Ever found yourself at a crossroads between chasing a dream and the hard-hitting reality of life's curveballs? Brock Betzler, a 22-year-old welder with his heart set on the rodeo arena, joins us to share his story of resilience amidst job instability and his burning desire to master the broncs. His journey isn't just about personal glory; it's a testament to the unwavering spirit that defines both him and the rodeo community. Listen as Brock reveals his come-back plans, his aspirations to start his own company, and his anticipation for the exhilarating National Finals Rodeo.
As we round up this episode, we tackle the sobering topics of rodeo injuries, the mental hurdles athletes face, and the fierce competition leading up to this year's NFR. Whether you're a fan of the rodeo or just love a good story of perseverance and drive, you're in for a ride that's as thrilling as an eight-second ride. Join us, and be part of the conversation that celebrates the heart of the rodeo and the cowboys who keep it beating.
*Disclaimer. This episode was recorded early December. I apologize for the delay. Brock is an incredible athlete and person. Give this episode a listen and the young man a follow. He will be back, so stay tuned. Until then....Enjoy!
Instagram:
@brockbetzler
https://www.instagram.com/brockbetzler?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Shoutout to:
Brock Betzler
The Betzler Family
Mr. Betzler… Aka Pops
Elaine Kimball
Kash Colby
Seth Hart
Alter Ego Ambassador: https://alteregorunning.com/
Miles & Mountains Promo Code: MMyr2
Ever found yourself at a crossroads between chasing a dream and the hard-hitting reality of life's curveballs? Brock Betzler, a 22-year-old welder with his heart set on the rodeo arena, joins us to share his story of resilience amidst job instability and his burning desire to master the broncs. His journey isn't just about personal glory; it's a testament to the unwavering spirit that defines both him and the rodeo community. Listen as Brock reveals his come-back plans, his aspirations to start his own company, and his anticipation for the exhilarating National Finals Rodeo.
As we round up this episode, we tackle the sobering topics of rodeo injuries, the mental hurdles athletes face, and the fierce competition leading up to this year's NFR. Whether you're a fan of the rodeo or just love a good story of perseverance and drive, you're in for a ride that's as thrilling as an eight-second ride. Join us, and be part of the conversation that celebrates the heart of the rodeo and the cowboys who keep it beating.
*Disclaimer. This episode was recorded early December. I apologize for the delay. Brock is an incredible athlete and person. Give this episode a listen and the young man a follow. He will be back, so stay tuned. Until then....Enjoy!
Instagram:
@brockbetzler
https://www.instagram.com/brockbetzler?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Shoutout to:
Brock Betzler
The Betzler Family
Mr. Betzler… Aka Pops
Elaine Kimball
Kash Colby
Seth Hart
Alter Ego Ambassador: https://alteregorunning.com/
Miles & Mountains Promo Code: MMyr2
Rock Betsler. How are you Good? How are you? I'm doing alright, man, I'm doing alright. How's the teacup studio? It's a little warm right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a little toasty in here, but it's a nice little piece of heaven type of deal Do you work outside. Yeah, from the much part.
Speaker 1:This feels good yeah.
Speaker 2:I think it's too hot. Just let me know. Just let me know. I got extra layers on, so yeah, same here.
Speaker 1:I just got off of work, and so did you, but work changed for you today, didn't it?
Speaker 2:Well, yep, just took a layoff today after being on this job for about two and a half months now, but she's part of the game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, when I was talking to you you were like, oh, that's part of the game, but it's, is it part of the game?
Speaker 2:I mean oh yeah, this is, oh my what fourth or fifth one for this year, I think. Okay, yeah, I guess got laid off twice. Well, I quit a job in March, then got laid off twice in March, and then I was off for about a month due to actually a saddlebronk injury and then went back to work for oh, it was about two months and got laid off again from the rodeo for a month straight.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I went back to work and took another layoff, was off for about two weeks and then got on this job and for two and a half months, and now here we are, back to being out of work again.
Speaker 1:So it's a way of life.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. It's just the trade I'm in, it's the style of work I'm in. It's just constantly going to the next job type of deal.
Speaker 1:I don't know, and you've been going for you've been doing this trade for how long?
Speaker 2:I started. I first got into it when I was in a high school. I was welding and really liked it and so I just kind of stuck with it. And then I was working just general construction right out of high school and got offered a job in a fab shop and I hopped on that and kind of took off from there. I was about 18 and a half when I first started welding professionally. So how?
Speaker 1:old, are you now?
Speaker 2:I'm 22.
Speaker 1:22,.
Speaker 2:okay, it's a drunken age yeah.
Speaker 1:We won't be drinking though. So when is steady job for you, man? Are you ready for that steady job, or are you just enjoying what you have now because you?
Speaker 2:rodeo. Honestly, probably the steadiest job I'll ever have is when I actually end up probably starting my own company and going about it that way. That's going to be the most steady job I have. I like the whole like just traveling lifestyle being able to do whatever I want, kind of whatever I want. So then, with the rodeo side of things, having a job like this helps out a lot because I can go two weeks at a time, easy, without work, and so that's two, three weekends right there.
Speaker 2:I can go rodeo and hit the weekday rodeos too, and fit that many more in.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, Speaking of rodeo, how's that going?
Speaker 2:man so I had to kind of put it on pause when I took this job. Due to the pipeline we generally have to work a lot of Saturdays and sometimes Sundays, and so I put it on pause to kind of continue to help get my foot in the door on that side of things, because I much prefer the pipeline. But I was starting to get everything figured out a little bit. I was pretty beat up towards then to season so it was a good thing I had to put it on pause for a little bit. But I'm hoping to be able to go back to that Vita Ranch School in California here in the spring about I think it's April's one. I'm hoping to be able to go back to that and start out the year fresh there and getting ready to go to NFR booking flights tonight for that.
Speaker 1:So you're going to the NFR.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 1:Okay, you're going all week.
