Tie-down roper Brushton Minton powers to win in opening day of Pool B of Calgary Stampede
There’s a lot of admiration for Canadian bucking horses at the Calgary Stampede, but it’s not the only event where Canadian horses have their fans.
In tie-down roping, the most famous and successful Canadian horse is Peso. But another equine star is also playing a big part helping cowboys win money consistently. As Pool B competitors had their first day of competition at Calgary,
Brushton Minton was singing the praises of a Canadian horse, after he won the round in 7.1 seconds, for a welcome $7,000 paycheck Monday.
“I got to ride an awesome horse – Tyler Popescul’s horse Lincoln,” said Minton, in the fourth Calgary Stampede of his career. “He’s awesome and I have a lot of confidence in him. I’m glad it all worked out the first day.”
“There were three guys – Riley Webb, Kincade Henry, and me who rode Lincoln. Then there was Peso. There weren’t that many horses back there today,” Minton said. “Everybody was mounting out, trying to ride the best horse.”
Although there have been some border challenges getting horses back and forth, that had nothing to do with the California cowboy’s decision.
“All my horses are fine. I just try to get on the best horse, and I’ve ridden that horse at the National Finals (Rodeo). He was awesome for me,” Minton said.
The Stampede has a very short setup, which can amplify any slight miscalculations and makes timing extra critical.
“You’ve just got to get the start. If you get the start, then you can have time to slow them down and turn them around. My plan was just to hit the barrier and just go make my run and see how it turns out,” Minton said.
“I thought I broke the barrier,” said Minton, who is sitting eighth in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings, and glad for the early cash injection from Calgary.”It’s been a little rough. It hasn’t been really going my way, but I’m glad to get it turned around here. It is a sigh of relief.”
Minton was also relieved to actually be in Calgary, after facing traffic leaving Prescott, Ariz., that left he and his traveling partners in danger of missing their flight to Canada.
“Thanks to Ty Harris. He was driving really good and got us there,” Minton said. “I’m glad we made it. This is my first time getting the bronze.”
It seemed to be rookie day at the Stampede as three first-timers to Calgary won their events on the opening day of Pool B competition. Bareback rider Roedy Farrell was 87.5 points on Macza Side Show ($7000); Coleman Shallbetter took the saddle bronc riding with an 87.5-point ride on Calgary’s Business Girl ($7000); and bull rider Noah Lee who had a 90.5-point trip on Calgary Stampede’s Shaboozie ($7250). The steer wrestling was split between Ty Erickson ($6250) and Dalton Massey ($6250), both with 4.0 second runs. Carlee Otero won barrel racing in 16.92 seconds ($7000), while Cheyanne McCartney took breakaway roping in 3.1 seconds ($7,000).
-PRCA
