COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In team sports, a franchise that wins multiple titles in a short period of time and dominates the competition is called a dynasty. In rodeo, the same title can now be tagged to legendary Calgary Stampede bareback horse Grated Coconut.
A 10-year-old stallion, Grated Coconut earned honors as the PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year for the second straight year and fourth time in five years. It’s the most dominant stretch for any bareback horse since Bernis Johnson’s Sippin’ Velvet, a five-time champion and member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, who also won four titles in five years (1983-84 and 1986-87).
Descent, the great saddle bronc of Beutler Brothers and Cervi Rodeo, holds the overall PRCA record with six horse-of-the-year titles.
“Four times is pretty amazing,” said Keith Marrington, senior rodeo manager of the Calgary Stampede rodeo. “That speaks to what the horse is all about. You could call him a dynasty. We’re real excited about that, and his colts are showing the same talent, so we’re excited about the future, too.”
Grated Coconut wasn’t the only repeat winner of the 2007 PRCA Stock of the Year, presented by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco. Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Congeniality, the 2005 Saddle Bronc Riding Horse of the Year, returned to the top this year, while Voodoo Child of Beutler & Son Rodeo was named Bull of the Year for the first time.
Marrington said Grated Coconut bucked 10 times during the 2007 PRCA regular season, ending on a high note after teaming with Justin McDaniel for a 90-point ride at the Ariat Playoff Series rodeo in Puyallup, Wash.
Other cowboys had the same opportunity on the horse, but couldn’t cash in. Two chances in 10 minutes weren’t enough for Heath Ford.
“He’s the hardest bucking horse I’ve ever gotten on,” said Ford, who was fouled at the gate during the final round of the Ponoka (Alberta) Stampede, but requested and received another ride on Grated Coconut, only to be bucked off again just minutes later. “He’ll do his part, so you just have to hang with him and match him jump for jump. That’s what makes him a champion. I’ve been riding horses for 20 years, and I still lay awake at night thinking about horses like Grated Coconut.”
Only three saddle bronc riders out of 10 managed qualified rides aboard Miss Congeniality, but made it count, each recording a 91-point score. Cody DeMoss of Heflin, La., did it last, winning the saddle bronc riding title at the Ariat Playoff Series rodeo Sept. 29 in Omaha, Neb.
“I guess I’d say she’s a little more solid this year, but she’s always been outstanding,” said Hank Franzen of Powder River Rodeo Company. “She’s a big, gentle mare with a good disposition and turns out there and bucks hard every time.”
Anthony Bello of Oakley, Utah, and Josh Reynolds of Corvallis, Mont., also recorded 91-point rides on Miss Congeniality this year. Bello’s ride came in Idaho Falls, Idaho, while Reynolds’ winning score occurred in Plains, Mont.
Voodoo Child, a black and white spotted crossbred bull weighing some 1,750 pounds, remains un-ridden in more than 35 trips. Not bad for a bull just 5 years of age and is just reaching his prime.
“He’s still a young bull, and this was really his first year at PRCA rodeos,” Rhett Beutler said. “The guys are still trying to figure him out. Hopefully someone will, and they’ll get a bunch of points.”
J.W. Harris, ranked third in the world standings, hopes to get another shot this year after hitting the arena dirt prematurely in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, while trying to ride the bull.
“He’s probably the most honest bull going right now,” Harris, of May, Texas, said. “Everyone knows what he’s going to do. He turns back and brings it every time. He just bucks hard and doesn’t weaken. He just gets stronger and stronger. I thought I had him figured out, but next time, I’ll just have to act like I’ve never seen him before and just ride.”
Runners-up in the bareback riding voting were River Boat Annie from Carr Pro Rodeo in second and Flying Five Rodeo’s Miss Amerititle in third. A pair of Kesler Championship Rodeo horses, Bonus Alley and Cool Alley, followed Miss Congeniality in the saddle bronc riding final results. In the bull competition, Southwick Robertson’s Live Wire was second, while Andrews Rodeo’s Fender Bender, last year’s runner-up, finished third.
The top 30 contestants in each roughstock event voted for the award winners.
2007 PRCA Top Stock Award Winners
Presented by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co.
Bareback riding
1. Grated Coconut, Calgary Stampede
2. River Boat Annie, Carr Pro Rodeo
3. Miss Amerititle, Flying Five Rodeo
Saddle Bronc riding
1. Miss Congeniality, Powder River Rodeo
2. Bonus Alley, Kesler Championship Rodeo
3. Cool Alley, Kesler Championship Rodeo
Bull riding
1. Voodoo Child, Beutler & Ron Rodeo
2. Live Wire, Southwick Robertson Rodeo
3. Fender Bender, Andrews Rodeo Company
