Welcome to May everyone. Here’s hoping the weather here in Oregon will start warming up. Since coming back up here, I haven’t been able to practice roping much with the colder weather and all the wind. It has really been windy as of late. However, my thoughts and prayers go out to all those that have lost everything with the terrible tornadoes that have ravaged the U.S. as of late. Those images and videos are horrific.
On the other hand what great news all Americans received on Sunday night that U.S. personnel had killed Osama Bin Laden. A huge thanks to all military personnel and their families for their sacrifice for us so that we can continue to enjoy our freedom. God Bless the United States of America!
As many of you have read by now with my share of the bareback riding title in Red Bluff, I moved up the ladder in career earnings and now hold the record amongst all bareback riders for most money won. It is a neat feeling and to be able have broken Clint Corey’s record is just very special to me as I have patterned my career off what Clint did. He is a great friend and mentor and without his help during my career I wouldn’t be where I am at today. It definitely sneaks up on you and to be honest it wasn’t really a goal I thought about. For me to be able to do what I love to do and to be able to look back on how much I have won, it is just amazing. To go from a time in my life where I was happy to pay to compete to now being close to having won $2 million in career earnings, is just a great blessing. I just take one day at a time and one horse at a time.
Following Red Bluff, I went down to Clovis, Calif., but didn’t have any luck but was able to get back home in time for Easter Sunday with the family. Now, I am just working on getting in shape and getting ready for the summer run of rodeos. Mike Beers is coming in a week or so and we will be practicing and getting ready to head to Redding, Calif., and then off to Canada for some rodeos where I will team rope and ride bareback horses. Be sure to check my rodeo schedule page to see where we will be next.
Between the Red Bluff and Clovis Rodeos, my son Charlie and I took a day and headed to Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, just outside of Bend, Ore., for a day of snowboarding. Charlie had never been and really wanted to go. Kate’s mom has worked on the ski patrol or the last 20 or so years and she and Kate’s stepdad wanted to have us come for a day. So Charlie and I went and had a blast. Charlie took lessons for the first few hours of the day and then we took off on our own. He did a really great job. I hadn’t been skiing since the millennium and luckily I was able to pick it right back up.
The kids are getting geared up for their Pee Wee rodeo season up here. The first one of the season was this past weekend and they did a great job. Charlie competed in bareback and steer riding and goat tying. Laura did barrels, poles, goat tying and calf riding and Trey was in the goat tail un-decorating. They all placed and won a few events as well. It was a lot of fun. Laura was also busy with her role as queen and will be busy this summer with that as well. She is so excited about the year.
I noticed that there is now a new PRCA Stock Stat program on www.prorodeo.com, so I am looking forward to checking it out and seeing what stats are available. I think it will be a great tool for all of us roughstock riders as we can now make even more informed decisions regarding our stock draw. I will test it out and report on it the next time I write.
I hope you all got a chance to see my behind the scenes tour at Bloomer Trailers. If not be sure to check out our video blog on YouTube -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4M4QOoUpRM.
It is impressive to see how these great trailers that we depend on are assembled. As you will see in the video, it all starts with a strong foundation. For those that are regular viewers of our video blogs be looking for new episodes coming this summer when the Pride of the PRCA group are back together once again traveling America’s highways.
Until then take it easy and be blessed,
Bobby Mote
Four-time and reigning PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider
