At Salt Lake city, Utah in 2008
Mitey Man is not a horse that you really check. You have to trust him and really ride him in there, and you don't normally have to pull on him a lot. I've really got a hold of him here, and you're generally not going to see that.
I don't know what was up with him that night, but he really decided to run. I think we outran everyone by four-tenths. I'm probably holding on for dear life is what's going on! I don't remember everything about the run, but I remember he was just flying. He had some extra fire that day, and I think I was just helping him a little bit around the barrel.
In all three of these pictures, my upper body and head is in the same position as my horse's body and head, and I'm looking ahead of him. When you're riding these horses, you've got to stay with them, and be focused on that point where you're coming around.
Winning the Second Round at the 2008 NFR
It looks like my horse is a ways from the barrel in this picture, but he's funny like that. I have a picture from Garden City where it looks like my horse is nowhere near the barrel, but he outran everybody with a 17.2.
I never kick around a barrel, so I think I'm just about to get a grip here. And he's not really one you can position as you approach. Whatever position you're in, you better hope it's right, because there's no moving in or out. I'm pretty lucky he's not one to try to hit or shoulder a barrel. I think when a person leans, it can throw the horse off balance and make him feel like it's time to shut down.
Last summer I did hit some barrels, actually because of some issues in the alley. His hole is he's real nervous and would lock up and not move. When he did move, I'd never know what he was fixing to do, so I got out of sync with him at the first barrel. Last fall, I figured out how to keep him calm and we got back in sync.
