PECOS, Texas – Carr Pro Rodeo has made a name for itself with great bucking beasts.
Since its inception, the Dallas-based rodeo livestock firm has had some of the greatest animal athletes in the sport, from Real Deal, the 2005 bareback riding horse of the year, to River Boat Annie, the reserve world champion bareback horse in 2007, to Air Up There, the top bucking bull in the Texas Circuit in 2008.
But the company’s owner, Pete Carr, takes pride in all aspects of a rodeo, from the grand entry to the overall production to the seamless transition from one event to another. It’s all going to be part of the West of the Pecos Rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 23-Saturday, June 26, at Buck Jackson Arena.
“The rough-stock events are just a small part of a rodeo,” Carr said, referring to bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. “Don’t get me wrong; they’re an important part of the rodeo, but I believe the best rodeos feature the best contestants and the best animals, and that goes for the timed events. I care about the calves and the steers and what they mean for our rodeo, just like I do the horses and bulls.”
The contestants see that, too.
“To me, Pete Carr is one of the new wave of stock contractors as much about one end of the arena as he does the other,” said Trevor Brazile, a seven-time all-around world champion who has added two tie-down roping and steer roping titles. “There have been stock contractors that don’t really have a complete rodeo. In my opinion, Pete puts on a complete rodeo.”
If it’s ever been roped, Brazile knows about it. He’s the only man to have qualified for the national finals in all four roping disciplines – he’s been to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping each of the last 13 years and has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 18 times in team roping, tie-down roping and team roping (both heading and heeling).
Three seasons ago, he earned the coveted Triple Crown in rodeo, winning the all-around, tie-down roping and steer roping titles in 2007 – it was the first time in 24 years any cowboy had done so, and he was just the 10th man in the history of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to have earned the honor.
“Pete has the best livestock there is to offer at both ends of the arena,” he said, referring to timed events and rough-stock events. “That’s something most stock contractors don’t have to offer … mostly that they don’t care enough to go the extra mile to do what Pete does. It costs him a little more for him to put on a rodeo because he wants it to be right.”
Carr counts on plenty of people to make it right, like timed-event chute boss John Gwatney, a timed-event contestant.
“We want to have good, even pens of livestock to give the cowboys the best chance at winning,” Gwatney said. “That’s something the contestants see when they come to one of our rodeos, and I know, from my experience, how much they appreciate that.”
Brazile is just one of many who look at the hard work done by the Carr crew when they consider where they’ll go to compete.
“If I’ve got a tossup as to one rodeo or another and I see that Pete Carr has one rodeo, I know that if I go to Pete Carr’s rodeo I’ll have a better chance of winning money because the field’s fair,” Brazile said. “I know Pete’s doing his part. I know he’s going to have the best timed-event cattle. Those cattle are going to give everybody an even shot, and fans can learn to appreciate what they’re seeing.
“When you allow the contestants a shot at the best cattle, it brings the best out, which, in turn, makes for the best show for the fans.”
It’s those kinds of ingredients that help rodeos succeed, and it’s why the West of the Pecos Rodeo has joined forces with Carr Pro Rodeo.
“We’re very blessed to be part of the tradition of the West of the Pecos Rodeo,” Carr said, noting it is the longest running rodeo in the country at 128 years. “This is truly one of the great rodeos.”
It’s one Brazile loves.
“Pecos is special to me because it’s the rodeo where I filled my permit,” he said. “It has every event, which a lot of rodeos don’t have. It was the first rodeo, and they stayed true to so many traditions, from the long scores to the walking fresh cattle – a lot of rodeos don’t do that anymore, but you have to give those calves time to get out, then you have to have keep your horse situated. Most of the horses are used to just going, so it’s really a showcase of those great horses.
“It’s a fun rodeo to compete at and a fun rodeo to watch. At this rodeo, it’s wild. The conditions are tough, but one thing you can count on is that Pete Carr is going to make it as even as possible for everyone who is competing.”
