With the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association coming to a dramatic close in just over three short weeks cowboys, cowgirls and contractors are driving hundreds of miles on a mission to make it the the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas this December. All those miles traveled and rodeo performances things are bound to have their ups and downs for both contestants and livestock. This past week the professional rodeo industry has seen both sides of the coin in major ways. There has been livestock tragedies and decisions that have been made that will change some people’s lives forever. In this weeks PRCA update we will talk about everything that has happened and who to expect to see when you are visiting sin city for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
This week the rodeo world was informed of a horrifying accident involving some of the Big Bend and Flying Five Rodeo Companies that included some of their prized bucking horses and livestock. On the evening of September 7th a group of horses broke out of their summer corrals in Dusty, Washington and were struck by a car when they reached the nearby State Round 127 blacktop.
There were a total of five horses that deceased in the accident where three died on scene and two others euthanized a short time later. The horses killed included some well-known bucking horses that were past WNFR selections, Holly Blues and Spy.
The Flying 5 Rodeo Company purchases their prize foal, Spy, over 20 years ago in Dawson Creek, British Columbia from a man by the name of Bobby Morrison. Years later this great bucking horse would be selected to compete as a saddle bronc horse for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from 1998 to 2002. In the years of his WNFR appearances he made seven outs and helped cowboys collect checks on four of those outs. Of those four outs he helped two riders, Derek Clark and Bret Frank, place second in different rounds of competition.
Even though Spy had been a great saddle bronc horse it was decided to turn him into a bareback horse to see how he would fair with riders such as three-time world champion Kaycee Field aboard. This year Spy helped Field to a second place finish with 84 points i Reno, Nevada. After a great career this legendary bucking horse was set to be retired at the end of this year but was taken from us way too early.
The other notable horse that passed away was up and coming equine athlete Holly Blues. He was sired by Spring Horse, a saddle bronc horse that made appearances at the WNFR. To keep up with the family tradition Holly Blues made his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this last December where he helped Jacobs Crawley to an 80.5 point ride in the tenth and final round of the 2013 WNFR. He then went on to help Chad Ferley win the Ellensbug rodeo in Washington with an 88 point ride before his untimely death just 6 days later. Flying 5 Rodeo Company spokesman Lindsay Harder said of Holly Blues, “”He was an up-and-coming superstar,” she went on to say, “”He craved the diesel smoke (of the transport trucks) and the adrenaline.”
The other horses killed in the accident were bareback horse Diaper Dandy, purchased by Big Bend from Randy Beard at the first Ellensburg futurity, and two horses who had not yet been named, but who nonetheless had great bloodlines.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved and affected by this tragedy from all of us here at the Rodeo Round Up.
On a much happier note, the list of those that have been nominated to work the 2014 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has been released along with those that have ultimately been chosen to participate. There are some first timers as well as some very notable names that are coming back for another year of working the “superbowl” of rodeo. Those nominations are listed below with those in bold showing who will work the 2014 WNFR:
Announcer:
Wayne Brooks
Randy Corley
Mike Mathis
Boyd Polhamus
Andy Stewart
Secretary
Linda Alsbaugh
Sunni Deb Backstrom
Amanda Corley-Sanders
Sandy Gwatney
Haley Schneeberger
Dress Act of the Year
Rider Kiesner
Anthony Lucia
Jerry Wayne Olson
One Arm Bandit – Amanda and John Payne
Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls – Jennifer Nicholson, Brandi Phillips
** Will be announced next month after voting process has been competed**
Comedy Act of the Year
John Harrison
Keith Isley
Troy Lerwill
Gizmo McCracken
Mark Swingler
** Will be announced next month after voting process has been competed**
Clown of the Year
John Harrison
Keith Isley
Troy Lerwill
Justin Rumford
Cody Sosebee
** Will be announced next month after voting process has been competed**
Make sure to stay up to date on all rodeo and bull riding news by book marking this page to your webpage browser, following and liking our facebook page here, by following us on twitter at @therodeoroundup or by following and liking us on Instagram at @therodeoroundup for exclusive inside pictures from your favorite rodeo and bull riding venues including the PBR World Finals and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
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