Cody Thornton competing at the USTRC FInals 2015 - Brenda Allen Photography

Written by: Teri Edwards

On the Friday before Thanksgiving in 2015, Cody Thornton was in the roping pen training an outside horse. He had already headed ten steers and was getting ready to throw his rope on number eleven. As he stood to throw, without warning, his horse buried his head and bucked, hard. And Cody landed, hard. After spending a night sick from pain he ended up at an Urgent Care clinic the following morning where he learned he had fractured his C5 vertebrae. The injury resulted in two rods, four screws, and his C4 and C5 vertebrae being fused together. After spending seven weeks recuperating, Cody started back riding.
Cody grew up in Huntsville, Texas where he was raised roping and catching wild cows. He started team roping about the age of five. While growing up he went to high school rodeos and earning a rodeo scholarship. Cody graduated from Sam Houston University with a degree in General Agriculture and a minor in Management.
For the six years following college Cody chose to train horses, riding up to 13 per month. Putting his degree to good use Cody now manages the Steinhauser’s Feed Store in Navasota, Texas, where they carry just about everything including a full line of feed, ranch supplies, and even home décor. Steinhausers has total of eleven stores located in southeastern Texas.
As a #9 heeler, Cody enjoys rodeoing on the weekends and giving roping lessons. When he’s not working or roping, you can usually find him spending time in the woods hog hunting with his friends and family.
Cody’s dad, Lynn Thornton, is a farrier in south Texas and shoes some of the best barrel horses in the country. His mom, Tamera Gann, is the City Manager of Huntsville, Texas.
Cody owns and lives on 20 acres next to his sister and brother-in-law, Kassie and Chad White. He spends much of his time with them and their two sons, Cougar and Riggins.

How much do you practice?
Three or four times a week.
Do you make your own horses?
Yes.
Who were your roping (rodeo) heroes?
Clay O’Brien Cooper, Leo Camarillo.
Who do you respect most in the world?
The good Lord for sure. My grandpa and my sister.
Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
My sister.
If you had a day off what would you like to do?
Go hog hunting.
Favorite movie?
Lonesome Dove and Where the Red Fern Grows.
What’s the last thing you read?
The Bible.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Caring, loyal, hard working.
What makes you happy?
Being in the country.
What makes you angry?
Being in the city.
If you were given 1 million dollars, how would you spend it?
Buy a ranch.
What is your best quality – your worst?
Best quality is I’m very honest. Worst quality is being too independent.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Having a nice piece of property with a nice herd of cows.

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