Injury to Keep Cadillac Out of WNFR Competition
One of the top steer wrestling horses in ProRodeo won’t be competing at the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER due to injury. The 2016 PRCA/AQHA steer wrestling horse of the year, Landrys Cadillac (Cadillac), owned by Sterling Wallace, was injured during a practice run with Clayton Hass on Nov. 16.
Hass was preparing Cadillac for the WNFR by running steers on him when Cadillac had a bad step at Hass’ practice pen. The fall pulled a piece of bone away from the tendon in Cadillac’s back left leg and chipped part of it off into the joint, Hass said.
“It was a freak accident,” Hass said. “He just slipped and it was a total accident – it’s not good.”
Cadillac is scheduled to go into surgery on Dec. 4 to remove the bone chip. From there, he’ll begin the rehabilitation process and is anticipated to return to the arena for the summer run.
“I talked with Clayton and he’s keeping me updated on what Cadillac will be able to do, and they were positive about him coming back in the summer,” Waguespack said. “Everyone was excited because he’s another weapon for people to use and ride.”
Cadillac was the top bulldogging horse of 2014, finished third in the voting in 2015 and placed second in 2017. The 19-year-old horse has been the primary mount for Hass, Tyler Waguespack and Ty Erickson this season.
Hass narrowly missed qualifying for the WNFR, placing 17th, but he was helping the horse stay fresh for the upcoming 10-day competition. Waguespack placed fourth in the 2017 WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings, and had planned on riding Cadillac at the WNFR again. Season-leader Erickson also had planned to ride Cadillac, according to Waguespack.
“It’s not something you ever want to hear,” Waguespack said. “Cadillac was such a huge aspect in how well we did at the Finals last year, and it’s going to be tough without him.”
Waguespack is defending his world title, in addition to being the 2016 WNFR’s top bulldogger. With his first-choice mount out of commission, Waguespack’s going to ride the 2017 PRCA/AQHA steer wrestling horse of the year, Canted Plan (Scooter).
“He (Scooter) felt really good, and I’m hoping to have a lot of success on him,” Waguespack said. “He’s a very nice animal.”
The Louisiana cowboy is speaking from experience, having won $8,781 at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, while riding Scooter. The horse is owned by Tyler Pearson and Kyle Irwin, who placed third and 11th, respectively, in the 2017 WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings.
“Tyler and Kyle Irwin are my friends, and we help each other out all the time and I talked to them before anything happened to Cadillac,” Waguespack said. “You have a backup plan and that was definitely what I wanted to ride because he’s a horse that would be a great success in that field.”
Scooter nailed some major wins this season, including the Wrangler Champions Challenge presented by Justin Boots at Sioux Falls, S.D., with Pearson, Lawton (Okla.) Rangers Rodeo with Pearson, Cody (Wyo.) Stampede with Irwin, and the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo with Irwin.
“It’s extremely unfortunate about Cadillac, but we had a backup plan like anyone else would,” Waguespack said.
“It was unfortunate the way it happened and the NFR won’t be the same without Cadillac, but we are hoping to have a lot of success out there.”
Courtesy of PRCA