ProRodeo Sports News - April 6, 2018

BY MATT NABER S addle bronc rider Clay Elliott went ride on Beutler & Son’s Four Aces and followed it with an 89.5-point ride on Beutler & Son’s Nutrena’s Wound Up. But it wasn’t just good draws that made the difference for Elliott. He recently acquired a new saddle. “I’d been having some trouble with a saddle to ride and I got the right saddle under me and drew the right horse and I couldn’t go wrong,” Elliott said. “For sure it gives me confidence. To get on the best horse in the world and get a good ride, if that isn’t a confidence-booster I don’t know what is.” Elliott entered Rodeo Austin withWade Sundell, who rode Four Aces before Elliott’s turn on him, which gave Elliott an idea of what he was in for. But Wound Up – the 2017 Pendleton Whisky “Let ’er Buck” Saddle Bronc of the Year – was a different story. “I tried to treat her as if she was any other horse and simply have a good markout and lift on the rein, but it was tricky to think that, knowing that she is the best horse in the world,” Elliott said. “Everyone says how good she rides, and she looks like a bucking son of a gun, and she is. But if you do it right and set your feet and lift the rein, she does outstanding. She’s everything you want a bucking horse to be and doesn’t cover much ground either. What everyone told me she was, she was.” This is Elliott’s first time winning Rodeo Austin, but he’s no stranger to success. He’s qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo the last two years. “It (winning Austin) is something you want to do your whole career, and to have my name by that title is pretty special,” Elliott said, comparing Rodeo Austin’s notoriety to Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days and the Pendleton (Ore.) Round- Up. Bronc rider Clay Elliott doubles up home with $14,335 thanks to winning the semifinals and the finals at Rodeo Austin in Texas. The 24-year-old Canadian made an 87-point

Nailing an 89.5-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Nutrena’s Wound Up in the final round of Rodeo Austin helped Clay Elliott cash in for a total of $14,335. Kirt Steinke photo

“It dang sure capped off my winter run.” As of April 2, Elliott was eighth in the PRCAWorld Standings, but he’s not putting much stock in that just yet. “Every horse has a value, and every rodeo has value and I’ve been to 11 rodeos now,” Elliott said.“I’ve only been to a tenth of the rodeos I will go to, the season has barely even begun. Lots of people talk about the standings but they don’t matter until Oct. 1.”

Elliott took a short break after Austin before heading to the High Desert Stampede in Redmond, Ore., March 30. “Then it’s Logandale (Nev.), and then the California rodeos kick off, like Clovis, and I’m anxious to get going,” Elliott said.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/6/18

ProRodeo.com

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