The 2005 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and American Quarter Horse Association Horse of the Year winners shined during competition at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 2-11.
Docalickin, a 13-year-old black gelding and the heading horse of the year, owned by Pauline Robertson of Augusta, Montana, set a new NFR team roping arena record with Clay Tryan aboard. Tryan of Billings, Montana, along with Patrick Smith of Midland, Texas, won the world title after their ninth-round 3.5-second run that set a new NFR record and tied the PRCA world record.
The team roping — heeling horse of the year, Pets Ten, led his owner/rider Rich Skelton of Llano, Texas, to a seventh-place finish in the world with $112,923 in earnings. This is the second horse of the year award for Pets Ten, a 1995 chestnut gelding by Ten O Sea.
Stran Smith of Childress, Texas, riding Topofthemarket in tie-down roping, finished fourth in the world, earning $160,341. The duo placed in the top three in five of the 10 rounds. That’s quite a feat considering Topofthemarket is 23 years old. The sorrel gelding by Kaweah Market also was the tie-down roping horse of the year in 2003.
June Holeman of Arcadia, Nebraska, and her horse, Sparky Impression, set NFR records even before they entered the arena. At the age of 62, Holeman is the oldest competitor to ever compete at the NFR. Competing in the NFR has been a lifetime goal for Holeman, and she credits her success to her 16-year-old gelding by Barnone Impressive.
FF Zans A Baron Jack, owned by James Burks of Benton, Arkansas, led rider Ronnie Fields from Oklahoma City to a third-place standing in the world in steer wrestling. Fields earned $136,563 to finish in the top three. The 11-year-old sorrel gelding by Zan Sugar Parr was also last year’s steer wrestling horse of the year.
Bobs Lena, a 13-year-old sorrel gelding and the steer roping horse of the year, carried Cash Myers of Athens, Texas, to a tenth-place finish in the world. The duo competed at the National Finals Steer Roping in November in Amarillo.
Since 1989, AQHA and PRCA have recognized the top American Quarter Horses in the six timed events. Nominated by their owners, riders or fans, these horses are voted on by the top 25 contestants in their respective events. Each winner receives a cash prize and an AQHA bronze.
For more information on the NFR, visit prorodeo.com.