Jonathan Torres’ horse is named Paycheck and it’s completely fitting.
“He’s a winner,” Torres said.
Torres picked up the 16-year-old gelding at the start of the summer run and he has quickly become the No. 1 in what was already a stacked arsenal of horsepower for the Ocala, Florida, native.
“I rode Hannibal this winter and spring,” Torres noted. Ten-year-old Hannibal is registered Scotts Top Style by Lena Stylish Doc and carried Torres to good checks in Houston and Austin. “Then I have Roger, who I rode at the NFR last year and started the summer on. We won second at Reno.”
Nine-year-old Roger is registered Reysin Cats; he is by Dual Rey and out of a High Brow Cat mare. Torres also has Bayboy Boonsmal “Biggie” who carried most of the weight in Torres’ first NFR run in 2022. Biggie is a grandson of Peptoboonsmal with Doc Olena on the bottom side. At 18 years old, Biggie pulled duty at some of ProRodeo’s most prestigious events, like Pecos, Prescott and Pendleton.
Summer success
But Paycheck, the flashy, bald-faced sorrel, has been the constant of the long summer run.
“We won Tremonton and Coeur d’Alene in one week,” Torres said. “We placed good at Cody, Red Lodge, Livingston, St. Paul.
“I don’t know that we’ve won a lot of firsts, but for sure have gotten a bunch of checks.”
One of those placings came at the North Dakota Roughrider Cup in Mandan on Sept. 22, where Torres and header Nelson Wyatt picked up more than $8,000 for a fourth-place finish. The money helped solidify Torres’ position in the PRCA world standings, virtually ensuring a third straight trip to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo.
In Torres’ mind, a lot of the credit goes to Paycheck.
“Honestly, he’s one of the better ones I’ve had,” Torres said. “I am grateful to have him; he makes my job a lot easier. So much so that if I don’t do great, I feel like I’m to blame because he gives me a great chance every time.”
Solid swap
Bred by Anderson Cattle Company in Victoria, Texas, Paycheck was trained by Tyler Schaffner and Lance Inderman. He is by Nitas Wood out of Yo Quiero Chula by Chula Dual. His dam also goes back to Freckles Playboy. Schaffner and Inderman sold the gelding to Whit Kitchens when Paycheck was about 6.
“He took him to the jackpots and some rodeos,” Torres said. “Then Caleb Green bought him and did the same, some amateur rodeos and ProRodeos too.”
Torres had seen the horse around Texas. He had a 6-year-old but knew he needed something more ready for a full summer of rodeoing; meanwhile, Green was looking for something younger.
“We kinda swapped up,” Torres noted, bringing the gelding into his stable at a crucial point of the season.
“I just started using him,” Torres said. “He’s solid, great in the box. He stays out of my way and does the same thing every time.”
Fair fears
Torres calls the gelding “pretty easy” but if he’s got an Achilles heel, it’s got to be carnivals.
“Paycheck doesn’t love carnivals,” Torres laughed. “He gets pretty antsy and silly acting. He doesn’t love Ferris wheels and just wants to high step.”
That might make places like Puyallup, Washington (where contestants walk through a big midway en route to the rodeo arena), a little tricky but it’s a small trade-off for what he brings to Torres’ roping game.
Plan A
After riding Biggie and Roger during his first two NFR trips, Torres is excited to see what Paycheck can get done in the Thomas & Mack.
“I feel like he’ll be good in that setup,” Torres said. He’ll probably have Biggie and Roger available as well. Roger took most of the summer off, resting up to be ready if needed.
But Paycheck is Plan A.
“Like I said, he’s one of the best rodeo horses I’ve ever had,” Torres said. “He wants to win every time.”
—TRJ—
