ProRodeo Sports News - March 29, 2024

PRORODEO COWBOYS

“It was the only thing left to do. . . . I could’ve gone out, ran up there and used someone else’s horse, but I feel like I’ve been winning because of my horse, I figured she needed to be there. . . . It’s not every day that you have to trot your horse in Houston traffic, but that’s definitely a career topper for me.” – MARTY YATES

Stuck in traffic, Marty Yates has to ride his horse to NRG Stadium to compete at RodeoHouston MEASURES Desperate

RodeoHouston photo/Mallory Beinborn Tie-down roper Marty Yates finished quite an eventful day by winning Super Series Semifinal 1 with an 8.1-second time at RodeoHouston.

time and secure his place in the RodeoHouston Finals. “It was the only thing left to do,” Yates said, speaking on what led him to take his horse down a major Houston Interstate. “I could’ve gone out, ran up there and used someone else’s horse, but I feel like I’ve been winning because of my horse, I figured she needed to be there.” Yates spoke on how the horse’s demeanor made it easy to make the split second decision, which made all the difference in him qualifying for the short go. “A lot of horses I own, you wouldn’t have been able to do that on, but that horse is super gentle and super easy-going about everything; she is just a good horse to be around,” Yates said. His wife Loni, and 4-month-old child, Miley, assured that the truck and trailer made it safe and, in enough time, to see Marty compete. “Marty Yates does what it takes to get to the Houston Short Round!” Loni said on Facebook. “We gotta provide for the baby.” With the help of his horse and some quick-wit, Marty Yates arrived on time to make his tie-down run in the Semifinal 1 round of RodeoHouston.

After an impressive time of 8.1 seconds, he not only won the semifinals that night and secured $3,000 in earnings, but also went on to place third overall in the finals on Sunday with total earnings of $17,500 in Houston. When asked about his performance at Houston and how it plays into his rodeo goals this year, Yates got straight to the point. “This was the best turnout at Houston I’ve had in 10 or 12 years and I’m doing pretty good at Austin,” Yates said. “It’s not every day that you have to trot your horse in Houston traffic, but that’s definitely a career topper for me.” Cyndy and RodeoHouston have reinvigorated Yates’ NFR dreams for this coming season. After qualifying for the NFR nine times from 2014-22 before missing out on qualification last year, Yates is vying for his 10th NFR qualification with his mind set on one thing. “The Gold Buckle is the goal this year,” Yates said. “I’m just going to keep trusting this horse; I ain’t saying she’s the best horse I’ve ever rode, but I think she’s a winner and does a lot of things right. I’m trusting her, having a positive mind, and enjoying our family.”

BY JADE WILLIAMS Special to ProRodeo Sports News M arty Yates, a 29-year-old tie down roper from Hico, Texas, made headlines and showed onlookers the true spirit of rodeo after stunning those who saw Yates weave his horse in and out of traffic on I-610 in Houston. Stand-still traffic was the catalyst for this

brave event after Yates realized he was going to miss his semifinal performance at RodeoHouston. This caused him to make the immediate decision to saddle his 6-year-old horse, Cyndy, and ride through a sea of vehicles to arrive on

ProRodeo Sports News 3/29/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 3/29/2024

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

44

45