February 8, 2012
Hello friends, I apologize for the delay in getting this new blog done and up. Seems like this great life we live has been flying by, and I ‘ve been a little behind. A lot of good has come in this time since my last blog.
As I hit send on my last blog, my mom, brother, and Papa were headed to Arizona for a week, where we were so fortunate enough to stay at Ozzie and Judy Gillum’s beautiful place. You hear about how awesome, and how roping-oriented Arizona is in the winter months, but it’s tough to really even fathom until you experience it for yourself. There was not a day that went by that we didn’t rope out in 70-degree sunshine. My rodeo partner, Jordan Ketscher, also came down that week, as did Andy Holcomb and Fallon Avery. Boy, we had a blast down there, and were lucky enough to come back to California with some money in our pockets! Also, thank you to Ryan Reed for showing us around down there.
One of the coolest features of that week in Arizona was the fact that 7-Time World Champion Team Roping Heeler Clay O’ Brien Cooper was staying at the Gillum’s place too. What an amazing opportunity to head steers for -- quite possibly -- the most legendary team roper of all time. He’s a genius at roping steers, and just watching him improved my grasp on roping. He’s such a pro. It’s refreshing getting to watch the greatest ever get up and clean his horse’s stalls and be saddled and ready to rope with us every morning. There was not an ounce of arrogance in Clay O’. It was so awesome to be around The Champ himself.
Another cool deal was that the Gillum’s arena shares a return alley with Riley and Brady Minor’s winter spot. You can’t beat being able to rope a steer with Clay O’ behind you, and as you ride back up the arena, getting to watch a couple of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers on the other side of the fence rope a steer. After we got done roping, I’d often sit on the fence and watch Riley and Brady go at it. 4-Time World Champion Bareback Rider Bobby Mote also was over roping with the Minors one day. Riley and Brady even came over and roped with us a couple times, and helped break in some muley steers. It is a phenomenal thing how just being around guys who rope awesome and know what it is to be a winner can make you step your game up a little. I came home with a new approach and motivated.
Another highlight, for me, would have to be when Oz and I won a mid-morning match against Ryan and Taylor. That was a pretty satisfying victory, but I do believe they still owe us our milkshakes, Oz! Also, thank you to Oz and Judy for the opportunity to ride some of their horses down there. I was so lucky to get to run some steers on their great stud, Dez. Pretty neat to rope some steers on a horse that Jake Barnes has ridden at the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping, among other places. Jake also rode a daughter of Dez at this year’s WNFR. One more thing, Ms. Judy can really cook! Thanks for everything.
On the Professional Rodeo scene, some big rodeos like Odessa, Denver, and Fort Worth are in the books. It’s fun to stay tuned for who’s winning and who’s hot. It’s also interesting to see which teams, who may not be hot, stick with each other. Erich Rogers and Kory Koontz have had a pretty good winter so far, as have the new teams of Colby Lovell and Russell Cardoza, and Dustin Bird and B.J. Campbell. Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith have been solid as well. One team that I’m really rooting for and have seen their names popping up again and again in results are Charly Crawford and Clay O’ Brien Cooper. That is a team that I think will remain so solid all year long, because both guys are smart and very consistent. I think they’re an even stronger team as we get to the outdoor set ups this spring and summer. Charly has some really nice horses, which is definitely one of the most crucial aspects of team roping at that level.
As for being back home, school is back in session. In my second quarter here at Cal Poly- SLO, I’m really finding out how demanding school can be. It has been pretty hectic between midterms and essays, but it’s pretty fulfilling when you can get it all knocked out. We’ve been jackpotting a little bit out here, and am excited that we’ve got a college rodeo coming up on February 17-18.
Another really exciting deal is that the New York Giants just won the Super Bowl. This was mainly exciting because it was so fun to watch Bear Pascoe play a role in the outcome. It was neat to actually know someone out there! It made the Super Bowl a little more personal this year. Bear is a humble champion, and comes from a hard working ranching family out here in California. It was cool to see Bear’s dad Shawn at a roping the weekend before the big game, and I went and roped some with Bear’s brother Ryan at the Hearst Ranch the Sunday before the Super Bowl. Such a nice family, and that was awesome to see him accomplish his dream. The guy who was in the stands at some of my high school basketball games (wanting me to knock guys out under the basket) was out there making plays at the Super Bowl. So cool.
But mainly, I hope and pray this New Year is off to a great start for all of you. Hope you’ve set some new goals, or are honing in on accomplishing ones you’ve set. Thanks for following this blog. I really appreciate your support.
It’s my journey, and your experience.
Lane Santos-Karney