ProRodeo Sports News - October 14, 2022

TEAM ROPING HEADING JESS A MOOSE “Gray” Owner: Jim Donnan Rider: Lightning Aguilera

Why the horse is special: Lightning Aguilera, befitting his name, is always looking to go faster. In December, he was told about Gray, advised to buy the gelding from Jordan Weaver. One ride, and Aguilera was convinced. He won on Gray in San Antonio, Texas, creating a successful partnership that will continue for 10 rounds at the NFR. Gray, who won the award as a first-time nominee, brings consistency, speed, and an uncommon focus, always heading straight toward the steer, providing a platform for Aguilera to place in every rodeo. Gray is 11 years old. Hear it from Lightning: “He’s just been on my team the whole time this season. He always scores, always gives me a chance. He never tries to beat me. He always rises to the occasion no matter where we are and no matter what the setup is. He just does what he needs to do. We got him in December. And I was jackpotting on him and I needed a horse to rodeo. And I rode him all year. It was a blessing to have him.”

Darlena Roberts photo

TEAM ROPING HEELING KADABRA KING “Turbo” Owner: Patrick Smith Rider: Patrick and Christi Smith

Why the horse is special: Turbo always had talent but needed time to mature. Over the last season, the 11-year-old turned into a turbo force on the circuit. Turbo can run, but what separated him this season was figuring out his job description. He learned the timing of heeling, leaving him excellent in small arenas where you have to be fast “and in the big places, too, like Cheyenne and Reno,” cowboy Patrick Smith, a two-time world champion and 13-time NFR qualifier, explained. For the first nine years of his life, Smith said Turbo was “broncy.” But he has come into his own with age. Turbo is 15 hands. Hear it from Patrick: “This is a great deal. It’s the first time he has been entered. Honestly, I have been super blessed to have some great heel horses in my career. Amigo, who also won horse of year, and the horse that I won my first world title on didn’t have papers or I believe he would have won it. I have always said that great years are attached to great horses and whether heading, heeling or barrel racing, it doesn’t really matter. I have tried on the average horse, and you become a very average roper when you don’t have a great one under you. Turbo, he’s just been phenomenal.” Why the horse is special: “Last year he was a little lost being green and everything and at the end of the year he started putting things together. He scores good and he can run. The horse has a lot of gas. He also got stronger throughout the year, and he’s probably reached his potential. I almost gave up on him two- or three-times last year. My wife (Kelli) kept saying, ‘Don’t give up on him, you know how those green horses are and I’m glad I listened to her. This one I’m going to hold on to for a while and I’m glad he’s gotten to the top of the game.” Goose is 13 years old and weighs 1,275 pounds and is 15.1½ hands. Hear it from Scott: “It always means the world to me to have a Horse of the Year, especially because I train horses for a living. I make a lot of steer horses and I have a lot of customers who come to me for that. I didn’t train (Goose) from ground up he just started as a steer horse when I got him. I put in a lot of work last year on this horse and he has come around a long way. It is good that they acknowledge horses because without a good horse, I’m just another steer roper. You have to have a good horse to be elite in this competition.” STEER ROPING JS FROSTYS BADGER, “Goose” Owner: Scott Snedecor Rider : Scott Snedecor

Hailey Rae photo

Click Thompson photo

ProRodeo Sports News 10/14/2022

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