Spencer Turner

Spencer Turner, Winning Ride at IFR 2009

Date, Rodeo Name and Location
Friday I competed at the IPRA rodeo in Cullman, Alabama

Which horse did you draw?
I drew a grey horse branded 511

Stock Contractor?   
The contractor was 5M Rodeo Company

How was your horse in the chute?
When I saw the draw and figured out what horse I had, I started asking around about him. I had never been to one of 5M’s rodeos so I had no idea about any of their horses. The contractor said that he was a good bronc and bucked good, but he had some issues in the chute. He had a reputation of rearing up in chute and flipping over on cowboys. After hearing this several times from the contractor, I was coming up with a game plan. I was gonna keep people away from his head, and saddle him and get ready without anybody near him. This planned worked pretty well. I saddled him, climbed in chute slow and smooth and got out on him without any issues. He never attempted to flip over but he did act very nervous in there and was moving around a lot. The Lord defiantly blessed me with a smooth uneventful time in the chute.

Did you learn about the horse before hand?
The guys I asked said that he was gonna be a good a good bronc (after the whole flipping over in the chute thing). They said he was one of the horses to have in this string of horses.

Tell me about your ride, did you feel strong, did the horse perform the way you thought it would?
After getting out on him smoothly from the chute, I was ready to make a good ride. He started awesome, he didn’t cover much ground the first jump and hung in the air, I laid back and spurred him really high in the neck, the second and third jump was exactly the same. I was sick all weekend and wasn’t feeling good at all, but Laying back and spurring a good bronc, makes ya forget about feeling sick. After a few awesome jumps and me spurring great and riding great, the horse had enough. He then decided to start run bucking down the arena. He started run bucking to the other end of the arena, and gaining speed, he slowed and hopped a little when he came to the fence. I spurred him the best i could while he was run bucking but still only scored a 73 because he didn’t buck great the whole time. That score was good enough for me to take 3rd place. Even though I was sick all weekend and the rodeos didn’t turn out like I wanted, I am still blessed to be out on the road doing what I love to do, which is riding bucking horses, and I thank the Lord for that.

Comments about the rodeo? committee, hospitality, etc.
This was my first time to Cullman, AL. The coliseum was nice and the crowd was packed.

Date, Rodeo Name and Location
On Saturday, I went back to Montgomery, Alabama for the IPRA National All region Finals

Which horse did you draw?
The second round I drew a horse branded 226 and i think his name is Spongebob

 Stock Contractor?
The owner of this horse is Treadway Rodeo Co. There were a lot of contractors at the Finals, but I happened to draw 2 horses from the same string.

How was your horse in the chute?
He was a bigger horse and took up a lot of the chute, but he stood just fine.

Did you learn about the horse before hand?
I asked a few cowboys about the horse, they all had pretty much had the same answer. They said that he was really bucky, and that he took a lot of rein. When they say that a horse takes a lot of rein, that means that the horse bucks with their head really low and close to ground. The rein measurement is a crucial part of bronc riding, if you give a horse too much rein it’s hard to stay in saddle and lift of your rein and ride good, if it is too short then the horse can pull you over the front and possibly throw you over his head.

Tell me about your ride, did you feel strong, did the horse perform the way you thought it would?
As I mentioned in a previous update, I was really sick this weekend, and trying to block it out of my head (which is easier said than done sometimes). The horse stood well in the chute, with the advice the other guys, I gave him a lot of rein. When he left the chute, he reared out and was kinda strong. He was bucking pretty good, I was trying to get going with my spurring, but just couldn’t get things rolling like I usually do. The rein measurement I gave him was way, way too long, I was trying do deal with it, and continue to ride. Eventually the obstacle of too much rein, caught up with me and I got run out the back of my saddle and my stirrups came off my feet (which is a disqualification) and I double grabbed and jumped off. I again was disappointed with the outcome but I know that there are plenty of rodeos left in 2010. I have no excuses of getting a no score. If I was to draw that horse again, I would probably give him less rein. I have nothing against the guys who told me to give him a lot of rein. In any other circumstance that horse might buck with his head on the ground and take a lot of rein.  Some Horses buck different in outdoor pens than they do in Indoor pens. Some horses take a lot of rein outdoors but when they get indoors they buck with their head up and don’t take as much rein. Its kind of a guessing game sometimes. This weekend, I assume, I guessed wrong .

