ProRodeo Sports News - March 9, 2018

Eldridge puts in extra work for win

D akota Eldridge might be warming up after a cold early winter. After winning the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average, the steer wrestler from Elko, Nev., started to slow down. But then came February. A couple weeks after taking second in the average at the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, Eldridge left the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo with $23,081 and a new buckle. “Everybody knows the San Antonio buckle,” said Eldridge, 26. The win vaulted him from 21st in the 2018 PRCAWorld Standings to first place. While his winter opened slowly, that’s not the case the last few weeks. “To have a good winter for me is great,” Eldridge said. “That is one of my goals this winter, to do well. I’ve had slow winters in the past. I’ve been fortunate to do well in the summer run and the spring run.”

With the way he’d been struggling before February, Eldridge made sure to get extra practice in recently. “Man, I came down here this year and I’ve been working on my bulldogging more than ever,” he said. “My horse (Rusty) feels better than ever. It’s all paying off.” Winning the WNFR average last season helped Eldridge finish third in the world with $245,333. After winning two of the last three WNFR average titles, he knows firsthand how important bigger paydays can be when it comes to battling for a gold buckle. “When you get a chance at these big rodeos and you’ve got good steers, you’ve got to use them,” he said. “If you don’t have a good steer, you have to stay positive and do the best you know you can do.”

Dakota Eldridge claimed the steer wrestling buckle at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Feb. 24. Greg Westfall photo

ProRodeo Sports News 3/9/18

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