After The Dust Settles
Working a Barrier, Practicing and Success in the Arena with PRCA Team Roper Brock Hanson
What advice would you give someone that has success in the practice pen, but falls apart at a rodeo or roping?
In my opinion, in order to compete well you have to compete often. I know it can be hard and expensive to do, but roping for money is not the same as practicing. It doesn’t matter if it is for $100.00 or $20,000, you can’t get that feel at home or at a friend’s practice pen.
What advice would you give on working the barrier correctly?
First your horse has to be able to score and has to be able to leave off your hand when you release him. If that is happening, then it goes to the rider. The best way for me is to set up a rope barrier and practice scoring and getting a start at home on a competition set up.
What are some of the mistakes you see ropers make in the pen?
The biggest mistakes I see is people going to practice and just going through the motions and not working on anything. Although at times you have the opposite which is someone trying to work on everything. I like working on one thing at a time.
What do you look for in a roping prospect?
I look at a horse’s ability but more important is their mind. I have had some really talented horses but they were too fragile minded to take the pressure.
If you missed our other interviews with Brock, click here and here.
Stay tuned……more from Brock coming up!
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PRCA Team Roper Ryan Motes talks Roping Partners and Confidence
How are you feeling about your 2012 season?
Great, I have one of the best headers who also has one of the best horses. He can rope fast and he also jackpots great.
What do you look for in a roping partner?
I look for someone who has the same desires and work ethic as I do, Brock and I both want to be great equally as much. Good horsemanship and someone who is versatile and can win in any set up.
Rodeo is such a mental game, how do you stay focused?
Just take it run by run and you always need to know that you are going to catch the next one. Not looking back and dreading a miss. You just need to realize why you missed and fix it the next time.
What advice would you give someone that has success in the practice pen, but falls apart at a rodeo or roping?
Most of the time they need more experience. The more roping you go to the more comfortable you will be and the more confident you can be. Everyone has been there and went through it.
If you missed Ryan’s first interview click here. Stay tuned…….next week Ryan talks about what he looks for in a roping horse prospect!
Posted in In The Arena, Rodeo Interviews
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Todd Suhn is back… Simple Fact is I love to Bulldog
What horses are in your trailer this year?
Maximus is our mainstay mount so far, and the hazing horse is Roadblock. I have a green horse named Tucson that is making a strong comeback from an injury. We have won good on him in the past also, and could use him when our schedule calls for it.
Being on the road I am sure is filled with ups and downs, what keeps you motivated?
I would say it is the simple fact that I love to bulldog! I like the challenge of making and hauling my own horses, and all the success I’ve had is that much sweeter because of the way I feel when I can make and win on a horse. That to me is the cowboy way. My uncle Brady told me this spring that his dad, my late Grandpa Rinehart, who is also Jake Rineharts grandpa, told Brady “Todd has become a self-made man.” That meant a lot to me to hear that from a great man like him. So it’s a drive that goes deep, much deeper than money or glory!
Since steer wrestling is your event of choice, do you participate in any other events?
Not lately, I used to donate in the calf roping, back when that’s what they called it! I team rope very little, but will probably do it more when the kids get older.
Do you do any alternative therapies with your horses, as in swimming, acupuncture, chiropractic, etc?
I have done all these at different times, and seen good results as well as no differences with all, depending on the case. I do believe they all have their place, and are useful.
How did you get started in rodeo? Have you always been a steer wrestler?
We started in 4H rodeos when I was 8, and have been doing some form of rodeo since. Calf roping was my first love, then bull dogging replaced it.
Be sure and check out our other interviews with Todd and his wife Wendy here.
We will have more with Todd Suhn next week!
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PRCA Team Roper Ryan Motes talks to OTRR about tying the World Record!
Ryan, tell OTRR a little bit about how you got started roping?
My Dad ropes so I grew up around it and roped as a kid.
How long have you been rodeoing?
My rookie year was 2001. I was lucky enough to rope with my dad the first three years of my career.
The conditions must have been perfect that day for you to tie the world record with Brock Hanson at the Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo, talk to us about the go.
We had a good steer, Brock got a great start and had the loop on him fast. The steer was fading to the left just a bit and he handled it great. I heeled him up around the hips and it came tight quick.
Tying that record, you must have been on top of the world, tell us how you felt.
It’s amazing how it felt. It is pretty cool to have the title now and to hear how many people have got to watch the run on Facebook or the internet and just how quick news travels. We hadn’t left the arena and our phones were blowing up with people from everywhere.
