ProRodeo Sports News - October 19, 2018

TOP HORSES Best of 2018 PRCA | AQHA Horses of the Year play pivotal role in Wrangler NFR qualifications

BY MATT NABER

STEERWRESTLING Horse: Canted Plan (Scooter) Owners: Tyler Pearson and Kyle Irwin Riders: Tyler Pearson, Kyle Irwin, Tyler Waguespack, Ty Erickson Key 2018 wins: Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo, National Western Stock Show and Rodeo (Denver), Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show (Fort Worth, Texas) Why the horse is great: Pearson and Irwin bought Scooter, 13, in 2015 from Jason Reiss. Scooter won Horse of the Year the last two years. He is a horse that’s easy to compete on, does well in the corner and gives his rider a chance to win no matter what steer is drawn. Hear it from Tyler: “He’s just gotten better and better. When we got him, he was fat and lazy. He was always nice but had a grass belly on him, so we got him on good feed and started rodeoing on him. He got into fighting shape and really took off from there. I wouldn’t have this level of success without him. He’s been the game-changer in my career and Kyle’s career. He’s just good to be around and built like a 93-year- old man, but he runs hard. He has pure instinct and likes his job. He’s very laid back and doesn’t let much bother him.” TIE-DOWN ROPING Horse: Little Smart Leo (Big Time) Owner: Tyler Milligan Riders: Tyler Milligan, Trent Creager, Timber Moore, Cody Huber, others Key 2018 wins: Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Rodeo Rapid City (S.D.), Buffalo Bill Rodeo (North Platte, Neb.) Why the horse is great: This 16-year-old American Quarter Horse brings a solid and consistent ride every time. Big Time didn’t have rodeo experience when Milligan bought him three years ago in Duncan, Okla. Hear it from Tyler: “Everyone wants to ride him because he’s so easy to win on. He gives you a chance to win every time. I realized he was unique at the beginning of my rookie year last year when he started getting good. He gives his best every time in everything he does and is so easy to compete on. He’s gotten to where he handles cattle better, and he can take the moves from big calves a lot better, too. I’ve said it time and time again, three or four people can ride him, and he will be the same every ti0me. He’s just super solid. I wouldn’t have won near what I won this year if it wasn’t for him. And I wouldn’t have won Rookie of the Year in 2017. He’s helped my roping a lot, and he’s given me more confidence. I know I will be riding one of the better horses and that gives you more of an edge.”

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

Bob Click photo

ProRodeo Sports News 10/19/2018

ProRodeo.com

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