Blog

Monday, June 4

Thanks for visiting my site. I hope you have found it to be informative and enjoyable. This blog stuff is new to me but people keep telling me to give it a try so here goes.

As you may or may not know the 2006 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo didn't end the way I had hoped. I battled injuries the majority of last year but at the finals during the eighth round I fractured three of the transverse processes in my lower back. When they told me that, I wasn't real sure what the transverse processes were but they are the little knobs on the side of your vertebrae. Anyway, it was the worst pain I have ever felt. However, I decided to give it a shot in the ninth round to try and keep my hopes alive for a world title. Unfortunately, I was thrown to the ground and that would be the end of my 2006 NFR and a chance at the world title. For the third straight year, I finished second.

Despite the disappointment, I knew being able to walk and play with my daughter, Darbi, was more important than a gold buckle. We headed home for the holidays and some rest and relaxation. I wasn't able to do much the first several weeks as I didn't want to injure my back anymore. I wanted to give it time to heal properly. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to get back on a saddle bronc until at least February, I decided to pick up a rope and enter some rodeos around home in the team roping.

I partnered with a guy name Natie Johnson and we placed fourth at the Southern Miss Coca-Cola Classic Rodeo in Hattiesburg, Miss., the first part of February. Our first round victory came at the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Miss. We stopped the clock in 6.0 seconds to pick-up and check worth $1,235 each. We didn't place in the money in the second round but finished the rodeo sixth in the average with a two-head time of 17.7 seconds and picked up another $213 each.

I was back in the saddle so to speak by the time San Antonio rolled around in mid-February. I had hoped I would feel healthy enough to get on there as this year they had a purse of $1 million. So a guy definitely wants to get on if at all possible for that kind of money. I faired alright in the first round finishing in a five-way tie for seventh with an 80-point score. Things didn't go well after that but it was good to be back in the saddle again.

I finished third in the saddle bronc riding at the Southeastern Livestock Exposition and Rodeo in Montgomery, Ala., with an 86 and then went on to win the all-around title at the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo after finishing second in the saddle bronc riding and fifth in the team roping. Then it was off to RodeoHouston. I didn't fair very well there and didn't advance out of the first round. So I headed to Pocatello, Idaho, for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo.

In the first round, I finished just out of the money with an 81. My traveling partner Bradley Harter finished in a tie for third with Anthony Bello with scores of 83. In the second round, I finished in a tie for fourth with Jake Griffin and Bello with a score of 80. That left me fifth in the average with 161 points on two head and qualified me to the semifinals. In the semifinals, I failed to make the eight-second whistle aboard Gold Buckle Rodeo Company's Lounge Lizard Plus and my DNCFR title quest was done. Bello went on to win the title with a 90-point ride on Big Bend Rodeo's Kool Toddy.

Feeling better week after week and gaining confidence helped me push through. I got my first saddle bronc riding win of the season at Rodeo Austin, a rodeo that has been good to me in the past winning the title the past two years. I got started on the right foot again this year sharing the first round victory with Cody Wright. I rode Andrews Rodeo's Chilie Willie for 85 points. In the second round, I finished just one-point shy of the top spot with an 84 on Rafter G Rodeo's Rawhide. In the final round (or Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Round since it was a Tour rodeo) I again came up one-point short of the top spot. I was second with an 83-point ride on Beutler and Son's North Point. However, it was enough in the end for me to win Rodeo Austin for the third straight year with a three-head total of 252 points. It was great and I'll be entering this one until the day I die.

My next big win was at the Tour rodeo in Corpus Christi (the Buc Days Pro Rodeo), Texas. I finished in a tie for first with Jess Martin, Rod Hay and Bradley Harter. We all turned in 85-point rides and each collected a check worth $4,107. I rode Frontier Rodeo Company's Dakota Girl for the title. The first part of May, I was entered in the team roping and saddle bronc riding in Guymon, Okla., but didn't have any luck in either event.

The following week my traveling partner Bradley Harter got married to a girl named Kirby in Weatherford (Texas). Actually my wife, Margie, introduced them so I guess she is a little match maker. Anyway, the wedding was perfect. Not too long but not too short. We all had a good time. Susan Kanode took the photos and she has the wedding photos posted on her Web site at www.cowgirlimaging.com. Go to albums and check out the great photos when you get a chance.

After the wedding, I went back to Louisiana for a few days to spend time at home with the family. The end of May, I was off and running. I finished second behind Billy Etbauer at the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Ft. Smith (Ark.) with an 85 and was second the Cherokee (Iowa) PRCA Rodeo with an 84. From here on out, I am focusing my energy on saddle bronc riding and will team rope when it works into my schedule. It is a little calm before the storm in terms of the rodeo season right now. It will be fast and furious the next couple months but hopefully we will be stuffing our pockets with lots of money. I will keep you posted.

Until next time.

Happy Trails!
Cody