story by Lindsay Humphrey
“To me, there’s nothing better than pulling back on two feet; it’s almost euphoric,” said Colter Snook who’s only been heeling for the last two years. “I’m a much better header because I’ve done it most of my life. I just started high school rodeo last year [2021]. Someone asked me to heel for them and I said yes.” Heeling may have been a happy accident for Colter, but his continued progression in the sport is by his own design. “There are days where it’s miserable outside and I don’t really want to go rope the dummy or ride horses,” said the 18-year-old from Ford, Kansas. “I want to be a better roper, so I do it anyways. That work ethic has been beneficial in other areas of life too.”
This is only Colter’s second season with the KHSRA. Before high school, Colter was mostly entering jackpots and amateur rodeos. “High school rodeo offers the opportunity to compete in heeling and be in a rodeo situation where I can do something other than heading. I need that experience in a rodeo setting if I want to rodeo in college.” Going to nationals this past summer was a unique experience that Colter would like to replicate in this season. Even though the final outcome wasn’t all that favorable, Colter wouldn’t change a thing about his time in Wyoming. “The first few days I was kind of feeling intimidated because so many guys there roped so well. After some tough luck in the first perf, we had a few days until we were up again. I decided to have some fun.”
Colter got a scholarship by winning a jackpot and made some new friendships along the way. “We weren’t in the average, so I wasn’t nervous for the second round. I was just having a good time. I heeled that sucker quick, and we would’ve had a good time except for a broken barrier. I did the best I could’ve, and I was happy with everything by the time we came home.” By the end of the KHSRA season last spring, Colter was setting himself up to make the KPRA finals when injury took out his head horse. His dad – Troy – however, did make the finals this year, in the 40/40 team roping. “My dad’s a solid header and I spend a lot of time roping with him. My mom (Brandee) used to rope with him at home but she’s a rank barrel racer, so she spends most of her time doing that.”
Having parents who grew up in rodeo has certainly been to Colter’s advantage. “I’ve always been on really nice horses thanks to my parents. They put me in situations where I have the best chance to succeed. When I wanted to start heeling, they were right there to help me learn and get everything I needed to do it.”
Together for just over a year now, Colter heels on 15-year-old Colonel. While the red roan gelding could come around the corner in his sleep, he can be a little froggy when the weather turns chilly. “It was getting close to Thanksgiving last year when I was first trying him and for the first 6 or 7 rides, he bucked. He can be a little cold backed even now. He’s just cowboy broke so he can spin a hole in the ground, but he’ll spook at a trash bag.” Despite the quirks, Colonel takes care of Colter when it’s time to chase heels. “This horse has taken good care of me and given me the chance to focus on my roping because I don’t need to be worried about the horse under me.”
