7-21 Pages for Bryan

Ponoka Stampede – Ponoka, Alberta
“This is awesome,” said Simpson, a native of
Ponoka. “Not only is this my hometown rodeo, but
it is the biggest rodeo of the year in Canada. So, to
have success there is always one of the best things of
the year you can do for yourself.”
This was Simpson’s third Ponoka title as he
also split top honors in 2010 with Klay White
and won the title outright in 2011 with John
Robertson.
Buhler, meanwhile, was soaking in his
inaugural Ponoka victory.
“This means a lot to me, especially being from
Canada (Arrowwood),” he said. “It’s even more
special to win this because last year we came back
high team and I roped a leg. I let it get away last
year, so we were glad to close on it this year.”
Simpson and Buhler left Ponoka after each
earned $7,291. That payday helped Simpson move
into ninth in the July 11 WEATHER GUARD®
PRCA World Standings, and Buhler to 11th place.
“We just kind of watched the rest of the field
(in the showdown) and we wanted to rope the steer
we drew the best we could,” said Simpson, 29. “We
wanted to take a fairly aggressive start because we
didn’t want to make mistakes trying to be too safe
that would cost you time on the clock.”
Although the 29-year-old Buhler wanted to
depart Ponoka a champ, he was keeping things in
perspective. Simpson and Buhler qualified for the
showdown by finishing second in the average with a
20.0-second time on three head.
“There was only one team to go after us in the showdown, so my mindset
was just focused on getting the job done,” Buhler said. “I wasn’t going to take a
dumb shot to try and win first.”
Simpson was riding his trustworthy horse Frasier, 20.
“I’ve ridden him every time I’ve been to Ponoka,” Simpson said. “I’ve
had that horse since he was 4 years old. I bought him for practically nothing.
I used him all through high school as a calf horse and a heel horse and when I
started heading, he was the horse I had so he got to go. I’ve used him every year
I’ve made the Canadian Finals and I used him last year at the NFR. He’s kind
of like putting on that old baseball glove. He’s reliable and easy. He’s a little
smaller horse, but for that Ponoka run, he can run up to the steers and then
slow down easy and everything he does works well there.”
Buhler was aboard Rick James, 16, in Ponoka. He also has 8-year-old
Fabio and 6-year-old Truman in his stable.
“I used Rick last year at the NFR and he’s been my main mount since I
went steady heeling,” Buhler said. “Last year, I rode Fabio through the winter
and summer and I got on Rick in August for the rest of the regular season and
the Finals. Fabio had colic surgery back in January and he’s just getting back
now, and I also have Truman. I don’t ever claim Rick to be like a show horse,
but he’s damn sure gritty enough to help you get the job done.”
The 2016 season was truly magical for Simpson and Buhler, but Buhler
acknowledged it didn’t change his focus for this season.
“I’m not big on the proving deal,” Buhler said. “I have my goals set and I
want to just make a living with my rope, I’m not about going back and showing
everyone I can do it again. If it happened again that would be awesome, but I
try and stay on the next steer. The next steer is the most important one.”
A year ago, Buhler did turn some heads with his beard, and he’s still
sporting the abundant facial hair.
“I come from a long line of beard growers, and I like it,” he said. “I’ve
never been a real fan of shaving, so I’m staying with it.”
Simpson would love to see himself and Buhler get the opportunity to
defend their gold buckles in December in Vegas.
“Getting to compete again for that life-changing money would be
unreal,” Simpson said. “There are guys who talk about being there 20 times or
more, so to be able to get back there again – not so much to prove anything,
but to have the chance to keep paying our bills and stay on this path, so we
don’t have to find another career – would be great.”
Mike Copeman photo
Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston had an 87.75-point ride on Northcott-
Macza’s Get Smart to win the four-man showdown at the Ponoka
Stampede. Thurston earned $9,166 at Ponoka.
Complete results on Page 49
TIE-DOWN ROPING
1. Jason Schaffer ....................... 8.6 sec.
2. Cory Solomon ................................ 9.1
3. Tyson Durfey ................................ 10.3
4. Stetson Vest ................................. 18.3
BARREL RACING
1. Carman Pozzobon ............ 17.626 sec.
2. Taylor Manning ........................ 17.662
3. Jaime Hinton ............................ 17.707
4. Lynette Brodoway .................... 17.820
BULL RIDING*
1. Garrett Smith ...... 175.5 pts. on two head
2. Joe Frost .................................... 169.5
3. Wacey Finkbeiner ....................... 168.5
4. Marcos Gloria ........................... 166.25
*No qualified rides were made in the
four-man showdown, thus Smith
was declared the winner.
ProRodeo.com ProRodeo Sports News 7/21/2017 35