Speaker 2:I'm going longer than cash is, I think, now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, all right yeah.
Speaker 2:So, because I'm pretty sure you guys talked about that one, he was on here.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's just not the full days that he's going to be there. All right, because I got to be back home for some work obligations.
Speaker 1:So what is it about the NFR? That just makes people go nuts. Yeah, I know it's the Super Bowl. People have heard me say it's like the Super Bowl for rodeo People who don't competes. Why is it such a big deal?
Speaker 2:Everything is there. I mean quite literally everything. Like last year was my first year going to that and I mean you could turn around and I mean we met Sage Kimsey one day. We're just staying there talking. Turn around there's.
Speaker 1:Sage Holy crap.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then you know you turn around, you can go buy a hat. You can go buy jeans. Like me, being tall and skinny, it's kind of hard to find jeans that fit so like down there I could get jeans and everything like that, but there's a lot of the boutiques come out Like. That's why a lot of women like it because all their turquoise jewelry and everything like that is, is I mean?
Speaker 2:it's all over the place. There's so much shopping to do and it's honestly a blast. I probably enjoyed the shopping side of things more than you sound like one of those ladies.
Speaker 1:I am there with you, man, as I just got some gifts of myself or for myself of a certain singer that I like. So, yeah, I understand, I understand, and I'm kind of going there to buy myself for 24 hours.
Speaker 2:Okay so.
Speaker 1:I'm going there next Friday and then coming back on the Saturday, fall on Saturday, so it's like straight 24, maybe not even 24, but I'm going to go see Turnpike Travidors but I'm really seeing the Red Clay Strays.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, that's why I'm going, that's in Vegas.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's that Huey party that's going on.
Speaker 2:Okay, what night is that? That's the 8th, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:It's Tyler Halverson is, I think, is opening, then the Red Clay Strays and then the Turnpike Travidors are ending it up, but I'm there for Red Clay Strays.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's going to be, I guess, my second night in town.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, you're going to have fun.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, probably too much fun.
Speaker 1:So your second night. How many nights are you going to be there?
Speaker 2:So it looks like I'm going to be there from the 7th to the 14th now.
Speaker 1:All with the bros, sort of.
Speaker 2:So my dad's actually going down there for work-related stuff Just so happens to be during NFR and I told him I'd join him. Yeah, he can go do his work stuff during the day and I'll go do NFR stuff and then meet him and can meet up during the evenings and go hang out, okay, and then I'm going to have a few other buddies that kind of come in and out of town before cashing. The rest of the crew that I originally planned the trip with is going to be there.
Speaker 1:Okay, what events do you attend? Do you attend events or do you watch it from the local bar or restaurant?
Speaker 2:So you're talking like the watch parties?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So last year we went to Gilly's Mirage there was. We went to South Point for the Buckle Ceremony and their watch party, the Aaron Watson concert. I mean the Mirage had a bunch of live music after the watch party was over. Okay, like we got to catch Lainey Wilson. There's another female artist. I can't remember the name off the top of my head right now.
Speaker 1:She ain't the same anymore. Yeah, I got you. She gets me in trouble.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but no, there was I mean every night we went to a new like concert type of deal. We went to Co-Wet Soul last year, all right and just I mean we had a great time with it, kind of hit everything we could. Yeah, five days there last year, it was more than enough, but it also wasn't enough. All right so.
Speaker 1:Now do you party all the time there, Five days straight All right Me being 21 last year.
Speaker 2:You did, yeah, I am. It was decided to that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, totally understand, all right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I thought it wasn't for cash, I would have probably missed my flight last year, right, somebody?
Speaker 1:has to be responsible.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that was not me Gotcha.
Speaker 1:So the NFR starts next week? Yeah, I'm only going for 24 hours and surprised the lady didn't beat me because I was like I'm going to Vegas just for one night. She's like you're such a loser. I heard that, but the verbal abuse. But let's go back to saddle. Brunt man, when did it all start? How did it start? Were you brought up in a rodeo household?
Speaker 2:No, so I was not raised in a rodeo family at all. Really even just no cowboy in family, like my dad's chiropractor and my mom's a stay-at-home mom.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So my old neighbors when I was little. Actually he was an NFR cowboy and his wife was an NFR cowgirl.
Speaker 1:Geez.
Speaker 2:And so, like they had a daughter that was a few years older than me and would actually go ride in the riding arena right across the driveway from my house, and so that's kind of how I got my first taste in it and I was pretty little. And then I stepped out of the lifestyle for a handful of years five, six years, something like that and was playing hockey and quit playing hockey to go shoot competitively. And then, when I'm about halfway through high school, I was shooting competitively. I did that all high school was, and so halfway through I was like always wanted to go to the rodeos, go watch everything like that.
Speaker 2:Walla Walla rodeo is that's kind of the rodeo I've always known as my hometown rodeo type of deal, and so I'd go watch that every year and I just wanted to do it, wanted to do it and met a few people that did it and they helped me try and find some horses to get on, because I was actually leaning towards doing bear back originally, yeah, and so, looking back, I probably made the smarter decision and but yeah, they were trying to find me, help find me some horses and somebody that would loan me some gear to be able to try it out.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Couldn't ever find a saddle or a bear back or again to try it out with, and so I ended up having to buy my own gear to even try it out. And I couldn't find a left handed bear back rigging and but I found a saddle. So I that's kind of how I ended up doing saddlebrunk, and in that search to find some horses and some gear to borrow I ended up getting on a couple of bowls and decided bowls were not for me. I'm a little too tall for that one.
Speaker 1:And I've seen Lane Vaughn.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:He's talking about tall. Yeah, talk about tall being on a bull. I'm surprised he's this that good. Yeah, you know he's. He's that good. Yeah, he's a tall linky guy, kid you know, but he's good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and just like Caleb McMillan too.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's got to be all of six foot two, six foot three. He comes out of those shoots. It looks like his feeder dragon. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So when did he start?
