodeo 3. Resistol’s Cliff Hanger – Big Rafter Rodeo

back,” Calgary Stampede’s Keith Marrington said. “Every time guys draw that horse, they get the opportunity to make money. The horse is consistent and she’s athletic and good to be around and the guys like drawing her.” Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies, 11, had a memorable season in 2021. He bucked off 43 percent of riders in 2021 and the cowboys who stayed on were rewarded. TimO’Connell had a 93-point ride at the Calgary Stampede, Clayton Biglow had a pair of 92-point rides in Hermiston, Ore., and Canby, Ore. Then, Wyatt Denny had a 90-point trip in Salinas, Calif. Xplosive Skies is the granddaughter of ProRodeo Hall of Fame horse Grated Coconut.

win a prestigious award like this,” said owner JimKorkow of Korkow Rodeo. “I wasn’t surprised that he transitioned to saddle bronc so well because we have been doing that with horses for years and years. There are a lot of really great saddle broncs out there right now, but Onion Ring was at six PRCA stand alone bronc riding events this year and they won first place on him at five of them.” The 11-year-old bucker won Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year. This is

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

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