ProRodeo Sports News - October 18, 2019

2019 Horses of the Year announced Year’s Best HORSES OF THE YEAR

BY MATT NABER

STEER WRESTLING Horse: Do Get Famous “Rattle” Owners: Matt and Savanah Reeves

Joe Duty photo

Riders: Matt Reeves, Cody James, Hunter Cure, Tanner Milan, Scott Guenthner, Stetson Jorgensen, Tristan Martin and others Key 2019 wins: Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo (Odessa, Texas); Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo, Moses Lake (Wash.) Round-Up Rodeo Why the horse is great: Standing at barely more than 14 hands tall, this 1,000-pound, 7-year-old American Quarter Horse mare celebrated her one-year anniversary of ProRodeo competition the day after slack in Fort Worth, Texas in early 2019. Trained by Matt Reeves, word spread fast about Rattle’s rodeo prowess, and soon requests to ride her were coming from many of ProRodeo’s top steer wrestlers. Hear it from Matt: “She works everywhere and tries really hard every time. She just scores so well, and she has just such a good go, she can really run. She’s very watchy and looky, and that’s why she’s called Rattle. She’s just a really neat mare. She can have a little attitude sometimes, but once the summer got rolling you never noticed it. Not a ton of people knew about her, but by the end of the year a lot of people rode her. She stayed strong in the Northwest, and that’s a big deal. Horses are a big deal and the main reason I keep rodeoing. I wanted to get her to the NFR and that’s real special. Making them and having them has been a big deal, and it’s been real special to me.” Riders: Tyler Milligan, Shane Hanchey, Cimmaron Boardman, Marty Yates, Cody McCartney, Caleb Smidt, Haven Meged Key 2019 wins: Five of the seven cowboys who rode him at the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., won money. Many of this year’s Top 15 tie-down ropers competed on Big Time at least once during the 2019 season. Milligan rode him to his first Wrangler NFR qualification. Why the horse is great: For the second consecutive year, Big Time was named the tie-down roping horse of the year. The 16-year-old, American Quarter Horse gelding brings a solid and consistent ride. Big Time didn’t have any rodeo experience when Milligan bought him five years ago in Duncan, Okla., but this year he’s taken the 22-year-old cowboy to his first Wrangler NFR. Hear it from Tyler: “ He’s pretty special. He’s just the same every single time. It doesn’t matter if it is dry or muddy – he can do it all. Not much really changed after winning it last year, but it gives you confidence knowing your horse is good enough to go anywhere and win. He’s pretty lazy and is just real laid back and tries to take the easy way out, but he knows when we are in the box and gives his all every time.” TIE-DOWN ROPING Horse: Little Smart Leo “Big Time” Owner: Tyler Milligan

Billie-Jean Duff photo

ProRodeo Sports News 10/18/2019

ProRodeo.com

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