Comments about the rodeo? committee, hospitality, etc.
As I mentioned in the other update, this was first year for IPRA All Region Finals in Montgomery, AL and I think It was a big hit and I’m looking forward to going again next year.

Date, Rodeo Name and Location
On Thursday and Saturday I attended the IPRA’s National All Region Finals in Montgomery, AL

Which horse did you draw?
Thursday I drew a horse branded 660. I’m not sure of the name they called it.

 Stock Contractor?
Treadway Rodeo Co., I think they are from out east, but I am not really sure, cause I have only entered one of their rodeos in the past.

How was your horse in the chute?
He wasn’t to bad, He just kinda stood there like a champ.

Did you learn about the horse before hand?
I had some cowboys that attend IPRA rodeos quite often and attend Treadway rodeos, tell me that this was one of the horses to have in this round. They said “He was just going to jump and kick in a circle to the left and just be real rider friendly”. I was kinda excited to have a horse like that for the first round of the National All Region Finals.

Tell me about your ride, did you feel strong, did the horse perform the way you thought it would?
Well, I haven’t been to many rodeos yet in 2010 and was excited to get on the road and head to Montgomery, AL. I went down there with Billy Griffin a bareback rider from Oak Grove, MO and past IPRA World Champion and Great Lakes Circuit Champion. On the way down there Wednesday night, I started feeling a little sick. By the time I woke up at my friend, Jeremy’s house in Illinois, I was feeling terrible. I totally felt bad, and really didn’t feel like driving the rest of the way down there and competing, but I did hoping I would feel better by the time I rode. Well we were running a little late and got there about 15 minutes before it started (ya think that with a combined years of rodeoing of over 33 years between Billy and I, that we would think to check when the rodeo started). So we get there with 15 minutes to spare, and I still felt TERRIBLE and was needing to adjust my saddle. So in between, helping Billy in the bareback riding and getting sick, I found a few minutes to adjust my saddle. He stood just fine in the chute and when I nodded I was really hoping he would do what the other cowboys said. Well horses are animals and can be unpredictable, knowing this, I wasn’t too surprised when he went straight down the arena and wasn’t near as bucky and rider friendly as they said he would be. I was 71 points with no option for a reride. I was a little disappointed but I know that everything happens for a reason and I was looking forward the rest of the weekend of rodeoing

Comments about the rodeo? committee, hospitality, etc.
The rodeo committee was great and the fans were even better in Montgomery for the IPRA National All Region Finals, this is the first year for the Finals in Montgomery and I think it was a hit.

Date, Rodeo Name and Location
On Saturday Feb 27th I competed at the Sedalia, MO PRCA rodeo. I haven’t been on a bronc in many many months and thought I would crack out at my new “hometown” rodeo. I just moved near Sedalia late last fall and a lot of people have yet to see me ride, so I thought it would be a good way for them to watch.

Which horse did you draw?
I drew a horse branded -3 White Wedding

Stock Contractor?
Joe Simon had bucking horses at this rodeo

How was your horse in the chute?
He was alright for the most part. He was good size and took up a lot of the chute. He didn’t move around too much just leaned a little. And on one occasion after I had him saddled, he actually, turned his head around and bent his neck enough that he got my stirrup all the way in his mouth and was chewing on it before I saw it and could get it out of his mouth. I thought that was kind of funny, but after several times of him trying to do it again I didn’t find it funny much.

