Young Horses Making Their Mark
By Ted Harbin, Wrangler Network contributor
Painted River – which guided Mason Clements into the money in Guymon, Okla., in 2014 – became the first Pete Carr Pro Rodeo ranch-raised horse to be chosen to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The young mare helped Jake Brown to the Round 6 victory at the 2015 NFR.
WEST MONROE, La. – For every great veteran athlete, there is always a young gun with potential and promise ready to be the next big thing.
There are some outstanding veterans in the mix for Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, with outstanding athletes in Dirty Jacket, Big Tex, Real Deal and River Boat Annie. All have been recognized as the best bucking horses in ProRodeo over the years, and they are a key piece of the puzzle for Carr.
But the next generation of top-tier athletes is growing strong on Carr’s ranch near Athens, Texas. The mixture of talented veterans and youthful exuberance will be a major attraction at the Stampede at the Ike PRCA Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 22-23, at Ike Hamilton Expo Center.
“We’re pretty excited in our young horses and have liked the way they’ve developed,” said Pete Carr, owner of the Dallas-based stock contracting firm.
That development begins with a mixture of true talents. The Carr crew has bred top-notch mares with proven stallions to create the next generation of bucking horses, and those animals are already being recognized. Painted River, the first ranch-raised colt out of River Boat Annie by Korczak, was selected to buck at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this past December.
Once in Las Vegas, the 7-year-old mare lived up to her lineage – Korczak has bucked at the NFR in both bareback riding and saddle bronc riding, while River Boat Annie is the 2007 Reserve World Champion Bareback Horse that has been selected to perform at the NFR 11 times.
Painted River and Jake Brown matched moves for 85.5 points to allow Brown to win the sixth round of bareback riding. The mare also was marked the rankest horse of the night.
“She jumped out of there and jumped real high the whole time and was good to ride,” said Brown, a first-time NFR qualifier from Hillsboro, Texas. “I had a blast.”
It was the first time Brown had ridden the young horse, but he had seen her a couple of times through the regular season.
“I saw her this year in Stephenville (Texas), and Winn (Ratliff) was a bunch of points on her there,” Brown said, noting that Ratliff was 85 points and finished in a tie for second place. “I also saw Matt Bright be a bunch of points on her in Eagle.”
Bright was 87 points to finish in a tie for second at the Colorado rodeo.
“She’s out of River Boat Annie, so she’s bred up to buck,” Brown said. “She did her job. She jumped high and was electric and had some moves.”
That describes a number of Carr animals that will be featured all across the country during the 2016 ProRodeo season. Top-notch bucking horses and bulls help draw world-class cowboys, so it’s a big win for everyone involved: local organizers, sponsors and fans. It’s a winning combination that keeps cowboys looking out for rodeos that feature the Carr brand.
“Me and Pete have always got along good,” Brown said. “I’ve always done good at his rodeos, so I may as well keep drawing his horses.”
That’s a statement that has been made many times by many men. It’s why Pete Carr Pro Rodeo continues to be one of the very best rodeo producers in the country.
Courtesy of Pete Carr Pro Rodeo