story by Lily Weinacht
Titan Quigg is a tie-down and team roper in the AJRA, while also serving as the ribbon roping director and mugging for whomever needs a partner. The 14-year-old from Rankin, Texas, joined the AJRA when he was 5 and won several world and reserve world titles in the 8 & Under division. He also won the world in goat tying, tie-down roping, optional roping and the all-around in the 9 – 12 division. “We’ve always gone to AJRA rodeos – it’s a sixty-five-year-old association that originated here in West Texas,” says Titan’s dad, Raymond Quigg. He’s also a team roper and serves on the AJRA Board of Directors. “They have lots of different arenas and set ups. There are narrow pens and short and long and wide. Other associations rodeo in the same place every time, but I don’t think that prepares our youth for the next level.”
Titan, who also competes in the WTRA and THSRA Region II – recently winning the tie-down roping and rookie of the year titles in his region – pushes himself to the next level daily. Last year in junior high, he won the state all-around title and competed at the NJHFR in team roping, breakaway roping, and goat tying. “It was a great experience, and it was fun meeting different kinds of people from different lifestyles,” says Titan, whose favorite event is tie-down roping. “I like that it’s just you and your horse, and it’s fast.” He ropes both ends at the AJRA and heels at the high school rodeos, competing with Jack Griffin in THSRA, and Cinch Moody and Hunter Hortenstine in AJRA.
“I look up to my parents, Raymond and Ceneesa – they’ve helped me every step of the way and gotten me everywhere I’ve wanted to go,” says Titan. He ropes daily and goes to the county arena to practice several times a week. “My number one calf horse is Smarty, and when you’re in the arena, he’s all business, but when he’s out of the arena, he’s always in your business,” Titan says with a laugh. Barely a week after competing on Smarty at the NJHFR last summer, the gelding needed colic surgery, which removed two large enteroliths. Titan started roping on Smarty again in January, and another team roping horse is Moonie, who moved from home to home until he was gifted to the Quiggs by a local rancher. “He went to his first rodeo in April and did real well, and the other horse Titan rides is Pancho,” says Raymond. “He’s from Reed Weber Performance Horses out of Oklahoma, and he had about one hundred and sixty days on him when we started rodeoing with him in March since Smarty had a small injury. We’ve stepped up with him and he’s doing good.” The Quigg family also has calves, steers, and an Australian Shepherd/poodle mix, Waylon, who is well known in the rodeo family.
Titan finished his freshman year at Rankin High School in May, where he especially enjoys English. He also runs track and plays football and basketball with the Rankin Red Devils. He’s shown sheep in 4-H since first grade, and this year he’s showing Dorpers (Hair Sheep). When he’s not with his horses, Titan enjoys fishing and hunting, going to a team roping partner’s home to hunt. “We travel a lot to rodeos, but we try to have some sort of short vacation once rodeo is over,” says Raymond. “We also spend a lot of time with family.”
“My goal for this year is to make it to the short round at state finals,” Titan finishes, “and another goal is striving to get better every time I’m out competing.”
Titan would like to thank Tres Rios Silver (Brett & Kelee Tatum), Twisted J (Bayli Johnson), Winners Edge (Cleat Stephens), R&K Cattle (Rick and Karen Shular) and Cauthorn & Griffin Ranch Insurance (Sy Griffin), along with Brock Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Michelle, Dr. Dustin and Dr. Kerry who keep his horses in top condition.