Did you learn about the horse before hand?
I didn’t know much about him, only that a couple of buddies of mine had been on him before. They said he was real long and lunged forward a lot when he bucked. It didn’t sound to promising for me to win on him, but every horse had good and bad days so I stayed positive.

Tell me about your ride, did you feel strong, did the horse perform the way you thought it would?
Well everything went smooth in the chute and I got out on him well. He took a few strides before he started to buck. I didn’t have a real strong mark out, which in turn led to me not getting a good start. He then started lunging and pumping his head really well. I gave him a little bit longer that average rein. This turned out to be way too much rein. I was handling everything OK, but eventually it all came to an end. The long rein with the combination of the horse lunging caused me to get run out the back of the saddle which then in turn made my foot come out of the stirrup and me to buck off.

Comments about the rodeo? Committee, hospitality, etc.
The rodeo is a good one. The expo center is packed every year I have been there and the committee provides a ton of hospitality food which really helps out the contestants.

I was really disappointed in myself in my performance. Especially since there was a lot of family and friends in the stands to watch me. I have had many months off competition but still should have had a better showing than I did. I know that everything happens for a reason and the Lord has plans for everything that happens so I am happy and excited to see what’s in store in the upcoming weeks.

My next rodeo is in a week or so in Montgomery, Alabama, see ya there or back on Ontherodeoroad.com!! Thanks

Spencer Turner, Winning Ride at IFR 2009

Hello rodeo fans,
 
Well I haven’t been to any rodeos yet in 2010, but I am getting really anxious to start spur’n some broncs. I have not yet purchased any of my rodeo association cards yet, but I’m planning to buy them soon. I would like to start back rodeo’n around mid Feburary. There are some shows in Michigan, Alabama and a PRCA show about 15 miles from my house in Sedalia, Missouri I need to go to. Check back to onetherodeoroad.com for upcoming rodeo results plus other updates I plan on adding.
Thanks!

Spencer Turner, Winning Ride at IFR 2009

Hello Ontherodeoroad.com fans!

 This weekend I attended the PRCA Great Lakes Circuit Finals in Louisville, KY. I was surprised I qualified for the finals, so I wasn’t mentally or physically prepared, since I haven’t really rodeo’d all year because of injuries. I went with high expectations anyway and stayed positive all weekend. The first round I had H14 Air Guitar of Joe Simon Rodeo Company. I knew this horse, I placed on him in Sedalia at the PRCA rodeo in February. He came out of the chute and didn’t buck real well, he kinda lunged around and then spun in a circle almost stopping. I scored a 50 with and option for a rer0ide. I chose to take the reride. The reride horse was 497 Blood Stain of Three Hills Rodeo company. He was a good sized paint horse that the other cowboys said was good. He bucked fairly well but I just couldn’t get things going well on him. I had a little difficulty spurring him and staying in control. I scored 72, but was satisfied that I got one covered in the first round of Finals. The second round I had 18 Candy Man from Joe Simon Rodeo Company. They cowboys told me he was a big bay horse that was gonna give me some trouble in the chutes and rear out and around the post. After that he was supposed to be good. They told me he bucked with his head down and I was told to let him have a lot of rein. He wasn’t to awful bad in the chute and when I nodded he did rear out. He bucked really, really hard and kicked way over his head, but he never put his head down, and bucked with it up in the air. Since I had heard he bucked with his head down, I gave him lots of rein, but he bucked with it high in the air this time. I had way too much rein and couldn’t ride him well like that and we parted ways and I scored a 0. Even though everybody told me he bucked with a lot of rein and I gave him a lot of rein, when he didn’t put his head down and I bucked off, I wasn’t upset at all. Horses, just like any other animal, can be unpredictable. Some horses buck different indoors and outdoors. I was disappointed but not upset at all. Everything happens for a reason. In the third round I drew D19 Pretty Boy. I had never seen the horse but had heard about him. I heard he would be outstanding. Jump and kick high and buck really great. I also heard he might have a few moves at first but the line out and be great. I was excited to have him drawn. I was pretty relaxed before I got on him. I crawled down in the chute and nodded my head. He came out and was very strong. He kicked over his head and then ducked to the right then to the left and then back to right all the while kicking high and bucking good. I was riding and spurring him good considering all the moves he had. He was getting me a little out of shape, but I would recover and spur him some more. Eventually he got me so far out of shape that he threw me over his head and I scored a 0. I believe I could have rode him through all the moves but he was bucking so strong and hard and that made it difficult. He just got the better of me today, but I’m positive we will meet again and there will be a different outcome, in my favor this time. I didn’t have the good weekend that I was expecting and hoping for, but The Lord has plans and a reason for everything. I am still happy with the way I rode considering I wasn’t ready and didn’t prepare for the Finals like I normally would of. Being hurt all year and not going anywhere, took a toll on me. Things will definitely be different next time I nod my head .