Speaker 2:So I started when I was 20. Oh, okay. Cause the hole not being raised in. It was a pay my own way type of deal, so at 20, I was able to pay my own way into being able to do it and I haven't looked back so what got you hooked?
Speaker 1:What got you like? Hey, this is for me. Honestly, I was probably that, uh, that first experience, that first buck off, was what is that I hear that a lot Like yeah man, that buck off was what got me going. It just is the adrenaline or that hurts yeah.
Speaker 2:It does hurt.
Speaker 1:But you're like, so I'm, you know, yeah it makes you feel alive.
Speaker 2:I mean there's, there's just something about it. It's. I mean there's not a worry in the world, like the minute you step over those bucking shoots. It's just you and that horse, like there's nothing else matters, um, and you just feel like you're living in the moment and you feel alive. You feel great, like all the pain, injuries and everything from the past that are we're bugging you standing on the shoot, saddling up your horse, doesn't bother you anymore. The minute you slide into that saddle or slide up on that rig and or rope or whatever it, you don't even think about it, yeah.
Speaker 1:But afterwards you think about it.
Speaker 2:A lot and.
Speaker 1:Gash said it on the podcast, you know it's all like yeah, it hurts afterwards.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and I'm, I'm no stranger to it. So, uh, yeah, I've had, I've had my fair share of.
Speaker 1:What was the uh the most the difficult thing to learn?
Speaker 2:Or just to everything. Yeah, um, cause I mean growing up, I I did have a horse when I was younger and I I rode all the time, but I hadn't been saddle for probably six years before I got on a um, uh, bucking horse, and so it was just kind of everything got like was new to me, everything I didn't really know what to do or anything like that. Like I, I had a pretty good start. I um that went to a clinic. It's actually how I met cash.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's all I was going to ask, like how do you know cash? Yeah.
Speaker 2:So that's how me and cash met was at that clinic, um, and then me, being young and numb, I entered up in an open rodeo in Walla Walla, and that's actually like how me and cash started traveling together. Okay, um is, he was the only face I recognized that this whole rodeo, um, minus two of the coaches from the clinic that were riding in, one of the coaches that were riding that night too, and they couldn't believe that I was standing there getting on, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Speaker 2:And so yeah.
Speaker 1:But you like it, you're with it. How many, uh, how many rodeos or events have you? Uh are under your belt?
Speaker 2:Uh, so I can tell you how many rodeos I've entered in nights. I mean um, probably between 30 and 40 now. I think, Cause I'm north of 30 something head on horses. So and then, actually, my first rodeo I ever did. I don't know if you've ever seen the shootdoggin events. Yeah so that was the first rodeo I ever entered in.
Speaker 2:It was a shootdoggin and actually shootdoggin's probably what really got me hooked on the whole rodeo thing and it was lit a fire in my eyes. My second steer I ever took by myself. It just dumped the hell out of me.
Speaker 1:And so that's another adrenaline.
Speaker 2:And that was. That was a I want more. Like I just let this animal that weighs three times as much as me beat me and I I gotta go back and beat it now was.
Speaker 1:And how many times did you do that?
Speaker 2:And I was doing that almost every week for most of the summer and before I got onto Bronx.
Speaker 1:Why not stick with a steer? Wrestling man.
Speaker 2:Cause it's buckin horses sounded better.
Speaker 1:The fall man. The fall is what scares me, yeah.
Speaker 2:And it you get over that real quick. You bounce yeah, yeah, yeah, you bounce. All right, goodness.
Speaker 1:So, shootdoggin's, so is that still up in the air? Are you able to, you know, maybe steer wrestle, because you are a pretty big dude, I'm tall. Yeah, I mean, all you have to do is just bulk up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, maybe later down the road, but I like this whole buckin horse thing a lot more, so I'm going to stick with it and do that. So I'm sure my family would prefer me to steer wrestle. I'm sure the girlfriend would as well.
Speaker 1:But Okay, yeah, I noticed you didn't say the ladies are the reason why you're continuing rodeo but that that's me.
Speaker 2:If the girlfriend listens to that was me saying that not him. Yeah.
Speaker 1:So my question to you is why saddle or not bear?
Speaker 2:I really just came down to the fact I couldn't find the left-handed rig and no one everyone rides right handed and I just felt more natural for me to hold on with left hand and Reagan and cause. That's like how I got on. Bulls was left-handed and I wanted to ride bear backs left-handed if I was to do it, and I couldn't find the left-handed Reagan, and so I just quit searching and Are you left-handed? I'm actually right-handed, right-handed.
Speaker 1:But your strong hands, you left.
Speaker 2:For rodeoing? Yeah, cause I actually. I started riding broncs right-handed but I had to switch to my left due to a couple of injuries and stuff like that. So, yeah, I'm so left-handed in the rodeo world. Now it's crazy, but in a lot of actually a lot of guys ride with their opposite hand that they're dominant with.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Cause like that's how you a lot of the like saddle bronc riders that you're taught like even riding just a standard saddle horse, your ring goes in your left hand, so you can rope with your right hand.
Speaker 1:Gotcha. So, yeah, man, all right. So you and I gotta shout her out. Man, I always have to shout this lady out. It's like it's a small world. The more you get involved, that circle it gets bigger, but then the world gets smaller right Around.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And so who I'm talking about is Elaine Kimball from Elaine Images. Just had a friend of hers on yesterday or finished yesterday's episode, but yeah, what made you apply to be part of her? Heard as she says and congrats on becoming part of the herd. But, like you know, it was weird because it was like we were talking and then all of a sudden I found out she was like yeah.
Speaker 1:I think you have something to do with Brock being part of you know the herd. I'm like really, I was just talking to him, or something like that, so it was like one of those things. And so what made you, or allowed you, or why did you apply to be part of her herd?
