ProRodeo Sports News - August 2, 2019

Hunter Cure reunites with formerly retired horse for win Back Together BY MATT NABER H unter Cure won both of his steer wrestling world titles atop Charlie in 2013 and 2015, then a foot injury in 2016 nearly ended Charlie’s life. Instead, it seemed to only end the horse’s ProRodeo career. Or so Cure thought. Cure and Charlie teamed up to win the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, with a time of 12 seconds on three head at the ProRodeo Tour event July 16-20. ALL-AROUND Jake Hannum, $3,647, tie-down roping and team roping TOP SCORES Hannum

BAREBACK RIDING 1. (Tie) Zach Hibler ............172 pts. on 2 Tanner Aus ....................................172 3. Kaycee Feild ...............................170.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Hunter Cure ..................12.0 sec. on 3 2. Bridger Chambers ........................12.1 3. Two tied at ...................................12.2 TEAM ROPING 1. N. Wyatt/L. Lord ...........15.1 sec. on 3 2. C. Smith/J. Corkill ........................15.4 3. C. Masters/J. Harrison .................15.7 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Colt Gordon ...................174 pts. on 2 2. Spencer Wright ..........................171.5 3. Kolby Wanchuk .............................168 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Caleb Smidt ..................25.0 sec. on 3 2. (Tie) Haven Meged .......................26.5 Riley Pruitt................................... 26.5 BARREL RACING 1. Terri Wood Gates ........31.86 sec. on 2 2. Kathy Grimes ............................ 32.21 3. Lynnzie Lindstrom .....................32.46 BULL RIDING 1. Foster McCraw ...............178 pts. on 2 2. Clayton Sellars ...........................175.5 3. Aaron Williams ............................ 173

“We could never keep him sound and healthy to go for any length of time, so this winter during Denver I sent him to Brian Anderson at Copper Spring Ranch in Montana,” said Cure, 35. “They worked on his foot with new corrective shoeing and got him completely sound. I never intended on that horse coming back. I considered him retired.” The Texas cowboy and Charlie, 20, were reunited about six weeks ago and went on to place second at the Ponoka (Alberta) Stampede. Charlie also took Jacob Edler to the winner’s circle at Cattlemen’s Days Inc. in Gunnison, Colo., July 13. “For all practical purposes he’s a senior citizen, but he’s giving a superstar effort now, and I feel blessed to ride him anywhere, much less winning a major Tour rodeo like Nampa,” Cure said. Cure bought Charlie fromMatt Reeves in 2012 and recently surpassed the $1 million mark in career earnings since purchasing his card in 2006. “It’s even more special because Charlie was part of it,” Cure said. “We will use him cautiously and be choosy about where he goes for the remainder of the season, but he seems healthy enough to finish the 2019 season. Charlie’s the type of horse you can’t baby too much or he’ll take advantage of you. The world is full of kind and gentle horses, and he’s gentle, but he’s not the nicest – he’s a jerk most of the time, but he seems happy to be back in the mix of things.” Cure and Charlie had plenty to be happy about in Nampa. Cure tied for third in Round 2 with a 3.7-second run and placed second in the final round with a 3.8-second run, aiding in the average win. It was Cure’s second consecutive year winning the Snake River Stampede, earning $8,727, which helped him remain in third in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. “It’s certainly a great rodeo with a committee that tries every year to grow the purse,” Cure said. “We as cowboys are very thankful when committees go the extra mile to put on a good rodeo.”

Complete results / Page 82

Thomas Duncan photo Bull rider Foster McCraw had a perfect trip to Nampa, winning both rounds for $10,303 by going for 178 points on two head.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/2/2019

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