ProRodeo Sports News - Sept. 4, 2020

COWBOYS & HORSES

Photo courtesy Kirstie Marie photography

Tuf Cooper has ridden Jewel this season through a deal brokered by Dr. Flavio Ribeiro.

Big As I Am has left string of world champion offspring A Legacy

BY TRACY RENCK S id Miller began raising horses in 1999. More than 20 years later he’s still having an impact on ProRodeo. The cornerstone of his breeding program in Stephenville, Texas, was focused on Big As I Am’s bloodlines. Big As I Am was a 1986 model red dun son of Otoes Wonder, owned and trained by Sid’s brother, Dusty. “Big As I Am was one of those once-in-a-lifetime horses,” Sid Miller said. “He was exceptional.” He’s right. Big As I Am was a star roping horse and sire to Big Smokin Wonder (aka ‘Pearl’) and Pearl’s full sisters Big Wonder Ofa Gem (aka

‘Jewel’) and Topaz. Pearl has won multiple AQHAWorld Championships and earned the prestigious PRCA | AQHA Tie-Down Horse of the Year Award in 2009 and 2013. “My brother trained Pearl, and I bought her when she was 4,” Miller said. “I bought Jewel when she was a yearling and trained her myself.” Pearl and Jewel are part of a slew of amazing horses sired by Big As I am. “We have had more than 30 world and reserve world champions out of him in (tie-down) roping, team roping and barrel racing,” Sid said. “I have two embryos out of Pearl, a stallion and a mare, and I have an embryo out of Jewel, a mare. We are keeping the bloodline alive. It’s a really good one.” Tie-down roper Cody Ohl, who was named to the ProRodeo Hall of

ProRodeo Sports News 9/4/2020

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