Speaker 2:So it actually stemmed from Seth talking about her Seth Hart, which you had on, yes, and so he's a tough dude.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, talking about Ivy Profan and duct tape, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was the last time I ran into him. I think he was riding with a broken foot.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It was about the time he came on, was about the time I last ran into him and and yeah, he's tough guy, yeah, and it's hard to get him bucked off of a horse.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, he sounds like a tough guy man, and did he? Did he have the baby yet?
Speaker 2:Don't sound like it. I think it's within the next few days is going to happen. Yeah, yeah, shout out to Seth man.
Speaker 1:So so because Seth apply or is part of the herd.
Speaker 2:I mean yeah.
Speaker 1:Why, why, why be part of it, man?
Speaker 2:It was what does it bring?
Speaker 1:I mean, she has an application. I know that. I haven't seen it, but you had an application process. And what? What does that bring to you? Because I've never asked anybody what does it bring being part of the herd. What does she do?
Speaker 2:So I guess the big reason for me like seeing it and seeing what she had posted and seeing the opportunity to be able to be part of that is just like you are, you're, you guys are just trying to spread a positive light on this lifestyle.
Speaker 2:And if it's something I can help out with and continue to help spread a positive light. I'd like to be part of something like that because I know it's a it's. There's a lot of like wishy-washy, little lot of political stuff in the rodeo world, especially nowadays with the whole animal control groups and everything like that Right. So just being able to be part of something that gets this spread of positive light on on at all, I saw it as a great opportunity and so I applied and, like I said, I'd first heard of her through Seth because Seth had talked about her a few times and the images and stuff like that and I had no idea when I was talking with him about, about the herd or anything. I and I just followed her on Instagram one day and then I'd seen something about the herd being posted on one of the Facebook pages that I follow and yeah, I was like, oh, I'm going to apply?
Speaker 1:Yeah, just apply. And she's like I think you got something to do with that. I know I've been talking to him, but I didn't know that he applied and he's in. So, yeah, just saw that. Yeah. So now she's a fantastic young, young lady and definitely positive eyes man.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And through. And she yeah, I talked to her pretty much on a daily basis or every other day. And, man, she just is lights up the room, man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so yeah, no, I'm looking forward to being able to make her this next season.
Speaker 1:So yeah, speaking of season, what affiliation man? What? What association are you part of?
Speaker 2:So I do the MPRA and ICAs primary primarily, and I'll probably go back down to California a couple of times for the CCP RAs, which is their version of the MPRA and ICA.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And then I might end up out in Iowa this summer potentially, and so I might try and see if I can get on something out there.
Speaker 1:But why Iowa? My grandparents live out there, yep.
Speaker 2:So, and I try and make a point of at least getting out there once every few years to go see them.
Speaker 1:That's awesome man, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:A lot of corn fed boys. Corn fed boys, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:And they're from the area with lots of corn.
Speaker 1:That's all there is.
Speaker 2:Corn and beans.
Speaker 1:So congrats on being part of the herd.
Speaker 2:Thank you and.
Speaker 1:Elaine's definitely a great lady, but what's? What's your ultimate goal?
Speaker 2:Like rodeo. Wise, life wise.
Speaker 1:Let's say rodeo.
Speaker 2:I mean I'd love to eventually make the big show Okay.
Speaker 1:NFR competing and not buying, yeah, or doing both yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but no, I mean for this next year, circuit finals, like that's making circuit finals. I was qualified. I believe I was qualified this year. I just wasn't able to make it because of work and they wouldn't let me have the time off to be able to go. So you know I had to make a career choice versus, you know, a short term type of deal. And so.
Speaker 1:What's the purse?
Speaker 2:At circuit finals A lot more than I didn't really look. I know it's like because I'm still just doing the novice events, still just learning and everything like that. And so I think the purse for the novice events is somewhere around 1500 or two grand, which that's like four or five times as much as our other highest pain purse for the regular season. I think the highest pain novice event I entered was a thousand bucks or something like that and I know the purse gets pretty big come the end of the year.
Speaker 1:So qualified, I mean that's still a big deal. You didn't compete, but you qualified. And hey.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I think I think I was in the top eight or top 10 or whatever they take, but for the ICAs.
Speaker 1:Were you at the John Day days.
Speaker 2:So Funny story about that. Who brings us back to a little bit earlier. I was supposed to be there and actually me not being there is how I met my girlfriend, yeah, me and Cashford to shoots County Fair in Redmond Oregon. That's right and that's where he broke his wrist and I don't know if he said much and he was on about how are we can play it.
Speaker 1:I know I was over there for a race and you guys or he was over there competing, but I thought, yeah, I thought he was going to make it over, but he didn't.
Speaker 2:So yeah, yeah because we're in at the shoots Fair Friday night, we're supposed to be up in John Day Saturday night, and so he broke his wrist and then he's the first event out, so like he was hurting. But you know, just the sport don't think nothing of it. And I was already pretty beat up going into that. I was like a week before or something like that. Yeah, it was a week before. I just bruised my ribs and so I was got all my stuff on. I was. You know it takes a lot with bruised ribs to be able to.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:You do a whole lot physically and so yeah, I was just getting back to the point where I could breathe again and I was thinking it was a great idea to go get on another horse, so. But so I got all my stuff pulled. Well, that horse actually it was a third time getting on this horse and I flipped over on me in the shoots, caught me right in the chest again, lucky yeah, and so they inflamed the ribs again and so I cash, thought I was drawn out right then and there he's, like you know he's done, he's not getting back on, and I was like all right, send the other horses out, I'm going to get back on type of deal Like buck out the other two that are left. Like I need to just chance to catch my breath again. Yeah yeah.
Speaker 2:And get back on. I ended up getting stepped on after that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we had a, we had a rough weekend that weekend, and so it was just one of those. But I mean, that's the sport of rodeo.
