ProRodeo Sports News - October 14, 2022

CATCHING UP WITH ... ROD HAY Lasting Legacy

Hay embodied passion for the sport of rodeo that never wavered

BY TANNER BARTH R od Hay’s PRCA one of most recognizable cowboys in saddle bronc riding. Over his lengthy ProRodeo career he qualified 20 times (1989 1990, 1992-2008, 2010) to the National Finals Rodeo, which ranks second all-time in saddle bronc riding history. Hay is second only to ProRodeo Hall of Famer Billy Etbauer. In 1989, Hay was named the PRCA Rookie of the Year and qualified for his first NFR. career began back in 1989 and from that point on he became

Photo courtesy Dawson Hay Devon Hay, from left, Logan Hay, Shelley Hay, Rod Hay, and Dawson Hay share a moment as a family.

years of hard work there’s nothing better than seeing his children have success. “I couldn’t be prouder as their dad,” Hay said. “They both ride so good. I’ve seen them right from the start to where they are at now. To see how hard they’ve worked and what they are becoming makes me proud. It’s going to be an awful special 10 days not only for them, but us as a family.” RANCH LIFE The march to the NFR for the Hay’s began back on their ranch in Wildwood, Alberta, where Rod now spends most his time. The family has raised their own bucking horses for years, providing a unique practice opportunity for his sons and saddle bronc riders alike in Canada. “We have been bucking horses for quite some time here in Canada. We will buck some here at our event at the Wildwood (AB) Bronc Bustin’ as well,” he said. “But it seems like the last six or seven years it has been spending a lot of time with the kids practicing and stuff like that. My youngest son is going now, so we probably won’t slow down anytime soon.” He said his love for bucking horses has never wavered from his time competing until now. “I was always ranching, but the emphasis was on my rodeo career for the longest time. Once I came to terms that it was over with, I wanted to carry on the ranching,” Hay said. “Way back my brother, my dad, and I had bought a few horses. I ended up taking them over. So, I’ve always raised a few bucking horses. It was more just because I really love bucking horses. I really like the art of the sport. We can get started on our horses and kind of do it my way. There’s a lot of satisfaction in raising not only a bronc rider, but a good bronc.” And even in retirement from competition he hardly misses a rodeo and is truly a fan of the sport. “I watch more rodeo now that it’s on tv than any other sport out there,” he said. “I get to enjoy my boys riding and be a fan of the sport. It’s exciting that’s for sure.”

He said when he began his career the dream was to be the best there ever was in the sport. But it was something he rarely thought about while going down the road for over 20 years. “The goal to be the best was a dream when a guy started his career,” Hay said. “It’s really all I wanted to do since I was a little kid. I was focused on being as good as I could be in everything that I did in life. My main goal with rodeo was to be able to make a living doing it. I never tried to look too far ahead. I took things one day at a time as I was going down the road.” That mentality sure paid off for Hay, who earned $2,331,475 during his career. He said looking back on those 20 plus years of competition he wouldn’t have had it any other way. “Looking back, you know I had a long career and some success along the way. I’m happy to get done what I did. I got to ride with a lot of fantastic bronc riders in my era and a lot of great horses,” he said. “It was really a fun career. Plus, it’s the best job to raise a family because you can run your own schedule and do your own thing. You can take your kids with you, and they get to be a part of everything. I never really took anything for granted.” FAMILY TRADITION When it comes to rodeo families, it’s not uncommon to see generations sharing the same arena during competition. The Hays never competed at the same time, but the rodeo ties run deep in the family’s lineage. His father, Fred was a saddle bronc rider. Rod and his brother Denny followed in their father’s footsteps, both beginning their careers north of the border in Canada. The saying the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree rings true for this rodeo family. Now, Rod’s sons Dawson and Logan are taking the ProRodeo world by storm. For the first time both brothers will compete alongside each other inside the yellow bucking chutes at theThomas &Mack for the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. Rod said after

ProRodeo Sports News 10/14/2022

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