ProRodeo Sports News - November 17, 2023

“Here’s what I think, in a nutshell,” says Hyland, who is still riding and training horses at 75. “Marty Wood, Winston Bruce, Kenny Maclean – those three names were huge in my world, in my time, and we wanted to be them as kids. You could even go back to Jerry Ambler. So, there’s a lot of history in the background that would have influenced a lot of us. And then, I guess, hopefully we were part of the influence for the ones today.” Just ask Kolby Wanchuk about that. He regularly checks in with Hyland, relying on his experience and expertise as a career guide. Both Hyland, and another Canadian cowboy who blazed an NFR trail in the event, Duane Daines, point to the development opportunities open to young Canadian cowboys – like the novice bronc riding program at the Calgary Stampede and CPRA rodeos. In the days prior to high school rodeos coming to Canada, there were ‘Little Britches’ events, and regional amateur associations also served the sport well in helping young athletes step up their progress. “It starts at the grass roots,” said Daines, who had nine NFR qualifications (1983-85, 1987, 1989-93) on his resume plus 13 CFRs, a Canadian saddle bronc title, and three All Around championships and a Calgary Stampede title. “Having a good novice bronc riding connected with ProRodeos, so they’re around the pros. Their idols are right there in the dressing room and behind the chutes. It’s huge. Guys are willing to help, and they can help you maybe set your saddle up, take your rein measurements. You’re getting the pros telling you.” Daines had an added advantage of growing up in a rodeo-centric family with his father Jack, a legendary rodeo promoter and bronc rider himself, as well as his uncle Ivan Daines, who went to the NFR five times, and won the average in 1970.

PRCA ProRodeo file photos Rod Hay, above, competes in one of his 20 National Finals Rodeo appearances. Hay’s son, Dawson, won Round 9 at the 2022 Wrangler NFR with a 92-point trip on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s BDM Killer Bee.

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ProRodeo Sports News 11/17/2023

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