Lane Mitchell knows what it’s like to near-miss the NFR cut. Three years ago, he finished 16th in the 2022 world heeling standings. They call that the heartbreak hole for a reason. Not this time. This 2025 season has been a breakthrough, banner rodeo year for this 31-year-old husband and new daddy. He’s heeled his way to the Thomas & Mack Center behind Cajun Cyle Denison, who was there in Las Vegas for the first time with Tanner Braden last December. Mitchell’s a heeling stud, and so is that gray horse he’s been riding.
Oz Ona Hot Streak—they call him Oz—is actually owned by Nebraska’s Nate and Missy Osentowski.
“I have a friend who lives in South Texas, Antone Williams, and he and my father-in-law (Tommy Edens) were talking about it,” said Mitchell, who comes from Bolivar, Tennessee, and is married to breakaway roper Jordi Edens-Mitchell, who’s the daughter of 2007 NFR header Tommy (he headed for Coby Jones). “Antone is really good friends with Nate and Missy, and Oz sometimes stays at Antone’s place. Antone and Tommy got to talking about me maybe riding him.”
Mitchell started riding the 14.3-hand, 10-year-old gray in May of 2024.
“Oz is fast—super fast,” he said. “He’s bred to be fast (he’s by A Streak of Fling, and out of Oz One Hot Momma)—racing fast.”
The 2015 stallion, who stands at Solo Select Horses in Gainesville, Texas, does not do the California spring run due to breeding season. Oz has proven himself a high achiever at both ends. In 2019, he was the AQHA junior heading world champion.
On the heeling side, Mitchell’s ridden him at all but about five rodeos this 2025 season.
“Oz is just a really good horse, and he’s good everywhere—from Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston to Salinas,” Mitchell said. “He’s super fast, and you can trust him in the box. He has a good temperament, and is good-minded. And being as fast as he is really helps, because you can get there way quicker.
“Even though he’s a stud, he doesn’t cause any problems. He’s easy to be around, and is definitely not one of those studs that’s screaming, kicking and weaving all the time. You’d think this horse was a gelding. I always remember he’s a stud, and am careful about situations I put him in. But he never causes any problems.”
Mitchell’s 14-year-old black horse, Mr T (Big Green Tractor), has filled the few gaps when Oz didn’t go. How much does this gritty gray horse have to do with Mitchell clearing the NFR hurdle for the first time?
“We’re in a good spot, and he has a lot to do with that,” he said. “It’s nice being able to trust him. A lot of horses get tired out here. He never has. I know he’s going to score and run, and I can trust him every time. I can just sit up there and worry about heeling. I don’t have to worry about trying to get there.”
Mitchell heeled for Denison a few years ago, and started back at some of the fall rodeos in 2024.
“We’ve tried to focus on the tour rodeos and catching steers this year,” Mitchell said. “We were really big on doing good at the tour rodeos, and wanted to just slow down, catch steers and see what happens.”
After winning about $11,000 at Fort Worth last winter, Team Denison and Mitchell had some sweet wins this summer, including Dodge City (Kansas) and Sheridan (Wyoming).
“The good Lord, this is His plan,” Mitchell said. “Cyle’s turned a lot of steers and roped great all year. He went and bought Bartender (from Colby Lovell), and that’s made a huge difference. We have two horses that can really run, and we’re confident in them. They’re trying to help us, not hurt us.”
Jordi and baby boy Brooks, who turned 1 in June, will head up Mitchell’s cheering section at the Thomas & Mack next month. Fatherhood has a way of shifting a cowboy’s perspective in very positive ways. And yes, Oz is expected to get the call in Vegas.
“Oz will be really good there, because I’ll be able to let the steer go straight and still catch up fast enough,” Mitchell said. “Like I said, Oz is just good everywhere.
“I don’t worry about roping that much anymore. I’m only in the arena a little bit, but I’m a dad all the time. And I’m a role model to my kid. Some people want to pout and throw stuff when things don’t go their way, but when someone who looks up to you is watching, you get over it and move on. It’s time to be a dad now, and get on to the next one.”
—TRJ—