I hope the rodeo road finds all of you in good health and great spirits! Until next time, God Bless

Spencer Turner, Winning Ride at IFR 2009

Hello ontherodeoroad.com Fans,

 It has been a long while since I have updated, I had a pretty good injury to my foot in May and when I came back to action in August I severely bruised my other leg (at least that’s all I think I did, because of course, I did not have a Doctor check it out). I decided to sit the rest of the season out and start again in January and attend rodeos pretty hard again then. That was my plan until I had a friend bring to my attention that even though I had not rodeo’d a lot this year, I still had done well enough at the ones I went to, that I had qualified to the IPRA’s Central and Southern Region Finals.

I went into the Finals in Springfield, MO with a good attitude, even though I hadn’t really thought about rodeo a lot this year, nor have I even practiced or gone over my gear. I pretty much just threw my saddle and gear bag in the truck and went, hoping all would turn out well. The First round I had drawn a horse I knew well. It was branded 30 Black Widow of Hampton Rodeo Company. I had been on this horse several times and won a 1st every time I was on her except one, and I won a 2nd that time. I was blessed to have drawn her for my first horse back in many months. I was a little worried that I wasn’t in the mental or physical shape to ride like I was riding before I got injured. Those worries soon disappeared when I crawled on her back in nodded. Everything came back like riding a bike (a big, kicking and bucking bike that is). Everything felt great, and I felt like I spurred her well and rode her the best I could. I scored an 82 and was blessed to win the 1st round. That made me feel awesome considering the bronc riders that were entered were some of the top hands in the region.

The second round I drew horse 10, a horse I had not ever been on but have seen, and was very happy to have plucked her out of the draw. She threw a little fit in the chute and when the gate opened she did not live up to her previous trips. She hopped skipped and run-bucked down the pen, throwing her head everywhere. I scored a 64 with an option for a re-ride. Anybody that knows me knows that I took the reride. Not being cocky but confident in my riding, I didn’t go down there to be 64 points when there was a chance I could do better in that round. The reride was 05, a horse I did not know at all, neither did very many of the bronc riders. She stood well in the chute and when I nodded she came rearing out pretty high and hard. I marked her out great, but spurred over my rein. When I went to spur her my foot got caught in the rein and pulled some rein out of my hand making it hard to ride her while she was ducking and diving a lunging forward. We parted ways early and I scored a Zero. I have no regrets about taking my reride and giving up my 64 points for a Zero. The Lord has a plan for everything and everything happens for a reason. If I wouldn’t have taken the reride I would have always wondered what could have happened, now I know. It just wasn’t meant for me to do well in the second round, and I am good with that.

