PRCA Cowboys Bring American Bucking Stock to Australia

(March 17, 2021) - St. Patrick’s day may be one of four-leaf clovers and luck, but the birth of a beautiful bucking horse colt in Australia wasn’t a story of luck, it was the story of hard work, passion and dedication to the sport of rodeo. Astro Bells, a bucking horse from Pickett Pro Rodeo, flew to Australia after being bred to a son of 2020 World Champion Top Flight. Astro Bells is also a sister to Top Flight and Uncapped, and is out of a 2020 National Finals Rodeo daughter sired by Night Jacket.

Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association bronc rider Anthony Thomas long held dreams with good friend Jack Morris to bring the legendary bucking stock of America to their homeland of Australia. Thomas has long been a force in the bronc riding arena.

The birth of a colt is even more exciting for the opportunity to watch as this colt sires offspring to be used in Australian pro rodeo. Thank you to Anthony for sharing on his social media about this great event and an exciting future for rodeo overseas!

Ivy & Hawkins Have Their Cowboy Christmas Arena Record Style

Lane Ivy, a team roping header out of Adrian, Texas, and Buddy Hawkins II, a team roping heeler from Sedan, Kansas, decided to have their Cowboy Christmas arena record style this year!

"Cowboy Christmas" is a term used by rodeo fans to describe the lucrative number of professional and amateur rodeos held over the 4th of July weekend. Cowboys can move up significant placings in the Weatherguard World Standings of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, allowing them to strategically set themselves up for the sprint to be in the Top 15 to go to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December. The Super Bowl of rodeo, the WNFR is the place to be for any western enthusiast. 

On July 3rd, at the Eugene Pro Rodeo in Eugene, Oregon, Ivy and Hawkins smoked a 4.6 second run in Eugene, a place where a 5 flat is considered fast. The time was good enough for first overall with a new arena record. 

The following day, Hawkins and Ivy got to celebrate America's birthday with another arena record at the Molalla Buckaroo in Molalla, Oregon. Stopping the clock in a deadly 3.9 second run, they took the lead at another Cowboy Christmas rodeo. 

Watch Ivy/Hawkins Eugene Pro Arena Record here.

Watch Ivy/Hawkins Molalla Buckaroo Arena Record here. 

Ivy currently sits 36th in the world according to the PRCA Weatherguard World Standings but is sure to move after the books have officially closed on the Cowboy Christmas run. Hawkins currently sits 10th in the PRCA Weatherguard World Standings and is sitting pretty as we head into the final stretch of the year heading into the WNFR.

Team roping is the only true team event for Professional Rodeo where a header and a heeler work together to stop the clock. The header throws their loop first catching the horns, neck or a combination of both on a 350-500 pound Corriente steer. The header must then turn the steer to the left and, once that direction change has been made, the heeler tries to catch both hind legs. The clock stops when both horses are facing each other with their front feet on the ground, as signaled by a judge. Time penalties can be accrued with the breaking of the barrier (the head start for the steer) or by the heeler only catching one leg (+5 seconds). 

Follow Buddy Hawkins II Fan Page on Facebook.

That Western Life was founded in 2017 and promotes the western industry including rodeo sports, agriculture and ranching politics, western lifestyle, and the people that make this great nation what it is. Our thoughts and opinions are our own.