6/10 Drew Horner: Uncoiled. Mesquite, TX

Last time we talked about rodeos, I was headed to Mesquite and switching partners between rodeos. Buddy is spending some time at home circuit rodeoing, and I’m doing the same, before the busy summer starts up. I roped with Buddy in Hugo, and then with Wesley Johnson in Mesquite. I told you a little bit about Wesley in an earlier post; he’s a young kid who has been taking lessons from Patrick Smith. He ropes really well. He actually doubled every steer that I turned for him at the 3 out of 4 rodeos over the past week. And we placed in all three of them.

1st Mesquite– click here to see the run.

We went to Mesquite and drew a good steer. He was a runner, but he was good. We were 5.5 and won third. Wesley made a great heel shot. Then, we were up in Gladewater on Thursday night, Canton, TX on Friday night, then back to Mesquite on Saturday night.

I rode Rattler in Gladewater, and we drew another runner. The steer put us deep into the arena, and we were 6.3 on him. It was only the first night of the rodeo, but I think we ended up sixth overall. We made a good run on a tough steer, and that’s what happens when you draw bad; it’s hard to win first or second.

We went to Canton on Friday night and drew another runner. The steer split the gates and ran. I rode Rattler again and he did great, although I waved the rope of the steer. I reached a long way to get him, and it didn’t work out this time.

We were back in Mesquite on Saturday night. Drew just kind of a normal steer. We were 5.5 again and ended up winning fourth. Both nights up in Mesquite we were the same time, 5.5.

Last week’s Mesquite and this week’s Mesquite were different set-ups with different barriers. Last week was the first week of their summer series, so they didn’t really know how the steers were going to be. The barrier was set even, meaning the box was 16 foot 6 inches and the neck rope was 16 foot 6 inches, which is a longer than normal start for rodeos. You had to make sure that you saw the steer half way out the gate before you went at him.

2ndmesquite– click here to see the run.

This week the barrier was set at a foot under and the times showed it. It was 16 foot 6 inches box with a 15 foot 6 inches neck rope. So, I went from seeing the steer half way out of the gate to only seeing the shoulder out of the gate. It made the times a little bit faster. It was a little easier and more roper friendly. So, last week we were 5.5 for third and this week we were 5.5 for fourth.

Buddy and I are roping together again this week in Cleburne, Coleman and Weatherford. Then the next week leave for Santa Fe, Pleasant Grove and then Reno. I’ll let you know how this week goes. Until next time, Drew.