In the 3rd and final round I drew H26. I knew this horse and had been on her twice before and won a 2nd once and the second time I jumped off early thinking I had rode the required 8 seconds, but it had only been 7.5 seconds. She is a real bear in the chute and has smashed me several times in the past. When she bucks she is really strong and bucks with her head high in the air. When horses are high headed when they buck it makes them feel a lot stronger and it really makes the swells of your saddle drop out from under you hard. I had a game plan this time; I made sure I had a guy cover her eyes before I got on her and I was real smooth and didn’t waste a lot of time in the chute. This plan worked great. She came out hard and fast and I marked her out good and went on spurring her throughout the ride. She was really bucking hard and throwing her head high. The swells of my saddle kept getting yanked out from my legs and I don’t think I spent too much time actually in my saddle. This didn’t keep me from spurring her good. It was a good hard battle and when the buzzer sounded I jumped off feeling like I had done well. I scored a 78, which was just out of reach for money in that round. I ended up 4th in the average. All in all I am very pleased with this weekend. I am thankful and give the Glory to God for allowing the talents He has given me, to shine through even though I felt a little rusty from the long break in my competition.

It was a good finals and the crowd was great, the stock bucked good, and the committee was very generous to the cowboys and cowgirls. We received Jackets for making the finals and they gave Championship Knives to the Event Winners.

Next week brings the PRCA’s Great Lakes Circuit Finals in Louisville, KY, which was also a surprise to make considering I didn’t go to very many and haven’t been to one since May. I was blessed to make money at the few I went to which qualified me to attend Circuit Finals. I feel good going into next weekend!!

**Dont forget about our Free Giveaway!!

Spencer Turner, Winning Ride at IFR 2009

Date, Rodeo Name and Location
On Friday August 14th I attended the Allendale Annual Rodeo in Allendale, Missouri. It was sanctioned by the United Rodeo Association
 
 Which horse did you draw?
 I drew a big bay branded D60
 
 Stock Contractor?
The Stock Contractor at Allendale was Grand River Rodeo Company from Grand River, Iowa
 
 How was your horse in the chute?
 He was pretty good. He has been known to be a bear in the chutes but lately he has been good, I still took the precautionary step of tying him in with a neck rope cause I didn’t want to take any chances of hurting my foot at my first couple shows back.
 
Did you learn about the horse before hand?
I have seen the horse before, and I have known him be a good bucker and make a circle to the left and then I have known him not but very good and cut a trail down the arena and not be very much fun to ride. I have personally never been on him but I have some buddies that have.
 
Tell me about your ride, did you feel strong, did the horse perform the way you thought it would?
He stood fairly good in the chute but I really didn’t waste time in there and give him time to act up. He came out pretty good I felt like I had a good mark out. He was bucking really good across the arena.  I did not give him quite enough rein and he had me pulled down over the front of my saddle just a little bit, it wasn’t enough to bother me but it did cause my spurring to be a little behind for a couple jumps. I felt good on him, going across the arena, until he came to the fence. When he got to the fence he circled back to the center of the arena and really started picking up speed (cutting a trail) and not bucking as hard, that makes it hard to spur and ride. He was still bucking a just not as slow and hard as before. Towards the end of the ride, something just didn’t feel right so I double grabbed at around the 7 second time. I talked to the guys behind the chutes and they asked why I double grabbed, I said that I felt out of shape and thought I was gonna get bucked off. They then told me that I was not in bad shape during the ride. They said I was riding good and probably gonna place and win some money. I guess my head was playing tricks on me because of my foot. I guess I am letting my injury affect my riding. I have double grabbed at the first two rodeos back since my injury. I am going to work on that before my next rodeo, which is gonna be next weekend, in Maryville, MO and either Iowa, Kansas City or in Oklahoma. I also heard about a practice pen north of Kansas City that might buck some horses on Wednesday so I might try to find out some more information. All in all I am HAPPY with my come back off my injury. I am still riding very well like I was before I got hurt, I just have a few head games to take care of this week. Everything happens for a reason and I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me  
 
Comments about the rodeo? Committee, hospitality, etc.I have been to this rodeo many times before and it is a decent rodeo. Grand River Rodeo Company also has a decent pen of bucking stock. Any cowboy could win on just about any bull or bronc. The pens are pretty even.