Stay tuned………much more from Ryan in the next couple of weeks!
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PRCA Team Roper Brock Hanson talks about Roping Partners and the Mental Game of Roping….
Tying that record, you must have been on top of the world, tell us how you felt.
I was really excited and made a few phone calls and told my family and a few of the others that have put a lot of time in to helping me. We laughed and enjoyed the moment and hoped that it would hold on until the rodeo was over.
How are you feeling about your 2012 season?
It has been going really good and I have a really good horse (Stripper) and a really good partner (Ryan Motes), so I am excited for the spring rodeos. I made a few costly mistakes that could have made this a better winter but I will hopefully learn from them and try to improve.
What do you look for in a roping partner?
Obviously I look for someone that ropes well but also I look for someone that has good horses, a strong work ethic and that takes care of business. There is so much that goes in to roping for a living that the actual catching steers is a small part but important.
Rodeo is such a mental game, how do you stay focused?
Staying focused is tough but important. I have a lot of people behind me for support and my wife Tarae goes with me as well and supports me 100%, so that really helps. Sometimes the best thing is to take a minute, go to a movie or do something to relax so that when you’re competing you’re not burnt out or overly anxious.
Stay tuned…more from Brock next week! If you missed Brock’s first interview click here!
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PRCA Team Roper Brock Hanson talks to OTRR about Tying the World Record and Much More…
Brock, tell OTRR a little bit about how you got started roping?
I grew up in a roping family. My dad, Denny Hanson and my brother, Brett Hanson both team rope. My mom, Susan Hanson doesn’t rope but she rides and spent her share of time behind the wheel taking us to jr. rodeos and high school rodeos.
How long have you been rodeoing?
I entered my first rodeo at age 7. It was a CJRA (Colorado Jr. Rodeo Association) rodeo. In my age group, I was allowed to compete in pole bending, barrel racing and goat tying. I grew up going to CJRA’s and high school rodeos and around age 16 I stated competing in amateur rodeos.
Have you always been a header?
I started out heading and headed for my brother at the Jr. Rodeos until I was 12. He graduated in to another age group, so I switched to heeling so I could rope with Luke Lancaster at the Jr. Rodeos. I stayed heeling until about three years ago when I decided to switch and start heading again.
The conditions must have been perfect that day for you to tie the world record with a 3.3 with Ryan Motes at the Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo, talk to us about the go.
It was a fast set up, when we got there for the slack there was already a 3.6 and a 3.7. There wasn’t really a chance to just go make a good run and expect to win something. I got a really good start and Ryan hazed the steer a step left to set up a fast run. I roped the steer and turned him off and as soon as he was legal, Ryan had him heeled and dallied on a short rope. He gave a good pull back so I could get a good face.
Stay tuned……….lots more from Brock!!
Posted in In The Arena, Rodeo Interviews
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Ashley Whyland is back…..Cowboy Cheeseburger Soup…
Last fall I promised you the best soup you’ve ever put in your mouth. I’m going to tell you right off, this is a man’s soup. Lots of meat and potatoes for that strapping hunk in your life. I love to make this soup in the horse trailer and let it cook for a few hours in the crock pot It seems like a lot of ingredients and a lengthy process but be sure to check out my tips at the bottom for making this super easy in the horse trailer. You will also find that you can tailor this soup to your likings. If you like it chunkier, more meat and potatoes. Creamier? Make more roux (flour and butter) by increasing the amounts of each, but keeping the same ratio. Soupier? Add more milk and/or chicken broth. Cheesier? Cut up more of that Velveeta baby! I’m telling you, you can’t mess this recipe up! I have even made this soup without the celery and carrots. Shame on me….but it was still delicious!
The Cowboy’s Cheeseburger Soup
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 3/4 cup chopped onion
- 3/4 cup shredded carrots
- 3/4 cup diced celery
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 4 cups diced peeled potatoes (1-3/4 pounds)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (8 ounces) process cheese (Velveeta), cubed
- 1-1/2 cups milk
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Directions
- In a 3-qt. saucepan, brown beef; drain and set aside. In the same saucepan, saute the onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the broth, potatoes and beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from the heat; blend in sour cream.
Horse trailer cooking?
- Brown your beef ahead of time. Put it in a container and stick in the fridge.
- Saute your onions, carrots celery, basil and parsley in the butter ahead of time. Put it in a container and stick in the fridge.
- Make your roux ahead of time. Put it in a container and stick in the fridge.
- Do you see a pattern here? Thought so!
