story by Rayne Sherman
Ryan Kent bulldogging at a 2013 steer
wrestling jackpot in Otisville Michigan – Rayne Sherman
Steer wrestler Ryan Kent of Bothwell, Ontario, is a first year member of the Mid States Rodeo Association (MSRA) and has set a goal of qualifying for the Mid States Finals Rodeo this season.
Ryan’s parents, Tom and Cheryl, owned a farm and always had young horses around to ride. “My dad grew up riding colts for his uncle before becoming a farrier. He is real good with young horses and I’ve learned a lot from him,” said Ryan. Ryan began competing in a team penning series Tom ran with a friend when he was 12. “I won the youth championship and worked my way up to winning the pro division. My favorite team penning championship was winning the pro division with my dad. We bought our horses as yearlings, did all the training ourselves, and both horses had won championships by the age of three,” stated Ryan. Once the team penning series ended, Ryan began putting on clinics to teach the basics of team penning and ranch sorting and feels it was a natural progression from penning into rodeo. Ryan also feels the fundamentals of penning like thinking fast, reacting quickly, and reading cattle have helped him be a better hazer and steer wrestler. As a child Ryan attended rodeos with Tom and always enjoyed watching steer wrestling, but he didn’t try the event until 2004 when he attended a school put on by Jim and Charlie Griffin. “Jim and Charlie have been my mentors in the sport and I owe them a lot. I go to their place every spring to tune up before hitting the trail. I have mounted out on their horses in the States and they’ve used mine here,” said Ryan. Ryan started competing in 2006 and has been a member of the RAM Rodeo Series in Canada, the Ontario Rodeo Association, the Canadian Cowboy’s Association and the International Professional Rodeo Association.
Ryan’s team of horses includes his hazing horse, Bobbi, and his bull dogging horse, Sid. Bobbi is 18 and was the horse he was riding when he won the team penning championship with Tom. “I could never replace Bobbi. She has a bigger heart than any horse I know and is still running hard. Sid is 17 and I’ve had him three years. He is a lot of fun and always gets you by. I am blessed with a great team,” said Ryan.
Outside of rodeo, Ryan works full time in his cattle hoof trimming business which Tom started in 1977. Ryan likes to snowmobile and play hockey in the winter. “I enjoy attending different equine events. You can never learn enough from any one event, it’s too limiting. It’s amazing to see what the different breeds are capable of doing. Show jumping and racing are really fun to watch,” said Ryan.
Ryan and his fiancé, Miranda Webber, met at a rodeo several years ago and started dating a year and a half ago. Miranda competes in barrel racing. “Miranda is a wonderful partner who encourages me to do better. The Lord truly blessed me with her,” stated Ryan.
One of Ryan’s goals is to get serious about steer wrestling. He and Tom built a practice pen at his farm and he has purchased practice steers with his travelling partner, Bob McCormick. Ryan also plans to expand his hoof trimming business. “Family is very important and I am really blessed to have their support. It takes a lot of good people to help you along the way,” said Ryan.