Speaker 1:How many of those kind of days do you have during, let's say, a season? A season, I'll say a season man Well or let's say a month.
Speaker 2:Probably Well. I went pretty much all well like midway through July or all of July, injury free, yeah. And then August hit and it was just like one thing after another. So because it I think it was like right at the end of July is when I bruised my ribs yeah, I had to amend the rate of end of July is when I bruised my ribs and that was like the first thing. That was like bugging me throughout the whole whole season, cause I mean bumps, bruises, that I mean getting on a saddle, maron. Course I don't know if you've ever paid attention behind the shoots, but the way we rousing up our saddles and everything it's that's just painful in of itself. So, um, and so you're getting on already, getting on already with the giant bruises on your thighs and everything like that. So bumps and bruises don't bother us too much. And but it was.
Speaker 1:It's mostly afterwards though, yeah. So are you able like, let's say, an?
Speaker 2:injury, man is it?
Speaker 1:sustainable Mental health, wise physical health, emotional health? Is this sustainable to just continue to like, maybe have you know, a couple of weeks here and there, free pain, free, no, no injuries, and then all of a sudden you get injured. I mean, does it take a toll, Not on your body, but mostly mentally? Are you able to like manage?
Speaker 2:Uh yeah, the the one that I struggled with the most was the first one. Um, that was, and I was like it was my first big rodeo accident. Um, and I had a car accident not long before that rodeo accident and so I was just strained on all ends and, uh, that was the hardest one to come back from. Um, it took me by the time I was healed up again and feeling good enough to go uh it it was probably three months. It took me to find a horse I was willing to get on, and so it was from time of accident to when I got on a horse again. It was six months.
Speaker 1:Wow Okay.
Speaker 2:And so, and that was my first big big injury, but then my next one, next big one was probably when I dislocated my shoulder, and I mean that when that happened I wanted them to pop it. I was at Vita Ranch and you know I wanted them to pop it back in right there Because I wanted to get on more like so yeah, but that that took me out for a month. I mean, I was, I was told not to do anything for two weeks.
Speaker 1:And you didn't do it, I didn't, yeah.
Speaker 2:So look, keep going, yeah, my elbow is starting to lock up and everything like that, and so I just kind of had had enough of sitting around doing nothing, got you so.
Speaker 1:But let's say something worse happened. You know broken ribs, you know collapsed lung, that kind of thing. You're sitting out doctors orders. Yeah, would your mind be able to take that man? The doctors orders. I don't know, because, because you hear that a lot from you guys. Man from the rodeo crew that is stuff to take a break.
Speaker 2:Yeah, when you want to go, you want to go like and I mean we get a short window, yeah, so.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but even with the guys that get their bills paid through that you know, I mean, yeah, look at Mooney. I think he called it quits because, well, number one surgery, didn't he have a neck fusion?
Speaker 2:or something like that. Yeah, yeah, he was, he was getting his. I think he had to get rods put in his neck after that Loosen wreck yeah.
Speaker 1:But he was riding with the leg. I mean, he's a legend, but it's just like I thought he was going to have a couple more years left in with him, but yeah.
Speaker 2:Oh, if it was.
Speaker 1:It's not your dead in your tracks, man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, If it wasn't for the neck injury, I guarantee you he would. He'd be at NFR right now. Probably yeah, I mean, I don't know or at least getting ready to go.
Speaker 1:I don't know, man, it's just interesting to talk injuries you know with. I asked that because I always asked the runners and including myself. We've talked about it on previous episodes and go for it. Oh, we're good. Previous episodes on how the mind takes injuries, man. And injuries suck, injuries suck, but man, you guys like heart set man, yeah, duck tape and ibuprofen, but it's like it can only be like that for so long.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I just wanted to get a rodeo. Guys take on it, rodeo athletes on it, and just hearing the story of the shoots and having a horse fall on you, I mean that. What happened to the one rider? You know lost his life because the horse flipped on him.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's crazy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, it's wild Like, and a lot of people like look at us and think we're just absolutely nuts for it, which we probably are.
Speaker 1:Nuts and animal. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:No, I mean we probably are nuts. I mean it takes a special kind of crazy to crawl over those bucking shoots, as we all say.
Speaker 1:Right, and here we are. You asked me prior to this episode. You asked me hey, how was that run on 12? I told you that's a different breed. We can go face to face and say hey look, man, you know like you're a different breed, you're a different breed. Yeah, and I was like okay yours is tougher, mine is tougher, and it's just, it's crazy what the stuff we love and what we do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think a lot of it just comes down to what you're mentally putting yourself to Right, like getting into it and then to rodeo. I knew injuries were going to be a thing. I knew there was going to be mumps, bruises, you know, dislocated shoulders, bruised ribs, broken bones, everything like that, and I knew I was going to have to work through it. Yeah, and then for me to go on a run I can't get past that like that, like you know first five minutes stomach ache that you get. Oh, my God, I'm done with this Like this is. This isn't for me, but I can, don't bother me, none, when you know I'm a horse falls on you like that yeah?
Speaker 2:Take a rear hoof of a horse to the hip and yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what's your ultimate goal? Life in life, man.
Speaker 2:I, you know, I want to have a ranch, just a small little ranch place for my kids to play when I kids come down, have, you know, good family with great wife, like you know, the that sort of thing have have a nice business to be able to rely on so I don't have to go to work every day, sort of speak. Okay, but you know well it's going to take some time to build that, that sort of thing.
Speaker 1:You're still you're still young man. You're still young, you got a lot of time. Yeah, okay, would you stay? Let's say you get bigger, let's say PRCA. You gonna stay in the region or are you gonna go down south?
Speaker 2:So I like it up here too much to move down south. I've been down to you know the south and yeah, all that a couple of times and it's too hot. It's too hot for too long down there for me to live there right now. It's better than being outside and 30 degrees right now.
Speaker 1:Yeah no um I.
