ProRodeo Sports News - May 4, 2018

Saddle bronc rider Chuck Schmidt, above, had an 84.5-point ride on Silver Spurs Club’s Best Hope to win $4,935 at the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., in February. He also won that rodeo aboard Best Hope in 2017. Mike Rastelli photo

Best Hope Shines Silver Spurs Club saddle bronc horse stars at RAM NCFR

BY TRACY RENCK D uring the recently completed RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., April 5-8, there were plenty of talented roughstock animals competing. One that stood out was Silver Spurs Club saddle bronc horse Best Hope. Neither cowboy in Best Hope’s two outs made the eight-second whistle at the RAMNCFR. The performance of the tall, lean horse earned him the award as the top saddle bronc horse of the RAMNCFR. That accomplishment for the 14-year-old horse was an honor never received by the Silver Spurs Club. “He was born and bred right there on our ranch,” said Steve Knowles, the livestock manager for Silver Spurs Club. “He’s always just had the desire and

the heart to be the best he could be, and he gets better with age. He’s better now than he was five years ago.” Sometimes the potential stardom of a bull or horse can be spotted at a young age, but that wasn’t the case with Best Hope. “He was pretty wild when he was young,” Knowles said. “We had to be real careful with him. We had a full brother to him – Only Hope – who was a year younger than Best Hope, and he was just as good as Best Hope. They were outstanding when they were younger, but Only Hope is not as good as Best Hope anymore. The mare (their mother) died after Only Hope, so that’s the last two we had out of her. Best Hope’s pedigree goes back to the Kesler string of horses.” Knowles acknowledged that Best Hope’s talent began to blossom when he was 8. “That’s when he really started figuring it out and settling down,” he said.

ProRodeo Sports News 5/4/18

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