ODESSA, Texas - For four Decembers, Mike Outhier has watched the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from a comfortable couch in the middle of his living room.
He didn't like it too much. The Utopia, Texas, saddle bronc rider would’ve been much more comfortable in the middle of nasty bucking horses for 10 rough days in Las Vegas, home of ProRodeo’s championship. Injuries sidelined the four-time Wrangler NFR qualifier for three years, but last year was more disappointment than doctor’s orders.
“Last year, I tried hard to make it back to the finals,” said Outhier, 31. “It was sure tough to sit at home and watch the NFR on TV.”
On Friday night at the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo, Outhier was tossed to the Ector County Coliseum dirt by the Jim Kinney bronc Jumpin Bean, sending the Oklahoma-born bronc buster back to central Texas empty-handed.
But to call Outhier a bronc rider would only touch the surface of what he is. As a youngster, he competed in every event in the sport of rodeo. As an 11-year pro, he’s also ridden bareback horses, team roped and roped calves. In fact, he’s a two-time Linderman Award winner (2004-2007), given to the cowboy who earned money in at least three events and including a rough-stock and a timed event.
“Right now I’m going to focus on bronc riding,” he said. “I just love riding bucking horses.”
It’s not that he’s not doing other events. In fact, recently he competed in three rodeos the same week, hauling horses between Alexandria, La.; Lafayette, La.; and Denver.
“That takes it out of you,” he said. “It is easier traveling when you ride bucking horses, and bronc riding is so much easier on my body.”
Fifth performance, Friday, Jan. 9, 2009
SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo
Ector County Coliseum
Bareback riding: 1. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., 87 points on Harry Vold Rodeo Co.’s Molly; 2. Zac Compton, Hermiston, Ore., 84; 3. Logan Hodson, Telkwa, British Columbia, 75; 4. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 73; 5. Luis Escudero, Vado, N.M., 70. Leaders: 1. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., 87 points on Harry Vold Rodeo Co.’s Molly; 2. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Washington, and Jared Keylon, Fort Scott, Kan., 85; 4. Zac Compton, Hermiston, Ore., 84; 5. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 82.
Steer wrestling: 1. Termaine Dubose, Anderson, Texas, 4.4 seconds; 2. Derrell Petry, Beaumont, Texas, 5.4; 3. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 14.5; no other qualified times. Second round leaders: 1. Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., and Tanner Winkler, Pampa, Texas, 4.0 seconds; 3. Daniel Adams, Weatherford, Okla., and Dru Melvin, Tryon, Neb., 4.1; 5. Todd Suhn, North Platte, Neb., Steven Campbell, Midwest, Wyo., and Garrett Henry, Douglas, Wyo., 4.3.
Team roping: 1. Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla./Kollin Von Ahn, Durant, Okla., 7.7 seconds; 2. Justin Ingle, Campbell, Texas/Mathew Ingle, Campbell, Texas, 10.9; no other qualified times. Second round leaders: 1. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 5.1 seconds; 2. Justin Yost, Hico, Texas/Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla., Chad Masters, Santo, Texas/Michael Jones, Stephenville, Texas, and Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla./Casey Chamberlain, Colorado City, Texas, 5.4; 5. Jimmy Edens, Gatesville, Texas/John Paul Lucero, Villanueva, N.M., Coby Jones, Gatesville, Texas/Caleb Mitchell, Charlotte, Texas, and Shane Philipp, Washington, Texas/Arky Rogers, Lake City, Fla., 5.5.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jesse James Kirby, Dodge City, Kan., 82 points on Jim Kinney’s Dakota Babe; 2. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 80; 3. Seth Clause, Rock Springs, Wyo., and Louie Brunson, Interior, S.D., 78; 5. Isaac Diaz, Stephenville, Texas, 74. Leaders: 1. Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 85; 2. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., and Tyrell Smith, Vaughn, S.D., 84; 4. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, and Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 82.
Tie-down roping: 1. Clint Singleton, Medina, Texas, 9.0 seconds; 2. Travis Hill, Rosanky, Texas, 9.6; 3. Dennis Luetge, Hempstead, Texas, 9.7; 4. Patrick Bellis, Lovington, N.M., 10.4; Jim Locke, Miami, Texas, 11.9. Second round leaders: 1. Kody Curry, Buna, Texas, 7.6 seconds; 2. Houston Hutto, Del Rio, Texas, 7.9; 3. Jim Bob Crow, Floresville, Texas, 8.0; 4. Brady Bock, Justin, Texas, 8.1; 5. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, and Cody Owens, Rankin, Texas, 8.4.
Barrel racing: 1. Krista Irlbeck, Happy, Texas, 14.29 seconds; 2. Ralynn Kirkpatrick, Spur, Texas, 14.72; 3. Edi Williams, Wellington, Texas, 14.80; 4. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 19.42; 5. Tara Lee Woodall, Merkel, Texas, 19.48. Second round leaders: 1. Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, Victoria, Texas, 13.98 seconds; 2. Tammy Key-Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 13.99; Jackie Jatzltu, Giddings, Texas, 14.05; 4. Jordon Peterson, Chilton, Texas, 14.06; 5. Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan., 14.07.
Bull riding: 1. Colby Reilly, Stratford, Wash., 75 points on the bull Bobalou; 2. Will Seargent, Piedmont, SD., 68; Leaders: 1. Austin Ambrose, Fletcher, Okla., 84; 2. Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., 82; 3. Douglas Duncan, Alvin, Texas, and Cory Melton, Tolar, Texas, 81; 5. Thomas Bert, Modesto, Calif., and Sean Case, Riverside, Calif., 80.
