Young Animals Key to Carr Program
CLAREMORE, Okla. – Painted River is still young, but she’s the next in a long line of proven winners from Pete Carr Pro Rodeo.
Over the years, Carr has acquired some of the greatest animal athletes in ProRodeo, but there’s something special about those animals that have been raised on the firm’s ranch just outside of Athens, Texas. Many of those will be featured at the Will Rogers Stampede, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 26-Sunday, May 28, at Will Rogers Stampede Arena.
“Pete has a bunch of great young horses,” said Bill Tutor, a bareback rider from Huntsville, Texas, who finished the 2016 season 16 th in the world standings. “It doesn’t matter how big the rodeo is; if it’s one of Pete Carr’s rodeos, you know you’re going to get on something that you want to get on.
“All those horses are awesome in their own way and are fun to get on.”
Painted River is just one of several up-and- coming animals that Carr features. She just has the best resume so far, and she has a fantastic pedigree: Her dam is River Boat Annie, a 16-year-old red roan mare that has bucked at the NFR 11 times; she also was the reserve world champion bareback horse in 2007. The sire is Korczak, which has been selected to the finale three times.
“That was the first time I’d been on her, but I’ve seen her and she’s just a great horse,” said Chad Rutherford, who rode Painted River for 91.5 points to win the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo earlier this year. “It was a great feeling the whole ride.”
That comes down to the talented mare’s bucking style. Some horses make it more like a fist fight to get big numbers. Scores are based on the 100-point scale, with half coming from the animal and half from the cowboy.
“She’s just electric,” Tutor said of Painted River. “She’s not exactly rider friendly, but she’s so electric that she helps you do your job. She’s flashy, and that’s the main thing because she allows you to be flashy, too. It adds up to be a fun ride.”
Tutor rode the horse for 87 points at the RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in January. He spent a good portion of the early season No. 1 in the world standings thanks to his ability this year, and he’s been on several Carr bucking horses over the course of his young career. In fact, he’s had several high-marked rides on MGM Dirty Jacket, the two-time Bareback Horse of the Year.
“I would put Painted River in the same category as Dirty Jacket,” Tutor said. “She feels good, but you don’t want to stub your toe. They are no day off, but if you do your part, great things can happen. They both feel amazing. When you see your name by theirs on the draw, you’re ecstatic.”
It’s that way with a lot of Carr animals, which is why cowboys flock to rodeos that have the Rafter C attached.
“I go all across the country to get on Pete Carr’s horses,” Rutherford said. “I love their stock, and I love their rodeos. The only reason I’d ever not make it to one of their rodeos is if I’m injured. Otherwise, I’m dang sure going to make it to a Pete Carr rodeo.”
He’s not the only cowboy that believes that way, and that’s why so many rodeos lean on the Carr team for their production.
Courtesy of twisTEDrodeo.com