story by Lindsay Humphrey
Not everyone can say they’ve been able to make some sort of living with a rope since they were 15, but that’s exactly the case for Paul Gutierrez. Born in El Paso, Texas, Paul and his family eventually moved north to central Montana where hunting with hounds was just about an everyday activity. That’s where Paul and his sisters were introduced to and took an interest in team roping. “I didn’t come from a ranching or rodeo family, but the stars just happened to align and I got into roping when I was about ten,” said the switch ender from Santa Rosa, New Mexico. “By the time I was in high school, it was just me, my mom and sisters. We were supporting the family through roping, so I was doing a lot of jackpots and amateur rodeos instead of high school rodeos.”
Mark Simon took Paul under his wing and showed him what it took to win at the event. “Mark really helped me progress to a point where I could win and make a living at it. I was blessed to be around great guys who were making the finals, including Mark who qualified in both heading and heeling.” In 2001, Paul headed to New Mexico Junior College on a rodeo scholarship. He qualified for the CNFR both years he was in Hobbs, even finishing second in the nation that first time in Casper. “That same year I was invited to the Timed Events in Guthrie to head and heel for a couple of guys. I was just a dumb college kid, so it was a really cool deal to rope up there.”
There’s been a few different years that Paul has helped at the Timed Events. Along with the college finals, those are some of his favorite rodeo memories to date. “Honestly, it’s all been great. I’ve been blessed to go to so many different places to rope. I’ve been everywhere and met a ton of people and found success in most places. I don’t know if I can pinpoint one favorite time.” Still an avid roper, Paul finds himself pulled in several different directions today. Mostly, by his 6 kids – Kaden, Drew, Kaes, Tae, Teal and Ryat. “They all rope a little, but they’re playing sports now. They can rope and rodeo when they get done.” Paul’s world wouldn’t keep rotating without his wife, Sarah.
“Thank God I have a great wife. She does anything and everything. Without her, none of this would be possible.” Paul’s always been drawn to self-employment. In college, he worked as a hot shot and hauled just about anything that needed to be. Now he’s managing a ranch while also starting up a trucking business with Sarah. “We only have one truck, and we’re trying to do that on the side of ranching. And then rope when I can. I’m taking the winter off to get this company rolling and then get after it again next year.” On top of all that, Sarah and Drew are promoting the family’s stud and getting their breeding program off the ground.
Blessed with more than his fair share of top-notch horsepower, Paul’s had quite a few memorable mounts over the years. “When I was in college, I had a black horse named Rodman who I won almost $400,000 on. Then there’s been Biscuit, Thor and now Peach. We broke her and made her. She’s phenomenal. We’ve always had a job where we could make those horses; maybe on the ranch or in the feedyard, just something where they were always put to work.” Most of those horses were also put to work in the NMRA. “I’ve been going to NMRAs for about 26 years. The association is in a building phase right now. We know everybody and we’re all trying to reach a common goal in the association: we want a great place that our kids can compete at now and in the future.”
