ProRodeo Sports News - April 6, 2018

RODEO AUSTIN

BY MATT NABER T he steer wrestling competition was tied up in more ways than one at Rodeo Austin (Texas). Cole Edge tied the arena record of 3.2 seconds in the first round, then he and Josh Garner tied for the win in the final round with 4.0-second runs. Before Edge, the other bulldoggers to make a 3.2-second run at Rodeo Austin were Levi Wisness (2007), Matt Reeves (2009) and Casey Martin (2014). “Those are great bulldoggers that I tied with, and to be a low-three, a lot of things have to go right,” Edge said. “Cole was hot, he won everything at that rodeo,” Garner said. Winning the first two rounds and splitting the win in the finals was worth $18,357 for Edge. “There are tons of guys that bulldog good, so if you draw good and have a good hazer, it makes life a lot easier,” Edge said. Edge won the first round and went on to win the semifinals in 3.9. Edge rode Sean Mulligan’s horse, Miss Kitty, as Mulligan hazed for him. Miss Kitty hales from the Dash Ta Fame bloodline through Lion’s Share of Fame, which all spurs from American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer Dash For Cash. “That makes it more special,” Edge said. “Sean’s one of the best hazers in the business. I’ve rodeoed with him a long time.” Edge won Rodeo Corpus Christi (Texas) with Miss Kitty. He has a good feel for the 12-year-old mare’s style. “She gets across the line really fast, and I’m aggressive on my starts anyway,” Edge said. Garner also credited horsepower to winning in Austin. He competed on Sterling Lambert’s horse, Buzz. “I was lucky enough to get on a good horse, that’s the main deal in Austin,” Garner said. Edge was 25th in the 2017 world standings, but now he’s leading the pack by $11,423 thanks in part to entering more winter rodeos than in the past. Garner was ranked 13th as of April 2. “It’s the best winter I’ve ever had and makes it easier on me as far as how I plan out my schedule for the rest of the year,” Edge said, adding that horses can use breaks, too. “When you’re behind in money won, you feel like you have to get your best horse everywhere to catch up. But now I can ride a different horse somewhere – this keeps her fresh for the end of the year.” Garner, Edge all square in bulldogging

Cole Edge (above) and Josh Garner (below) tied for the win at Rodeo Austin. In the first round, Edge also tied the Rodeo Austin arena record of 3.2 seconds. Kirt Steinke photos

ProRodeo Sports News 4/6/18

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