- Cube up your cheese, throw it in a Ziploc and stick in the fridge.
- Now when I’m ready to head out. I have a bag of potatoes, my containers/baggies of make aheads, salt and pepper, milk, chicken broth and sour cream.
- Don’t forget your crock pot or a pot to put on the stove (or fire??)
- I get to where I’m going, the crock pot goes on high. I cut up the potatoes. Throw them in the crock pot with the beef, veggies and broth and let it go until the potatoes are cooked. Once they are cooked through, add the roux and let this cook until thickened. Add in the milk, cheese, salt and pepper and mix until blended and hot. Add the sour cream before eating. YUM!
- This is great paired with a big crusted slice of French bread.
Making things ahead of time is the key to cooking in the horse trailer. This recipe would not be fun to cook in a small horse trailer, but when you have all your ingredients ready to just throw in….super easy!
Posted in After The Dust Settles
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Love of the Game……
Kudos to The Classic Read Deal…. Great video!
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NFR Barrel Racer Jody Sheffield……..
Click here for more with Jody!
In 2010 you won Pendelton, talk to us a little bit about how unique that pattern is and how you prepare your horse for that pattern size?
There’s no better rush as a barrel racer than Pendleton in my mind. Nothing can compare to that huge set up. My horse loves to run and hunt barrels so it’s perfect for her. Some girls don’t like to take there horses up there because it can be a little hard on them but I can’t think of a better reward for Zoey than to turn her loose after a hard summer and let her do what she loves to do…run and turn! I don’t think you can truly prepare yourself for it. I think you just go turn them loose and see what happens…even if it doesn’t go well you can say you did it!
Going in to a new rodeo season, do you set down and write a list of goals you want to accomplish for the year?
That’s something I need to do! I’m good at keeping things in my head but having them on paper really solidifies things.
You said in your interview on WPRA.com that what makes people successful is finding out what works for them, what works best for you and why do you think you have managed to be so successful?
I really try to just let a horse find its way both in the arena and out. It’s important to find out who they really are so you can help them when they need it. Zoey has been through so many bad things in her life and we’ve had to really find ways to help her deal with them. In the pattern I think it’s so important to just let a horse figure out how to move their body. I don’t think you can teach a horse to turn a certain way if it isn’t natural to them. Let them figure it out and then just help them to excel.
Do you use any type of therapies for Zoey when out on the road? Do you poultice legs, use magnets, back on track sheets, liniment, etc? What is your routine for Zoey when you are running hard?
I’ve had her on the accuscope for injuries before but I don’t use that normally. We use mud on her legs a lot. She has a leg that’s been really cut up badly a few times so we battle that all the time. It’s a matter of keeping any kind of swelling out of her leg and hock. We ice her down a lot and use liniments as well. Sometimes we’ll wrap her legs to haul her but I try not to because she doesn’t like any of that. I’ve used Soft Rides on her and she hates them so I usually don’t use them unless she’s on hard ground for a long time or something. We try to just keep everything very natural with her. She really doesn’t like to be fussed with so by avoiding doing too much she’s a lot happier.
Jody thanks so much for sharing your time with OTRR! Good luck “On The Rodeo Road”
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NFR Barrel Racer Jody Sheffield is back…
If you missed part one and two, please check them out here.
How did you stay focused in the alley?
My husband was great there. We would just chat and get our game plan of how to handle Zoey. He was there to keep us both calm.
Looking back on the entire experience, what did you take away from it?
I loved it and wouldn’t trade it for anything! Mostly after it was all said and done I had proved to myself that I could do it. My horse deserved to be there and she really proved herself as well. I was very proud of my whole team!
Last year to proved to be a “dream come true” year for you. Winning Rodeo Houston was huge. How do you feel about Houston this year? Any pressure?
I’m really excited! It’s nice to go somewhere like that and know your horse did well in the pen. I feel like there’s a little extra pressure this year but more than anything just excitement.
With your win at Rodeo Houston last year, you only went to 44 rodoes, how will that change for 2012?
I plan to go a lot more this year. My husband and I had a long talk and we’ve decided it’s time for me to leave my job and take advantage of the opportunity we have. Horses like Zoey don’t grow on trees and we want to give her the chance to go for it. It’s a pretty scary thing to face but nobody ever did anything great without some risk!
Going in to the 2012 season, what are you doing differentlly this year than last year?
Not too much. We’ll go to some more rodeos. Go to the rodeos we did well at and stay away from places it didn’t work for us. We’ll just play it by ear and see where we end up.
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