5/25 – Down Time

The beginning of the year is my favorite time to rodeo, especially with a big win like San Antonio. The rodeos we go to are big, and we don’t have to go to as many. I get a chance to practice at home for the next big rodeo. Now, into May, is kind of a down time for us.

A lot of guys head home and circuit rodeo, at least that’s what I try to do. This is the time of year when I can just hang out and be with family and friends. I spend time in the practice pen, at church, with my girlfriend and just getting plugged back in before the summer time. That’s what I’m doing right now, hanging out, practicing and working out harder than I ever do. I like to take this time to get in shape and ready for the summer run.

I try to look at being a team roper the same as being a professional athlete. Even in the off-season, you have to train full-time, not just physically, but also mentally and spiritually. In professional sports it takes discipline and self control to make it big time.

            When I’m home, I’m training physically and mentally in the arena and the gym. No less than 5 days a week, I spend time in the gym before or after team roping practice. The whole point is to build coordination, balance and strength to become better. Extra time spent in the gym pushing yourslef helps mentally as well. When the horses are worn out; I push myself even further in the gym.

The discipline factor is huge. It’s not always a matter of out doing others, but just doing it. The exhaustion breaks you down only to build you back up again and make you stronger. Right now, there are very little big events. It’s an opportunity to get some rest, but also to wear yourself out to become as weak as you can and then become as strong as you can. The busy summer time is when guys start to weaken and get loose minded, and that’s when you hope to come up 4.7 and everyone else is 5.2.