ProRodeo Sports News - September 17, 2021

PRORODEO HORSES

FAST FACTS NAME: Buckskin YY AGE: 15 COLOR: Buckskin SIRE: Blue Drift Hank DAM: Missy Kartell NOTABLE 2021 WINS: Caldwell Night Rodeo,

Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo

A saving grace for Tyler Wade Buckskin YY Alaina Stangle photo Team roping header Tyler Wade competes in Burwell, Neb., earlier this season aboard Buskin YY. Buckskin YY, who filled in for Wade’s main horse, Spur, has Wade in position to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

BY TANNER BARTH T yler Wade is no stranger to adversity. The team roping header has had to battle until the end each season that he qualified for the National Finals Rodeo. But the beginning of the 2021 season sawWade face a different type of adversity. His horse Spur went down with a sprained suspensory ligament just months into the season. In stepped Buckskin YY. The 15-year-old horse is owned by JD Yates, the father of Trey Yates, Wade’s team roping partner. Wade began riding the horse at the beginning of May, and he says it was a match made in heaven for nearly four months. “That’s just a really good horse from top to bottom, he’s one that lets you get a throw every single time and a chance to win anytime you back into the box,” saidWade, 29. “I’ve probably never ridden a horse that fits me as good as that buckskin horse did.” JD Yates says the horse is a rarity, with it not being used as frequently as some rodeo horses. He says Buckskin is a proven winner, both inside and outside the arena. “There are some horses that are born winners, and I don’t think it

matters who rides him, that horse is a winner,” said Yates, a 21-time NFR qualifier (1975-

93, 1996, 2002). “I don’t rope anything like Tyler, and I’ve won on him as well, so I think that says a lot about a horse when he can fit different styles so well.” But Wade made a promise to Yates: once Wade’s horse was healthy and ready to rodeo again, Buckskin would head home. And that’s exactly what happened about a month ago. “When we had the NFR made after Caldwell (Idaho) I called JD and thanked him,” Wade said. “I told him I didn’t want to use his horse unless I had to, and once mine was back healthy we decided to give him a much- needed break.” Buckskin will have limited use the rest of the rodeo season, but Yates says if Wade comes calling, Yates won’t stop him from riding Buckskin at theThomas &Mack Center in Las Vegas in December. “I presume if he ends up wanting to ride him at the NFR I’d let him ride him,” Yates said. “Other than that, I plan to ride him at Pendleton (Ore.), but if Tyler doesn’t get him in Vegas he probably won’t get saddled again until next year sometime.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/17/2021

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