News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail, May 18
On May 15, The Cowboy Channel and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association launched the PRCA on The Cowboy Channel Plus App, which will bring the most exciting PRORODEO streaming to fans’ fingertips.
The new and exciting app will also allow subscribers to stream The Cowboy Channel’s Western lifestyle content on any device, anytime, anywhere.
Fans can get a sneak peek at this all-new design with the Beta version available now.
As the world’s destination for all things PRORODEO, the PRCA on The Cowboy Channel Plus App will keep fans up-to-date with their favorite PRCA rodeos and athletes, as well as provide behind-the-scenes access to livestreamed and on demand PRCA rodeo events from around the country.
The content can be accessed via the mobile app (available on Android and iOS), as well as any browser, smart TV or device. Viewers will be able to enjoy free access to up-to-the-minute news, bios, rodeos and highlights. Those with a subscription will unlock premium content such as up to six simultaneous live rodeo feeds, classic PRCA archived rodeos, The Cowboy Channel video-on-demand programming, and the only place viewers can stream the National Finals Rodeo.
On May 15, the app became the exclusive livestreaming home for the PRCA. In the weeks to follow, more PRORODEO streaming, stats and exclusive content will be available on the app.
From PRCA events to the 2020 Wrangler NFR and original programming, The Cowboy Channel is devoted to bringing the best in Western sports and Western fashion, food, music and programming to its viewers.
The Cowboy Channel Plus is available for only $9.99 a month or save up to 25% and purchase the whole year for $89.99. To sign up for the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus app, visit www.cowboychannelplus.com.
Only one higher seed advanced to the bareback riding semifinals of the Digital Rodeo Tournament presented by The Cowboy Channel as the round proved to be great for upsets.
Meanwhile, the steer wrestling saw a couple tight contests go down to the wire.
No. 2 Kaycee Feild, a four-time bareback riding world champion, advanced to the semifinals of the Digital Rodeo Tournament. But he was the only higher seed in a quarterfinals match to advance.
No. 8 Tanner Aus moved on by knocking off No. 1 Tim O’Connell after garnering 78.5% of the vote to reach the semifinals.
Matt Reeves, who leads the PRCA | RAM World Standings and is the No. 1 seed in steer wrestling, made it to the semifinals with 57.7% of the vote.
No. 14 Hunter Cure, a two-time world champion steer wrestler, upset No. 6 Ty Erickson, the reigning world champ, by fewer than 200 votes, advancing with 51.4% to Erickson’s 48.6%.
Up next are the quarterfinals for saddle bronc riding and tie-down roping. Vote at prorodeo.com. Voting ends May 21, at 5 p.m. (ET).
Saddle bronc rider Bradley Harter didn’t want to end his PRCA career this way.
The veteran cowboy scratched and clawed his way to qualify for his 11th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2019, only to have to miss the final seven rounds with a left hamstring injury.
Harter, who lives in Loranger, La., split second in Round 1 with an 86.5-point ride on Sutton Rodeo’s West Texas, earning $18,192.
Unfortunately, Harter’s Wrangler NFR was sabotaged in Round 2 when he suffered an avulsion to his left hamstring when he was bucked off Wayne Vold Rodeo’s One More Reason, Dec. 6. He tried to ride in Round 3 but was bucked off Korkow Rodeo’s Bad Onion, which resulted in him deciding to sit out the remainder of the NFR.
“They thought I tore it (the hamstring) a couple of millimeters, but when (Dr. Tandy Freeman) went in there it was four inches off the bone,” said Harter, who had surgery in late December. “He had to pull it up and screw it back in. I have been rehabbing every day, and I’m planning to be back in July.”
The untimely injury caused Harter to change his rodeo career plans.
“Here’s the deal, I was actually thinking about possibly retiring after last year’s NFR,” said Harter, 38. “It was my 11th time. I had to fight really hard to get there, and I was riding the best I ever had. It was going to be a great week, and then I tore my hamstring in the second round. I’m getting older, I have two kids and I want to retire, but I can’t go out like that. This pandemic kind of played into my pocket because I have money won from last fall and I’m in the mix to get into the Top 15.”
Harter, who competed at the Wrangler NFR in 2005-06, 2008-15 and 2019, believes his hamstring is improving.
“I feel great,” he said. “I go see Tandy in a month. It depends what he says, but I feel good. I’m sure I’m going to be a little rusty, but that’s to be expected. I want to go out on my own terms. I want to go out healthy, but I dang sure don’t want to go out laying on my back in Round 2 (in 2019) and say, well, it was a great career, thanks for coming.”
Courtesy of PRCA