story by Lori O’Harver
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Texas Bronc Riders Association is set to light up the historic Fort Worth Stock Stockyards from beautiful Cowtown Coliseum on October 2. That’s when they bring the top saddle bronc, bareback, cowboy’s and cowgirl’s ranch bronc and kid’s mini bronc and bareback riders to town for a Texas-style, monster bucker showdown. It’s a contest for the ages, with a cause that focuses on the future of young athletes who live to ride the horses who bend to no man’s will.
The TBRA Finals offers non-stop bucking horse action on carefully selected, top performing horses, ponies and mini’s for two performances; a 2 o’clock matinee and again that evening at 7 pm. Fresh horses, same riders competing in both performances in the same building that has hosted some of the all-time bucking horse greats like Midnight and Five Minutes to Midnight.
“The matched bronc rides of the north are constantly sold out and fan favorites,” said Dayrl McElroy, TBRA President. “We’re excited to bring this kind of action to Texas fans and performance horse lovers of all stripes. Once you’ve experienced this, you only want more of it. It’s the best addiction rodeo offers and highly under sold.”
Ladies ranch bronc riding has been growing steadily across the United States since the Lady From Chilliwack, British Columbia’s Kaila Mussell, paved the way into the arena of PRCA saddle bronc riding against the men. Contestants like Montana’s Brittany Miller are tough, serious competitors. Miller will be in town entered with lady bronc riders from Oklahoma and Texas to take on some of the toughest ranch broncs in the south.
Mini bronc and bareback riding for kids is another facet of bronc riding nation that’s seeing big growth and fan support. The TBRA finals will feature this youngest generation of cowboys and cowgirls on some rank ponies and miniature horses that are sure to thrill the crowd and win the hearts of everybody there.
“I’ve spent my life in rodeo and know how the community’s values shaped my character,” said McElroy. “’Long Live Cowboys’ is sure a catchy phrase that makes our hearts swell with pride, but without actively working to promote this culture; develop young talented individuals who are already interested and attract new athletes to the sport, it won’t be around for our children’s children to take pride in.”
McElroy went to work in 2015 to lay the foundation for the Texas Bronc Riders Association. Although the lifespan of a bronc rider’s career is known to have more longevity than their bull riding counterparts, it’s still a career with a certain limit. Once it’s over, riders need to be prepared to earn livings for themselves and their families in other markets. In today’s world, college degrees are vital in the job market. The TBRA’s scholarship opportunities for their membership is a keynote of the organization’s foundation.
For ticket information, please go to
www.stockyardsrodeo.com.
For more information on the TBRA, please visit www.txbroncriders.com