Speaker 2:I don't foresee myself moving down to the south. I mean, I, I will go down there, that's where the money's at right. Like, honestly, works gonna probably bring me down there a bunch, just because that's where a lot more of that style of work is. But I, I kind of foresee myself always being up here in the little bit colder climates, where where fewer people want to live, because it does get cold and we do get snow and yeah stuff like that.
Speaker 1:So yeah, yeah, yeah. What part of California do you frequent?
Speaker 2:Right it, right wise so I've been down to that Vita school Twice and then I went down and rode into rodeo in Lakeport, which is About an hour and a half West Sacramento, okay, northwest, something like that.
Speaker 1:So yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:I've kind of.
Speaker 1:You got to hit up Oakdale man.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Oakdale, the what? The cowboy capital of the world.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, I, I actually thinking about that one of my buddies. I think that His horse club just went on a ride out there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, oakdale is huge, man they it's so big that they they have their own rodeo, high school rodeo, man like right. Their own pins and everything man. Yeah, it's huge, it's huge.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's unheard of up here. Yeah, no, that's. Everyone shares the county fairgrounds.
Speaker 1:Exactly the smaller ones, you know, toward out, towards Colville, you know yeah, yeah. Okay, if you weren't drunk or Bear, what other event would you have tried? Bulldogging yeah, yeah, still there, man, still there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I Probably be bulldogging, otherwise probably be doing pick-up man type of stuff.
Speaker 1:Pick up, man, yeah. Yeah that's a guaranteed check.
Speaker 2:Yeah, my nose. You know at least it. I don't know if you'd seen, but at the Columbia River Circuit finals I think it was Blake West. He was one of the pick-up man and he got kicked and broke his arm on Friday night. I want to say yeah, because I was down there for Saturday night and Actually Caleb McMillan that bull rider use.
Speaker 1:He came in and was pick-up man for For the rest of the weekend after see Earlier in the year when Challenger champions started in Pendleton the bull horned a horse like pretty much horned a man. Yeah, I was just that pick a man or the roper, you know the roper. I was like man, that guy's okay, but I was more worried about the horse. Is that bull really laid into a man pinned up against the railing and everything in it was interesting was that?
Speaker 2:was it that like, oh, that was it.
Speaker 1:Very beginning in the year was February and February, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. It's kind of funny because we would. We probably had seen each other there. I probably wasn't. I got you, but I would definitely was having a little beverage Honestly like. Not a lot of people like it, but CJ's.
Speaker 1:CJ, I hear about that. Okay, the lady loves the drinks. And At Oregon grain growers. Okay, I get the pizza and the drinks.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I can't beat the pizza.
Speaker 1:Used to hit a prodigal son. But you know I'm trying to stay back, stay away from the beer. You know doing the Pendleton, yeah, yeah, okay, so CJ yeah, otherwise, if we go to the bow, bow yeah, the rainbow okay, yep Okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, right across the street from Hamley's there. Okay, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, man, if in when you're not, you know doing your event. What other events do you like to watch, man?
Speaker 2:I.
Speaker 1:Really you? I mean, you stop everything in your tracks, dead in your tracks, right? Whatever you're doing, you're like, hey, I need to see, I need to watch this event.
Speaker 2:I probably bear back riding bear yeah, okay. Yeah, it's just something with them buckin versus it. I will stop everything I'm doing to just watch.
Speaker 1:So who's the person, male or female, to you stop dead in your tracks and you have to watch them. Don't don't say cash, I'll give them that.
Speaker 2:Well, usually I can't stop dead in my tracks because I'm heading out a horse for him. So but you know, it probably be either Dawson hey, or a lefty-holman, or back in Casey field was before he retired. It was one of those, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, wasn't he at the roundup?
Speaker 2:Yeah, he was at the roundup.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm glad I was able to watch see him. Yeah, that was awesome. Yeah, he's good man. So who's gonna take the bull riding in NFR this year? Man, you think Stetson's gonna win it again.
Speaker 2:It's gonna be Stetson or Kai for sure.
Speaker 1:He's a different breed. Yeah, yeah, it's yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's just that. He's sticky. It's like he put super glue on his hand and in a saddle. Every time he gets on like he don't come off. I.
Speaker 1:Wonder. I mean, do dad's checks? The guys making money doesn't have to work the rest of his life, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I wonder how he is when, if and when he gets injured. You know, I'm knocking on wood because I don't want to jinx anybody, but man the good, the way he performs, the way he's on that bull, the horse and whatnot, and dude he, no one rides like him.
Speaker 2:No no no one does and and it's like unreal because I remember last year he, I think, broke his wrist or had broken his wrist and there's bone fragment and he had it surgically removed and he was back riding two days later.
Speaker 1:You guys are crazy different breed. Yeah, I saw runners and climbers and stuff like that. Yeah, who's Gonna take it? A saddle brunt?
Speaker 2:saddle. I'm really rooting for lefty.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I'd like to see lefty get it, or Dawson. Then I mean, I'm kind of a little I know it's only tipping my tongue, but now I can't think the word. But I, it's a Friday, yeah, just worked all week. But no, those those two guys they coach me like at that beater school, that's when I go down there I get it almost like one-on-one coaching with them and okay so I I really always root for those guys when I see them, and they're I mean, they're just a great group of guys that whole Veter cruise, just a great crew, and so Tara and George they put on.
Speaker 2:It's the best clinic I've ever been to like Haven't been to many, but yeah, I'll happily go back and back yeah. Yeah, I'm on the process of trying to be able to go back, so yeah, All right, man.
Speaker 1:Well, I've had both of them on, I just need waxy. I just need waxy. Yeah, I got a couple up my sleeve that I want to reach out to after you know, during the offseason, but it's gonna be a wild, wild event, or 10 days in steer wrestling. Yeah, I gotta ask you, man, who, who you gonna put your money on it. Dalton, dalton, yeah, dude.
