SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. – In his finest season as a touring calf roper, Andy Martin is looking to diversify what it means to be a professional cowboy.
The 33-year-old, who is in the process of moving from Colorado to Hereford, wrapped up the Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Association’s all-around championship earlier this month.
“Midway through the season, I was looking at the standings and I had about as many points in calf-roping as the all-around (leader),” Martin said.
Dani Meador, of Huachuca City, was Martin’s traveling partner throughout the season and suggested the idea of team roping to bump up Martin’s all-around total. The GCPRA’s women’s breakaway champion decided she’d take the heels and leave Martin to the heading.
“It was fun team-roping with her and that put me over the top,” Martin said. “The heeling part is really challenging, you’ve got to have a lot of timing. I’m glad she heeled, because I’m not that good at it.”
Martin’s specialty is in roping the heads of steers and getting inside the heads of horses. This season, he rode 18-year-old Nora to the championship, a horse he’d competed with since 1999 in collegiate rodeos.
“Last winter she colicked real bad,” Martin said. “She had surgery and we didn’t know if she was going to live. Especially being 18, we weren’t sure if I’d be able to use her again.” (read more)
