Bradlee Miller rides Championship Pro Rodeo’s Sweet Tequila for 86 points to finish fifth during Thursday’s first round of the National Finals Rodeo at Las Vegas.
(PRCA PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN)

 

LAS VEGAS – The National Finals Rodeo offers tremendous challenges that cowboys and cowgirls must overcome.

Bradlee Miller experienced a new one on Thursday’s opening night when he arrived at the Thomas & Mack Center for his rematch with Championship Pro Rodeo’s Sweet Tequila.

“I was the last person to get on Sweet Tequila,” Miller said of that September ride in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he posted an 86.75 marking on the Oklahoma horse. “The funny thing was I’ve been on that horse, but I had never been on a horse in any of the gear other than my spurs today.”

Bareback riders are decked out, some of it in the style necessary to ride bucking horses, and some of it out of necessity. The riggin’ is important, made specifically for each man. So is the neck roll, which protects the spine as much as possible during the intense action of a ride. Miller didn’t arrive at the arena with everything.

“I have brand new chaps, a brand new glove, a new rigging, and then I happened to forget my arm brace (which is attached on his right riding arm), which is possibly the second most important thing I have,” he said. “Thankfully, (fellow bareback rider) Mason Clements had one that was close to fit, so I guess it worked.”

It did. Miller and Sweet Tequila danced across the arena dirt for 86 points, which was good enough for fifth place in the first round, worth $9,463. The cowboy increased his season earnings to $226,937 and is fourth in the world standings.

“That horse is awesome,” said Miller, 22, of Huntsville, Texas. “If you look at the stats, a lot of people had trouble this year, but that horse has had a different trip with me the last two times than it has with anybody else. It was nearly identical to Sioux Falls.

“I knew if I could get ahold of her (with his spurring motion) right out of the chute that we could get her to stay closer to the bucking chutes than he wants to. He wants to be picked up like that, but you just have to ask.”

Cowboys have always used various techniques to get horses to perform, whether it’s vocal calls or coaxing the animal with the heels of their boots. When it comes to bucking horses, the men that ride them utilize those foot skills to make things happen. With half the score coming from how well the bronc performs, it’s a vital piece of any ride.

The ride also set a tone Miller wants to take for the remainder of the 10-day championship.

“The money at this rodeo is unreal to anywhere else we go,” he said. “To win fifth and almost win a $10,000 check, that’s a huge win at a huge rodeo during the regular season.”

There is a lot riding on every go-round performance. Nightly winners will pocket nearly $37,000 in each event. With dollars equaling championship points, every nickel counts, which just adds to the pressure of competing at ProRodeo’s biggest event.

“I was more nervous this year than I was last year,” said Miller, competing in Las Vegas for the second straight season. “Last year when I showed up, I had nothing to lose and everything to prove. After a good performance last year, I feel like I have to do better to achieve my personal goals.”

He’s off on the right foot toward that at this NFR, and he has nine nights to exceed it.