ProRodeo Sports News 2023 Year-End Edition

HORSES OF THE YEAR

Best horses of the year honored

BY TANNER BARTH & TRACY RENCK S uccess in rodeo doesn’t fall on just the Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by AQHA provides recognition for ProRodeo’s top horses. cowboys and cowgirls. Their horses play a factor when they step foot in the arena. The

is explosive out of the box and knows how to be in the right spot at the right time. He’s great in pretty much any setup. Turbo was great at his first NFR last year and he’s just as good in the longer setups as well. Turbo is 13 years old, 14.3 hands tall, and a little over a thousand pounds. Hear it from Patrick: “It means a ton. There are so many people anytime that you win something like this that go into the equation. There’s so much out there that you can dream and accomplish, but having a horse that wins horse of the year is extremely special because those horses are just so few and far between.” STYLISH BUGSY “Bugsy” Tie-Down Roping Owner: Shane Hanchey Rider: Shane Hanchey, Caleb Smidt, Hunter Herrin Why the horse is special: Bugsy can be ridden in any setup, but thrives in the short set ups.. He’s versatile and Shane says all of the great horses he’s had, have all had that same attribute where they could be ridden anywhere, at the Thomas & Mack or at Cheyenne. A horse like Bugsy can adapt to any setup. Bugsy is 11, weighs 1,100 pounds and is 14.3 hands. Hear it from Shane: “Bugsy is the first horse I’ve had since Reata (the horse he was riding when he won the 2013 PRCA World Championship), that I have ridden all year from the winter rodeos to the spring rodeos to the summer to the Northwest. I got Bugsy in November (of 2022) from Adam Gray. Bugsy is way different personality-wise from any horse I have had in my career or still have. My wife (Taylor) tells me I get the gentle horses that don’t like to lead and are lazy. Bugsy is the opposite. He is a loner. He doesn’t want you to pet on him, and he doesn’t really like baths. He just wants to do his job and be put up and be done.” Why the horse is special: He has a lot of run, and he never takes a throw away from you. He does the same every time – never too long and never too short. He’s one of those who makes it easy. Slade says when you back in the box you don’t have to worry about Junior getting you. When you nod your head, he’s going to do the same thing every time. Junior is 15 years old, weighs 1,200 pounds and is 14.2 hands. Hear it from Slade: “The first year I made the (NFSR in 2021), I didn’t get to ride him all summer but I did get to ride him at the (NFSR). In 2022, he got hurt so I couldn’t ride him. This year is the first year I have gotten to ride him all year long. He’s the reason I’m going back to the SON OF A GLOW “Junior” Steer Roping Owner: Slade Wood Rider: Slade Wood

(NFSR). I think he knows how good he is. For me, it is really cool to have a horse this good when I’m only 21. I really wanted to win this (Horse of the Year) honor for him because he deserved it.”

FAME FIRE ROCKS “Poprocks” Barrel Racing Owner: Mission Ranch LLC Rider: Taycie Matthews

EDS FAMOUS BAR “Eddie” Steer Wrestling Owner: Tanner Milan

Why the horse is special: Every time the horse gets ready for a run you know she is going to do her job and that consistency never goes away. Poprocks has a calm demeanor for the most part but knows when it’s time to run. The one thing you can say she never lacks is try and heart. She is 6 years old, 15 hands, and weighs 1,100 pounds. Hear it from Taycie: “This means everything to Poprocks and me. I can’t put into words what this means, especially with it being my rookie season. It’s a privilege to get to ride a horse that has that type of potential and knowing everyone thinks she’s as great as you do is pretty special.” Why the horse is special: She scores really well and runs hard every time she backs into the box. Her timing is usually perfect. When the rope is pulled down it will always pop. She is never tight and never free. It’s hard to find a time when she isn’t spot on. She is 8 years old and 14.3 hands tall. Hear it from Shelby: “I trained her, so I take a lot of pride in her receiving this award. I teared up when I found out we had won it. I think it’s super cool because you always think your horse is great, but when our peers in our sport vote on it and they also think that they are exceptional it means a lot. I couldn’t do what I have without her, that’s for sure.” Why the horse is special: The pickup horse can run a hole in the wind. He has a lot of presence and eye appeal in the arena. He rides elevated, which makes it easier to pick guys up when they are on those big bucking horses. He sticks out when he is out there. Baby spent most of the season picking up cowboys in Canada. The horse is 10 years old and stands at 15.1 hands. Hear it from Tyler: “It means a lot to have my horse selected as the inaugural pickup man horse of the year. For the contestants and your peers to select your animal for an award like that is pretty special. We’ve had him for a long time and he’s actually my wife’s 30th birthday present, so it’s cool to see what he’s turned into.” NO WIMPY TURNS “Onna” Breakaway Roping Owner: Shelby Boisjoli Rider: Shelby Boisjoli BABY HES HOT “Baby” Pickup Man Owner: Tyler Kraft Rider: Tyler Kraft

Riders: Dalton Massey, Tanner Milan, Stephen Culling, Ryan Shuckburg, Curtis Cassidy, Mike McGinn, J.D. Struxness Why the horse is special: Eddie is known for his huge heart and for being a real go-getter. Tanner Milan has owned Eddie for three years and this will be Eddie’s first NFR appearance. Tanner says he knew there was something special about Eddie the very first steer he ran on him. One of the things that makes Eddie different is how many different guys are able to ride him in the arena. Tanner says it takes a special horse to be able to do that. Eddie is 10 years old. He weighs 1,200 pounds and is 15.2 hands. Hear it from Tanner: “He’s good anywhere from Cheyenne to Salinas, the long round at Ponoka, Calgary Stampede, anywhere. He works at all those setups and it’s a blessing to have a horse like that. This is huge to have a horse of the year. I have put a lot of work into this horse. Eddie rules the roost and you can tell once it is go-time, the switch turns on and he’s a fire-breathing dragon.” Why the horse is special: He walks into the box, and you wouldn’t even hardly know there’s a horse in there, he never really gets amped up. It’s tough to find a horse that is as calm as he is, but also has a ton of run in him. He is a shorter and stouter horse that can move his feet with the best of them. Joe is 11 years old and a little over 15 hands tall. Hear it from Clint: “ It made my day knowing he was selected as the horse of the year. The horse really deserves it in my eyes. I’ve only been heading professionally for three years now, and I’ve been lucky enough to own some great horses and he’s dang sure at the top of the list. If there’s a horse that deserves it, it’s dang for sure Joe.” KADABRA KING “Turbo” Team Roping Heeler Owner: Patrick and Christi Smith Rider: Patrick Smith Why the horse is special: He has more athletic ability than he knows what to do with. He MR JOES SHADOW BAR “Joe” Team Roping Header Owner: Clint Summers Rider: Clint Summers

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