ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2019

HORSES OF THE YEAR

PURINA HORSES OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY AQHA TEAM ROPING-HEADING 1. Jewels Smoke Screen “Smoke;” ridden by Tate Kirchenschlager; owned by Brad Lands 2. Cee How Nifty “Johnson;” owned and ridden by Clay Tryan 3. RK Tuff Trinket “Bob;” owned and ridden by Riley Minor TEAM ROPING HEELING 1. DT Sugar Chex Whiz “Sugar;” ridden by Billie Jack Saebens; owned by Dixon Flowers QH 2. Leo’s Highbrow “Sug;” owned and ridden by Brady Minor 3. Smart Little Cab “Casino;” owned and ridden by Paul Eaves TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Little Smart Leo “Big Time;” owned and ridden by Tyler Milligan 2. Barshoe Brute “Rock;” ridden by Lane Livingston; owned by JR Livingston 3. Pocketful of Light “Pockets;” owned and ridden by Caleb Smidt STEER ROPING 1. Mr. Blackburn Chex 113 “Dunny;” owned by Rocky Patterson and ridden by Cole Patterson 2. Coopers Little Toy “Cooper;” owned and ridden by Chris Glover 3. At War Leo “Punchy;” owned and ridden by Cody Lee STEER WRESTLING 1. Do Get Famous “Rattle;” ridden by Matt Reeves; owned by Matt and Savanah Reeves 2. Canted Plan “Scooter;” owned and ridden by Tyler Pearson and Kyle Irwin 3. Patrionic Dish “Mable;” ridden by Stetson Jorgensen; owned by Garret Henry BARREL RACING 1. High Valor “Valor;” owned and ridden by Dona Kay Rule 2. KN FAB GIFT OF FAME “J LO;” ridden by Ivy Saebens; owned by Kenny Nichols and James Barron 3. (Tie) Freckles Ta Fame “Can Man;” ridden by Shali Lord; owned by Joe and Carla Spitz An Okie With Cash “Louie;” ridden by Lisa Lockhart; owned by Lisa and Grady Lockhart

Matt Reeves rode Rattle at the Santa Rosa Roundup in Vernon, Texas, in May. Joe Duty photo

Horsing Around Top horses recognized

season by riding DT Sugar Chex Whiz (Sugar), the Team Roping Heeling Horse of the Year owned by Dixon Flowers QH. In her first year of ProRodeo competition, this 1,100-pound, 9-year-old mare proved that good things come in small packages, standing at 14.2 hands tall. “She was incredible to begin with, and we took the right steps in her training,” Saebens said. “J.D. Yates had a good hand in her training, and then I put my own spin on a few things to make her fit me. With a great horse you can tell by how they move and their presence.” For the second year in a row, Little Smart Leo (Big Time) is the Tie-down Roping Horse of the Year. This 16-year-old gelding brings a solid and consistent ride every time. Big Time didn’t have any rodeo experience when Tyler Milligan bought him five years ago, but this year Big Time took the cowboy to his first Wrangler NFR. “He’s just the same every single time, and it doesn’t matter if it is dry or muddy, he can do it all,” Milligan said. “Not much really changed after winning it (the award) last year, but it gives you confidence knowing your horse is good enough to go anywhere and win.” The 2019 Steer Roping Horse of the Year, Mr. Blackburn Chex 113 (Dunny), made his ProRodeo debut along with Cole Patterson, the 2019 Steer Roping Rookie of the Year. At 14.2 hands tall, this 1,100-pound, 9-year-old gelding is easygoing outside the arena and pulls a 180 when it’s time to compete. “He always stays out of your way and never costs you anywhere,” Patterson said. “He’s pretty good-minded and doesn’t get too fired up about anything, scores good and stays on the ground all the time and stays out of my way in the arena.”

BY MATT NABER S uccess in timed events is a 50/50 effort between the cowboys and their horses, and the Purina Horse of the Year presented by AQHA awards provide recognition to ProRodeo’s top animal athletes. As steer wrestler Matt Reeves worked his way to his seventh qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, his horse Do Get Famous (Rattle) won Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year. Standing barely more than 14 hands tall, this 1,000-pound 7-year-old mare celebrated her one- year anniversary of ProRodeo competition the day after slack in Fort Worth, Texas. “Horses are a big deal and the main reason I keep rodeoing,” Reeves said. “I wanted to get her to the NFR and that’s real special, making them and having them has been a big deal and it’s been real special to me.” Team roping header Tate Kirchenschlager earned his first Wrangler NFR qualification atop Jewels Smoke Screen (Smoke), the Team Roping Heading Horse of the Year owned by Brad Lands. Smoke hit the ProRodeo scene in the spring of 2018, and now at 12 years old, this 15.1 hands tall, 1,200-pound gelding has caught the eyes of ropers and spectators alike. “It feels good to make the Finals but to get the Horse of the Year with a horse that you worked with through his whole career feels good too,” Kirchenschlager said. “I honestly didn’t think he would win head horse of the year.” Team roping heeler Billie Jack Saebens won some of the biggest ProRodeo events of the 2019

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2019

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