The Start: Tyler Wade at the 2022 Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo

[As seen in the March 2022 issue of The Team Roping Journal]

Situation

First Round, Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo, Odessa, Texas.

I was just trying to see my start and react. Odessa is always fast. They backed off the added money, so there were 25 less teams than normal. But if there’s a rodeo in Texas with 70 teams, it will be pretty tough.

Read: Wade and Yates Win 2021 Odessa Jackpot from Second Callback

Outcome:

4.1-second run, worth second place in Round 1 and $1,501 each. They’d go on to split third and fourth in Round 2 with another 4.1-second run for $1,164 each, and they’d win the average for another $2,590 per roper.

a) STEER

That steer was an extra at the NFR and an extra at the Circuit Finals. They do rope the extras at the Finals, and they made a good run on him running him through one night. He came left a bit, which might have been why he was an extra.

b) START

I had to see a front leg because the barrier was one over. I got a decent start. I didn’t drill it, but I like to get an average start and ride across the line better. If you’re pulling and questioning it, it’s harder to head them. If I’m six inches off, it’s easier for me to get a go.

Watch: Matt Sherwood on “Is Your Horse Making it Hard to See the Feet?”

c) LEFT HAND

When that steer stepped in front of me, I was a little bit right behind him. I’m pushing my bay horse forward, and he’s got to round that corner out right there and keep the steer smooth and not whip him and leave Trey hanging.

d) FEET

I hadn’t rode that horse (15-year-old gelding Espuelo Bro) much besides the circuit finals, and we were 4.2. Between the NFR, the circuit finals and Odessa, he was quicker than I wanted him to be. He’s honest and goes with whatever you want to do. I just tried to ride him across the line and have enough momentum. He’s gritty and he’ll do whatever I ask him. If I ride him, he’ll dang sure do his job.

e) TREY YATES

Read: Tyler Wade and Trey Yates Master the Muleys at Clovis

Being a good team is feeding off each other. That [steer] right there, he cleaned up great. The next steer we roped, he didn’t handle as good. was closer to him, and he heeled the dog out of him. He reacts to the situation so well, and he dang sure did his job.