The American Rope Horse Association’s Sun Circuit Pre-Futurity heeling was dominated by Joseph Harrison, despite it being the very first outing for Justin Ochs’ 4-year-old Purposely Tagged, by Hashtags out of Purpose Driven.

Their score of 690.99 was worth $9,473. The colt won both the first and second rounds with near-identical scores of 229.88 and 230.72, respectively, to earn $11,473 for the win.

“I’ve had him since last summer, but that was his first trip to town,” said Harrison, who had Brock Hanson heading and heeling for him. “And that was my first time to Scottsdale for that futurity. When I was rodeoing, it was just too hard to make it work.”

When asked what it was about the colt that stood out on every steer, Harrison said it was the two things he feels are most important in a heel horse: they’ve got to be good in the box and good on the end of the rope. He said the horse is the third good one he’s ridden from Cowan Select Horses.

“I didn’t show many head horses when I was rodeoing, without as much time to ride that many, but now I’m getting some more,” said Harrison, who isn’t rodeoing at all. “I’ve got three more I’ll be heading on. I’m pretty pumped about my set of horses this year.”

The top Intermediate heeler in the Pre-Futurity was Cord Forzano of Madera, California, aboard 4/M Cattle Company’s Gunnin For Number 1, on a score of 450.62 on two to earn $3,520.

Harrison also won the second round of the Open Heeling aboard Darren and Tara Johnson’s CR Better Be Tuff, with a score of 229.92, worth $1,500. He placed on two other horses, too, in addition to his reserve aggregate championship in Open Heading, to bring his Scottsdale total to $25,515.

Purposely Tagged’s Pedigree