ProRodeo Sports News - March 18, 2022

COWBOY SUPERSTITIONS

Lucky Charms & Slump Busters

BY TRACY RENCK T he world of rodeo, like many sports, is full of ways to continue a contestant’s winning ways or change a cowboy’s losing trend. With that in mind, ProRodeo Sports News Editor Tracy Renck talked to a handful of cowboys about what they do or carry with them as a lucky charm to rodeos to keep them winning or get them back on the right track.

TUF COOPER Four-time world champion, one all- around and three in tie-down roping Tie-down roping “I would say it is my straw hat. Last year at the NFR I wasn’t doing as good as I wanted, and I thought I needed to change some things up, so I put on a straw hat. I liked the hat and after I wore it the first time, things started turning around for me. Now, I have the straw hat ready in reserve if I ever need to change my luck.”

Cooper

RICHMOND CHAMPION 7-time Wrangler NFR qualifier Bareback riding

“I think the only thing I do is put on two different pair of socks if I’m fighting things. That’s more just to make myself remember that I know what I’m doing. At the root of it is a simple change. I forget who told me one time to just stop thinking about it. You know what you’re doing. Wear two different pair of socks and see what happens and it has worked in the past.” COLE PATTERSON 2021 PRCA Steer RopingWorld Champ Steer roping “I have an old $5 bill and an old $20 bill in my wallet, and I have had them in there for probably three years. I got both bills really close to the same time. I got them back as change from a gas station or something. I got them and I thought they were cool. They are super old; the $5 bill is from 1950 and the $20 bill is from 1985. Right after I got them, I won some big roping so I’m definitely not going to ever spend them.”

BRIDGER ANDERSON 2020 Wrangler NFR qualifier Steer Wrestling

“I know the one thing for sure is I will not eat chicken 24 hours before I run a steer. That’s just bad luck. If you’re on a hot streak you don’t shave and once that streak slips up a little bit, you go ahead and shave your face.”

Champion

Anderson

ERNIE COURSON In the top 10 of the 2022 PRCA|RAMWorld Standings Bull Riding

“A preacher man friend of mine makes some cards for us each month and they have a bible verse on them. I put those in my vest. Also, before shows I try to find a penny that’s on heads and I will ride with it in my front left pocket. I say that’s my luck. I look at it as an angel sent me that penny as good luck. Right before San Antonio this year, I was taking my stuff out of rigging bag and I had my son’s

Patterson

Courson

(Ryder, who is 13 months) shoes in my rigging bag and when I moved the shoes right there on top of my boots sat a penny on heads. Then, I went and won the Wild Card round in San Antonio.”

KAYCEE FEILD Six-time PRCA Bareback Riding World Champion, including

2020 and 2021 Bareback riding

LEFTY HOLMAN 2020 Wrangler NFR qualifier Saddle bronc riding “Rodeo Quincy (Quincy Freeman

“There’s like this 85-year-old guy who came up to me in Cheyenne (Wyo.) and he asked me if I had a rabbit’s foot and I told him I already had one. He said, but this rabbit’s foot is part of the Rabbit Foot Gang and I said if I’m in it he’s in and I pointed to (Tilden Hooper), and

Eldridge of Rodeo Quincy) is my aunt, and she made a boot called Lefty’s Luck after me. Then, my grandma (Sally Marvel Freeman) gave me a little rosary I keep in my vest. She passed away two years ago, and she gave me that rosary when I was like 16. My mullet (hair) also is very lucky as well. I had it the last two years and it has brought me a lot of luck. I cut it last year and I drew horrible for three months until I grew it back.” Holman

Feild

Tilden said he was already in it. The guy has a list, and it is like 100 people or so who are in the Rabbit Foot Gang. It is funny, say I will see a guy like Cole Reiner, and I will ask him if he has his rabbit’s foot, and he will say it is in his gear bag.”

ProRodeo Sports News 3/18/2022

ProRodeo.com

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