Bobby Simmons’ 8-year-old gelding Sundae Rebel marked a 659.51 on three head to win the Old West Futurities’ ProAm Non-Pro 50+ Heeling in Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Lazy E Arena Sunday, April 12, banking $5,900 for the title.
And that’s just the latest chapter in the Metallic Rebel son’s career defined by doing things the right way.
“He’s just a winner,” Simmons said. “I officially don’t think he’s ‘great’—he just doesn’t get in your way and lets you win. He scores good, he don’t overrun the cattle, and he always stops on his hind end.”
More on Sundae Rebel
Sundae Rebel never had a typical show career. His reputation was built entirely on the clock and the pay window at the 2024 Riata Championships, where he dominated the No. 9.5 heeling for a massive $49,000 payday alongside partner Craig Moore on You Rey. Between the average win and the horse incentives, the team pocketed over $100,000 in one weekend.
“He had never been to a show—it was just from Riata earnings,” Simmons recalled. “Then I turned around and won another $28,000 the next week after Riata at the Cody Johnson on him.”
What makes the horse stand out is his versatility. While many high-caliber horses require a professional hand to stay tuned, Sundae Rebel is as honest as they come. For Simmons, who has been working his way back after three surgeries, having a horse that just does his job is paramount.
“He’s just easy,” Simmons said. “He’s good at my age; he’s soft, gentle and he doesn’t do anything but just his job. You can ride him at the open level or you can ride him in the #8 roping.”
The gelding, who Simmons bought as a 3-year-old from a Solo Select Sale, was trained by Ty Daniel Haller. Simmons, a longtime customer of Smith’s, remembers the call that brought the horse home.
“I bought quite a few horses from her, and I called her and she goes, ‘Bobby, quit buying horses, I’ll call you when I got one that you’ll like,’” Simmons recalled with a laugh. “She called me and said, ‘You’re going to like this one.’”
Sundae Rebel went to Haller, who Simmons credits with the horse’s exceptional handle and consistency. Haller’s program is built on high volume and real-world seasoning—a method that has produced several top-tier performers, including Douglas Rich’s 2026 Heel Horse of the BFI.
“TyDaniel has been a blessing, man,” Simmons said. “He’s trained a lot of good horses. He’s the ropingest guy ever. He’ll rope if the wind’s blowing 50 miles an hour in Midland—he’s gonna rope. He just puts a lot of runs on them, and that makes a difference. You can take a horse TyDaniel finished and an Open guy can throw on him in the corner every time, or a guy like me can just hop on and go.”
While Sundae Rebel is a powerhouse in the arena, his personality at home is a bit more… personal.
“He’s kind of a turd. He’s like having a wet bird dog—you can’t get him off of you,” Simmons said. “Ty Daniel’s fiancé, Lonnie, made him like that because she carries snacks in her pocket. He’s always trying to get on you.”
Rhen Richard is Simmons’ longtime friend, and he helped Simmons on the head side in Guthrie. But beyond that, Simmons credits all the Richards and the rest of the Old West crew with a great rooping.
“I feel like they’re just opening doors that have never been opened before,” Simmons said. “It’s amazing what a great job they’ve done getting this thing off the ground. They are justifiably trying their hardest to provide the best cattle and the best scenarios for everyone. You’ve got to keep in mind what guys like Redgie [Probst], Chad [Richard] and Rhen are putting into this—spending time away from their families to better the industry. To have it succeed, it has to be done professionally, and that’s exactly what they’re doing.”
