There are two months left in this year’s regular rodeo season, so it’s the perfect time to map out a plan to get you to the finish line. You’re typically in one of three scenarios come the fourth quarter.

The top five teams are working to keep building their lead. Their sights are set on a world championship, and they know no lead is safe anymore with all the money at the NFR. They’re probably safe as far as making the Finals goes, but they’re not going to be satisfied to sit back and take their foot off the gas. They need to do everything in their power to prevent someone from pulling an Allen Bach, going from 15th to first at the Finals and passing them by.

With some major money events right there at the regular season’s end now, the guys below that top five are still scratching and clawing to hold their Top 15 spots. The teams in the middle of the pack are not safe, so they need to stay hooked.

The guys below about 10th have to make a move. Some will resort to planes, trains and automobiles, and others are starting to run short of rodeos in their 80-rodeo max that count toward the world standings. Remember that it takes one lucky break, and you’re right back in the thick of it. Somebody’s going to throw a Hail Mary, and make a big move.

When to Pull Up

Back in our day, more guys felt safe after the Fourth of July. Most teams have to rodeo their tails off and use all 80 of their rodeos to maintain a seat at the table now.

There are waves throughout the regular season when guys will start pulling the plug and heading home. When we were rodeoing, there were a lot fewer teams out there after about Cheyenne in late July and Dodge City in early August. When to pull up basically depends on why you need to go home. The most common reason is because you’re broke.

If that’s you this year, you might go to some circuit rodeos in your area and work to salvage something good out of this season by trying to stay in the Top 40. That way, you don’t have to wait another year to get into the big winter rodeos. We all know how important they’ve become to kickstarting the new year, so if you can get that done, you won’t regret it.

It gets pretty interesting when two guys on the same team find themselves in different scenarios this late in the year. If they joined forces after the start of the season, one might have a chance at the NFR, but the other doesn’t. Or one might have more means to keep going than the other, if it hasn’t been going great.

There are harsh realities out there, and they’re nothing new to rodeo. There are guys out there right now who’ve maxed out their credit cards, and guys who feel forced to sell their best horse to get themselves out of a financial jam. Whether it’s going home and getting a job or selling something, you’ve got to dig yourself out of the hole financially.

How Bad Do You Want It?

Try to find some positives in whatever you do. If you’re staying hooked, be happy you’re living the dream and making it work. If you have to go home, use it as a chance to work on your next horse.

Rodeo cowboys tend to never say die, and always seem to find a way to stay in the game. Have a good gut check, and ask yourself, “How bad do you want it?” I swear rodeo’s got more true-grit guys than any other sport.

Rodeo’s like playing checkers. You can’t just concentrate on one move at a time. You need to be thinking a few moves ahead, and to figure out how to get where you want to go. The hardest part about rodeoing for me was the constant search for horsepower. It’s a never-ending quest.

One piece of advice I have for every guy across the spectrum is not to waste your time looking over your shoulder at everybody else. If somebody’s right on your tail and you focus on them, you’re not paying enough attention to your own business.

I did the grind for 35 years, but rodeo’s a young man’s game. My NFR now is still in Vegas. But it’s over at the South Point at the World Series Finale.

—TRJ—