Equine
The Rodeo Road is Heating up and about to Erupt
By Phillip Kitts
The month of April continued to be the big transition from the slow season, where a few big rodeos around the nation draw the dedicated cowboys and cowgirls who are deeply invested in making a bid at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. As the month gears up, many competitors get serious about competing in as many events as the rules will allow. Since Pro-Rodeo has a cap of 100 rodeos, cowboys focus on hitting as many big payout rodeos as possible with as many rodeos as they can that within their circuit system.
Many people are not really clear on the circuit system of Pro-Rodeo. In the effort to simplify it a bit more, here is how it breaks down. Pro-Rodeo is broken down into 12 circuits: Badland, which covers North and South Dakota; Montana Circuit; Columbia- covers part of Idaho, Washington and Oregon; California Circuit; Wilderness—Part of Idaho, Nevada, Utah; Turquois—Arizona and New Mexico; Mountain States-Wyoming and Colorado; Prairie— Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma; Texas Circuit; Great Lakes Circuit—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Michigan; Southeastern Circuit—Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the First Frontier Circuit—Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine.
In addition to competing for a bid to the National Finals Rodeo, each competitor also focuses on attending enough “circuit” rodeos so they can qualify for their respective circuit finals. Each circuit holds a finals at the end of the season in which competitors can vie for a chance to claim their circuit championship in the event. To add to the bragging rights of being a circuit champion winner, they are invited to compete in Kissimmee, Fla., for the Ram National Circuit Finals. The “Ram Circuit Finals” is held in April and comes with a big payout to kick off the rodeo season.
To read more pick up a copy of the June 2018 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Krista Lucas Wynn
Each year, when the professional rodeo season wraps on Sept. 30, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association announce the Nutrena Horse of the Year, presented by the American Quarter Horse Association, in each event. This is a prestigious award, voted on by the members of the associations. To be named Horse of the Year by fellow competitors is a high honor only a few achieve.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Krista Lucas Wynn | Copy Editor
The name, “Daddy of ’em All,” instantly brings to mind the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration. Cowboys and cowgirls from all across the country dream of competing on the iconic Cheyenne arena dirt.
Every July, pro rodeo contestants travel to Cheyenne, Wyom. to vie for the title of champion of the Cheyenne Frontier Days. The rodeo is steeped in western tradition and celebrated the 125th year this summer. With nearly two weeks of rodeo action, fans watched bareback riding, calf roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, bull riding, and steer roping.
Steer roper, Tuff Hardman, knew winning “the Dad” was a tall order, but with a good horse and a few prayers he left no doubt who the best steer roper at Cheyenne was when it was all said and done. After two rounds, Hardman qualified back for the finals tied for ninth place with a time of 30.8 seconds.
To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Utilizing the horse to human connection.
By: Hannah Claxton | Editor
Deep in the heart of Texas, both humans and horses at Stable Strides Farm in Pilot Point, Texas aer demonstrating just how big their hearts really are. Founded by Mandy Cleveland in 2001, Stable Strides Farm serves dozens of Equestrians with Disabilities and Veterans each week.
Deep in the heart of Texas, both humans and horses at Stable Strides Farm in Pilot Point, Texas aer demonstrating just how big their hearts really are. Founded by Mandy Cleveland in 2001, Stable Strides Farm serves dozens of Equestrians with Disabilities and Veterans each week.
“My boys have been riding since they were 18 months old, and for the first 17 years they had a leader and sidewalker. When we moved here, and Mandy started teaching them, she just said, ‘Let’s see what they can do,’ and they ride independently now,” Danielle Frank explained, whose two sons, Adison and Aiden, ride with Stable Strides Farm. “Mandy is amazing beucase she doesn’t place any limits on them, she always wants to see what they can do.”
It is her dedication to never setting limits that earned Cleveland a spot as a national finalist for the NSBA 2024 Dianne Eppers Cowgirls Reaching-Out-to-Community Award. The award was established by the NSBA Foundation to recognize cowgirls across the industry for their selfless contributions to the equestrian community.
To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of the NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
(Photos Courtesy of Hannah Claxton)
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