Speaker 2:He's on a mission this year and he got he got his you know, his little jitters out at the CFR. So it was probably a good thing he went to see a far and Got those jitters out, because I mean, now he knows what the big stage it's really gonna feel like it. It's as guess, as close as you can be to the big stage without being on the big stage.
Speaker 1:Gotcha it's gonna be close and it's gonna be good. Yeah, because those, those three yeah, jesse, dalton and wags managed, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I'm really rooting for Forum. Okay, just, I mean he's local boy too.
Speaker 1:Yes, he is too yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no it's. I'd like to see him win it, because it would be be pretty sweet.
Speaker 1:It's a lot of hard work. Yeah, just having them on. Did you listen to that episode?
Speaker 2:I think I listened to parts of it. I didn't need to finish it all the way through.
Speaker 1:Yeah, man, he's, he's, he's in it to win it. Yeah, he's in it to win it, man, they're all, they all are man and they're talking about a different breed. I know we keep saying that, but, dude, their mindset is totally different than a bull rider. Yeah a prompt riders, yeah, like bear.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're different yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're hungry. Yeah, I'm not saying you guys are hungry, but, dude, it's all business. Yeah, it's all business, nothing. Yeah, maybe because they're the top dogs in the business, but they don't when interviewing them.
Speaker 2:They they short and simple, Okay yeah yeah, no, those guys, I mean, even when you're watching them, like down there, you don't Like see them joking around, like sitting on their horses, like yeah, I mean, that's all their best friends, they're standing there with their brain and they're never joking around nothing there, it's just a hundred percent business. And then you go look at behind the bucking shoots and all those guys are just Joking around having a good time, laughing like, and it's probably. It's just the two different Lifestyles, I guess.
Speaker 1:Like oh yeah. So yeah, it's, it's, it's, they're fun to watch. Man, yeah, it's almost more jaw dropping, then breakaway, because you blink, it's over, right. Yeah, but Steer-wrestling, like I've said before, man, steer-wrestling you, just you blink and it's done too, because three seconds is pretty quick. Yeah, damn cat.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And well, like with the steer-wrestling, you got to get off the horse. To like you're not doing it like yeah, not standing there with it, like already, like you have to.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and we went in 3.4, 3.9 four seconds yeah, four seconds yeah, if way they went in like 2.9. Yeah, that's just throwing a rope.
Speaker 2:Yeah but they throw their body yeah yeah, they're going from 30 miles an hour to zero. Like yeah, yes, yeah yeah, it's zero to 30 to zero real quick. But and there's that's probably why a lot of those guys have knee issues like major knee issues is because of yeah of that, but yeah, it's.
Speaker 2:It's wild because I Mean a lot of my buddies from school that when I first started trying to get back into the rodeo scene that they either did Bulldoggin or Bullriding. I had one buddy that did bears and they all those like the one buddy. He was a couple of them. They're really good bulldoggers, yeah, and they're jumping off this horse by the time like that.
Speaker 2:Steers barely even left the, the shoe and I'm like holy smokes, like it's crazy yeah and like they're in high school, like throwing steers in six, seven seconds in high school, yeah, and I mean, granted, you got to do it to be in, for to be competitive and like the PRCA and stuff like that, and but it's just like it just happened so quick and just Feeling those horses explode, because, like I would I know I when I was doing it I never jumped off a horse but like they, let me take the horses for laps. Yeah and that those horses, you just minor little kick and boom they're gone.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like, if you ain't ready for it, you're gonna slip right out the back of that saddle and be sitting on your ass. And yeah, those horses there, they're all business too there's. It's go fast. And now, yeah, like I stop when somebody comes and grabs me and tells me to stop, like that's, that's what those horses know, when it's.
Speaker 1:Now we're almost done. Gotta ask you the staple question. Yeah, do you eat peanut butter jelly sandwiches?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I know you do, because, yeah, do you fake or not fake it. But do you Take the easy route and do uncrustables, or do you actually make your peanut butter jelly?
Speaker 2:So I've been cheating lately. I got a fresh Costco sized pack of uncrustables in my freezer.
Speaker 1:Strawberry, or grape, grape, grape, yeah. So if you had to make a peanut butter jelly sandwich, how do you make it?
Speaker 2:So I'm gonna probably be the oddball one here go for it I.
Speaker 1:I've heard it a lot oddball stuff.
Speaker 2:Grape jelly Crunchy, peanut butter on sourdough bread sourdough, yeah, sourdough.
Speaker 1:People think sourdough is the you know the oddball thing. But no, I've heard that before. It's the, the sweet, it's like almost bitter right. Yeah, yeah, okay so you've done that your whole life.
Speaker 2:It's I mean pretty much only way what I've known it's. I Kind of grew up on sourdough bread. Otherwise it was that buttermilk bread and I much preferred the sourdough. So, yeah, I've always loved sourdough bread.
Speaker 1:So Okay, so besides in afar, what's next for you, man? I?
Speaker 2:You know, just hopefully be able to go, get on a few more horses again and Stuff like that, get back in the saddle, continue to finish healing up from everything, and so I got to strengthen up my shoulder again after a few injuries to it over the season and but Just keep working away. I mean keep Hopefully be able to keep chasing some of this pipeline money, because that's what I was got laid off of today was a pipeline job. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And all that and be able to kind of just enjoy life. So, taken, I'll have like the next two-ish weeks off of work, so I'd be able to go enjoy some stuff again and not have to be worried about bust my ass all the time, even though I'm gonna probably still go work.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Okay. So when does season start for you?
Speaker 2:Um, I'm hoping I'll be able to catch that first mpra of the year. Uh and which is it's march or April, I think, something like that. Um, but then there's gonna be a clinic that, um, the gem state stampede does. Uh, it used to be in Pendleton and I was talking to the guys that put that on. They are moving it up to Looks like Chini this year. Okay, they, they're working on building an indoor arena up there, nice, so that'll that'll open up a lot of doors for us.
