ProRodeo Sports News - May 1, 2020

you know you need to work on.

If you didn’t have time to fix it, you would do the

best you could with what you had.

Now is a time to really address those more underlying fundamental problems and come out of this as more well-rounded cowboys and cowgirls. Everybody is different (when it comes to the amount of time practicing now). Some have older horses, so much of that is what stage your horse is in. Some of your animal athletes are older, and don’t need the extra runs and are ready to rodeo, and some of them have horses that do need the runs. This happens to be a time that fits pretty well. Brazile on offering his expertise: We were pretty shut down to the public, but I have received a lot of videos and questions through videos. I enjoy that side of it. I like seeing people get better. When they are willing to do whatever to get better, I don’t mind helping.

CLAY SMITH Bowie, Texas

• Reigning two-time PRCA Team Roping Header World Champion, five-time Wrangler NFR qualifier (2015-19) Right now, I’m trying to make sure I have enough horsepower when things get back going.

Photo courtesy Justin Maass Ropers, left to right, Blane Cox, Shane Hanchey, Ty Harris, Justin Maass and Trenton Smith have been practicing at Maass’ place in Giddings, Texas, so they are ready to hit the road when rodeos resume.

Smith

I have been trying to ride some young horses to see if some of them are going to make it and trying to keep my good ones in shape and ready. It’s a pretty good time

to get your horse situation right. On his practice schedule

VIDEO

I’ll rope something every day. If it’s steer (roping) or team roping, I rope and ride horses every day, whether I’m trying to go somewhere or not. I think that is the only way a guy can stay as sharp as he needs to be because somebody else is working at it if you’re not. To me, it’s not work, I enjoy it.

SPENCER WRIGHT Milford, Utah

• 2014 PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion, three-time NFR qualifier (2014-15, 2019).

JUSTIN MAASS Giddings, Texas • Eight-time NFR tie-down roping qualifier (1999-2000, 2003, 2005, 2008-09, 2012-13) If I was still rodeoing for a living and I had this extra time on my hands, I would tell (cowboys) to practice as much as they can possibly practice. Whatever options they have for that, I would exhaust every one of them. On cowboys practicing with him Shane Hanchey, Ty Harris, Trenton Smith and Blane Cox have all been here. I think it is the thought process that iron sharpens iron. If you rope with guys who are good at it, it is going to make you that much better.

I ride the spur board a little bit. We have some practice horses. I could get on some of them if I really wanted to, and I probably will when things get closer (to rodeos returning). I’ve just been taking it easy right now and been working out. I don’t think a guy needs to go

Wright

crazy, but you definitely need to stay limber and in shape. On picking up where he left off I think it’s going to be like riding a bike. I’ve lived and breathed this for 15 years, so I would hope I have some muscle memory there.

ProRodeo Sports News 5/1/2020

ProRodeo.com

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