ProRodeo Sports News - May 4, 2018

EQUINE

Saddle bronc horse Best Hope hangs out at his home, a ranch owned by the Silver Spurs Club in Kenansville, Fla., 45 miles from Kissimmee. Photo courtesy Steve Knowles

“I think we are very fortunate and lucky to have one as good as Best Hope.” Best Hope has a pretty simple rodeo schedule. “He stays in the Southeastern Circuit,” Knowles said. “We just take him to a few rodeos in Florida and we take him to the Southeastern Circuit Finals and of course the National Circuit Finals Rodeo. This year, we are hoping to get him nominated for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.” Some roughstock animals had to make long treks to the Silver Spurs Arena for the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo, but not Best Hope. He lives at a ranch owned by the Silver Spurs Club in Kenansville, Fla., 45 miles fromKissimmee. “He always performs phenomenally there in his home arena, and it was very exciting to see who he was matched up with and win the battle,” Knowles said. “Honestly, I think he is good everywhere he goes. We buck him outdoors at a couple of places and he might even be a touch better when he competes at the outdoor rodeos. He just never fails to perform; not one time have I seen him not buck. He knows when it is time to buck and he enjoys bucking.” Chuck Schmidt, a three-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2011, 2015-16), has been aboard Best Hope twice, winning at the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., the last two years. In February, he had an 84.5-point ride on Best Hope to win $4,935 at the 140th Silver Spurs Rodeo. In 2017, at the 138th Silver Spurs Rodeo he had an 85.5-point ride on the horse to earn $4,907. “He just takes a couple of strides out there and he really gets some air time,” Schmidt said. “You can’t take him lightly. You have to have your game face on. He takes a lot of rein and he kicks every jump, and he really helps you show off and ride better.” Joey Sonnier III, who won the average at the 2017 RAM Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo, praised Best Hope. Sonnier, a veteran of the Southeastern Circuit, has seen Best Hope in action. “That has been a bucker for a long time, and he has PLAYING IN HIS BACKYARD

The last time Silver Spurs Club had horses compete at the Wrangler NFR was 2003 with saddle bronc horses Dippin’ Alma and Lorena. “I hope he (Best Hope) gets to the NFR because he is running out of time,” Knowles said. “The unfortunate thing for us is he’s a gelding, so there’s no way to reproduce him. It would mean the world to our stock contracting outfit if Best Hope was chosen to

“I hope he (Best Hope) gets to the NFR because he is running out of time. The unfortunate thing for us is he’s a gelding, so there’s no way to reproduce him.”

shown glimpses of greatness,” Sonnier said. “But, it seems like since the beginning of the 2017 season that horse has been great every trip. That horse jumps way high in the air and kicks hard and has a lot of timing. Everywhere I go, I want to get on that horse. I can’t wait to draw him. That horse is so athletic and he’s in such great shape.” Knowles said Best Hope is standoffish. “You sure can’t touch him,” he said. “He will stay his distance and he gets a little nervous in the chute. He’s not dangerous by any means, but you have to be easy and take your time with him. I always try and get guys to sit on him beforehand, get ready a little early and that seems to relax him. When he relaxes is when he really bucks hard. In the pasture, he stays away, and he has a few buddies and they stay together all the time. He runs with a mare who is the leader of the group. He’s not mean around any other animals or horses. We don’t baby him or anything like that, he is just turned out with all the regular horses.” Although the Silver Spurs Club has had a handful of bulls compete in the Wrangler NFR in recent years, that hasn’t been the case for its bucking horses.

-– STEVE KNOWLES

compete at the NFR. “We are not like a typical stock contractor. We are a not-for-profit company, so everything we make goes back in our community where we live, like (to) charities and education. That just gives us more money to help. It would mean the world if Best Hope gets the opportunity to perform on the NFR stage.” Sonnier believes Best Hope has Wrangler NFR talent. “If I was picking (horses for the NFR) he would dang sure be on the list,” Sonnier said. Schmidt agreed. “I know if I drew that horse at the NFR I would be pretty happy,” he said.

ProRodeo Sports News 5/4/18

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