Speaker 2:Us rough stock guys because they're putting in bucking shoots and everything like that, Um, and they're gonna buy some practice horses. But that's gonna be. I think that's beginning of march.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Um is one that is uh, and then Hopefully veter ranch. Um, they got one in january that's full right now but you know Door opens to be able to go to that. I'm gonna hop on that that train Uh, head back down to california and then otherwise, hopefully I can get into the one in april. Okay and then, kind of from there on out, it'll be just catching rodeos for the rest of summer. So All right man.
Speaker 1:So how? How is it? In the teacup studio? I I every now and then I'll ask people hey, how is it? How is it? Because it's a lot of zoom, a lot. So it used to be all in the studio, but then you know, I can't travel that much because I don't got the funds.
Speaker 2:So zoom how?
Speaker 1:how is it? I know it's a little messy because the little one gets involved.
Speaker 2:But, how?
Speaker 1:how is it? Besides it being hot as well, um is everything that you thought it was?
Speaker 2:Should I cash tell you anything? You know, cash didn't say anything to me about it, I don't even know. I think he assumed I was coming to the studio, uh, but she was all business over there, yeah.
Speaker 1:And then you know, I I switched it up, I switched the format up on cash a bit, and so she's just switched it up and I was like, yeah, she probably was just saying that. Like I'm terrible.
Speaker 2:It was a good.
Speaker 1:It was a good interview, man. It was a great interview to do. Cash is a great guy. She's a great gal, you know. And they were going tree hunting the other day, Did you?
Speaker 2:see that.
Speaker 1:Yep, and she's dragging her own tree. Where are you at? I was just telling me. I was like what You're dragging it? She's like, yeah, free labor. I'm like mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that happens.
Speaker 1:But nah, man shout out to cash and me dude, and uh, definitely I appreciate you at your time. Yeah, I do, even on a Friday, friday evening before party weekend. You know and uh from from me that I'm talking for myself, definitely feeling the the week, the week grind, ready for the weekend grind. But uh, no man, I appreciate your time and uh, I'm glad you're part of the herd and uh very thankful that you're here and was able to spend your time here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I'm stoked that you're. You invited me to come over and you know I. We're both just trying to spread positive light on all this and you're trying to get an insight on what, how, this guy's thinking you know, we'd like to know how you think a little bit about doing those 30 mile runs.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the 30,. Uh it was, it was 38. It was supposed to be 55, but we won't talk about.
Speaker 2:That Sounds about like 38 miles too many.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was a lot of road, a lot of road, but man, you know, I've been doing this for years and I I do what I do. Since you asked, I do what I do just to get away from uh, everyday stressors.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and honestly I think, to tell you the truth that how most of us get started in rodeo, as it's an escape for a little bit.
Speaker 1:If I was a tad bit younger, I'd call uh James Hankinson the third, and be like dude. You know, let, let me, let me fight with you.
Speaker 2:Let me try that. That's it.
Speaker 1:That's the only thing I'll try.
Speaker 2:Go volunteer at a high school rodeo. I know I was yeah, it's, if you want to try it, get in the dirt, go volunteer, like I mean honestly, like a lot of these rodeos, and that they always, always need people just to be able to go out and be in the dirt, just, whatever you do. Don't run the out gate. Yeah, I got you I think it would be less stressful fighting the bowl than running out gate Right, right, yeah, yeah, but no man, uh, I appreciate your time and uh, till next time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely want you and cash in here at one.
Speaker 2:Oh, it'd be a hoot. I'm sure it's a hell of a deal, man. You might need more than just that one, yeah yeah, well, I got some stuff back there too. Cause we, we like that a little too much.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, when I hit up uh Vegas, I'll uh see what you guys are doing. If you guys are too busy, then you know, just be on your merry way. But uh, I'm just going for that concert and would love to have a drink with you guys, yeah.
Speaker 2:Hit me up. Uh, I know cash won't be there at that time, um, but I'm probably going to just be hanging out by myself. I got one of my buddies is rolling into town that day, um, and it's just my dad has his work stuff, so yeah, hit me up and I'll hit you up.
Speaker 1:That concert's not all night.
Speaker 2:Can't make it all night. Yeah, no, hit me up Well okay. Down there and we'll go grab a drink and go catch a watch party, if it works out with your concert and everything.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I'll have all afternoon so yeah, yeah, I'm going to go little shopping.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and have you been before?
Speaker 1:Uh no, I don't like crowds man Believe it or not. That's why I go to like John Day I go to the small ones. And if I go to like walla walla, which walla walla is not that big, but if I go to, uh, franklin or Pendleton dude, I always have to watch where I it's just too too many people, I get it, that's.
Speaker 2:That's usually why I have to dig into that. Yeah, yeah, so you understand. Calm the nerves a little bit, yes, yeah.
Speaker 1:But, uh, I, uh, I wanted to. I like watching it on.
Speaker 2:TV yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm going for a reason going for the concert but then.
Speaker 2:And some Christmas shopping.
Speaker 1:Yeah, in a far, I really want to go there I think, uh, I think the barrel racing will be going on when I'm there at that time. So I'll watch some of them because, dude, they're quite the athlete themselves. Yeah, it's ridiculous, it's crazy. Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, and if you're going to go do some shopping, Call you up.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all right, there'll be teaks, right? You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:So yeah, no, cause I I mean I I spent a lot of time doing that last year and I'm going to spend a lot of time doing that this year. Okay, it's where. It's where I do all my Christmas shopping.
Speaker 1:Well, when I land, I'll be like hey, I'm here, you can meet, you don't have to.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, like I said, I'm going to probably just be doing my own thing that day by myself. So, okay, yeah, just shoot me a message. Um, we'll do yeah.
Speaker 1:Thanks bro. Yeah, thank you. Thank you, man, so appreciate it.