9/11 Drew Horner: Uncoiled. Pendleton

Were over here in Pendleton. We’re all saddled up, and we’re walking over the bridge. It’s a long walk to get over to the Pendleton arena, but it’s well worth it. This rodeo is a great rodeo. It is 2 rounds and a short. They have 106 teams entered this year.

Walking across the road bridge to the arena.

It’s infamous for the grass. It’s a horse race track that starts with about an 80-foot lane down the turn of the racetrack. It’s angled down a little bit, then flattens out on the grass area going full speed. It’s a little scary and fun at the same time.

I’m pretty anxious and looking forward to it. We’re in a good spot right now with over $60,000 won each, but we’d like to get a little bit more money won to clench our spot at the finals and the Omaha tour rodeo. I’m looking forward to coming out here and making some good clean runs. It’s not a crazy tough rodeo, based upon the times, but it is a tough set-up that can be intimidating. Last year was my first year here on the grass. I’m going to ride the same horse as last year, Goose. He is my second string horse, now, compared to my new horse I got the other day. I’m riding him because he’s old, solid and good on his feet. Hopefully we can stay on our feet and get 2 caught and come back to the short round on Saturday.

This is what the ice nails look like. They work like cleats do for football or baseball.

If the steer runs right over here it can get kind of dangerous and tough to catch them. There is more chance for horses to fall. You’re probably not going to win a whole lot either. Buddy is planning on running down the alley and being even with the steer to keep him from going right. That will make it easier on our horses and safer for us to make a run. Typically when steers go left over here you can be a little faster because there is so much room here. You can face anywhere and it doesn’t really matter. We’re going to try to step our steer left a little bit and go be sharp on two runs. We’re going to be aggressive and try to get a decent start. The set up is an old school set up, and it is one-of-a-kind. It is kind of intimidating, but fun.

We haven’t been winning a lot here lately, but it’s been alright. Hopefully we can win some money over here at Pendleton to help secure our spot towards the end of the season.

The long ally we run down from the dirt into the grass. This is a steer wrestler here but we do the same thing in the team roping. Start from the bottom left of the pic and run down the dirt onto the grass. The barrier rope is about even where the grass and the dirt meet.