There’s been no denying the champion’s heart that beats in Guy Allen’s chest. The 18-time world champion steer roper qualified for a record 33 National Finals Steer Ropings in five different decades in his Hall of Fame career. Last December, “The Legend” cashed the $195,000 check of his life with the #9.5 win heeling for Chris Torres at the Ariat World Series of Team Roping Finale in Las Vegas. On June 1, Guy’s roping plans were temporarily derailed by an unexpected health scare.
“I got up early that morning to rope,” said Allen, who lives in Cross Plains, Texas. “The arena had been wet for a couple weeks, and I was supposed to go to a roping that weekend, so I wanted to practice. Right above my heart on the left side of my chest was hurting and burning, like I had a bad case of indigestion.
“My wife, Chelle, wanted me to go to the doctor. I finally said OK, but when we got down the road a ways, it quit hurting. So I said, ‘Let’s just wait.’ I went home and laid down, and slept for a couple hours. My daughter Shyla came up to ride, because she was getting ready to go to the Texas High School State Finals in the barrels and poles. I went out to help her ride, and my brother Gip and sister Becky were out there with us.”
But after they rode and got the horses put up, the pain in Guy’s chest returned.
“I got to hurting really bad,” he said. “Gip told me to get my boots and spurs off, because he was going to take me in. Then Chelle came down to the barn and got me, and took me to a little hospital in Coleman, which is about 30 minutes from Cross Plains. I didn’t dream I was having a heart attack.”
They got to the hospital in Coleman at about 5:30 that evening, and it didn’t take long to load Guy up into an ambulance to send him to a bigger hospital in Abilene.
“They told me I’d had three heart attacks, and was having the third one right then and there,” Guy said. “They said one of my main arteries had a 100% blockage, and rushed me straight into surgery to put a stint in.”
It was a close call, but they luckily caught it just in time, and The Legend is on the mend now.
“I’ve been going to physical therapy, and they say I’m doing good,” he said. “My dad, granddad and mom have had some heart trouble, and they say it’s hereditary. But this was a big surprise for me. Pretty shocking. I never dreamed I’d have a heart attack. I’d just unloaded some hay the day before by myself. My chest was burning, but it was like my muscles were burning from a big workout. I didn’t think anything of it.
“They want me to change my eating habits, and want me to eat more fish. They told me to eat less fatty meat—beef, the skin and fat on chicken, and pork. They don’t want me eating any fatty foods, and told me to go fishing and eat what I catch. And more fruits and vegetables.”
Naturally, roping is what he’s missed the most during this unexpected down time.
“I’ve been riding again,” said Guy, who’ll be 65 in September and made his last NFSR in 2016 at 58. “I haven’t roped yet, but I’m going to soon. I’ve sure missed it, but it won’t be long. It’s been pretty hot, and I haven’t really wanted to get out in the extreme heat. I’m doing good now, but having a heart attack was a pretty big shock. I just had to get through it as it was happening, but it was kind of scary after it was over. When it really got to burning, felt like somebody was hitting me with a baseball bat right above my heart.”
