Four 1.9-second runs garnered a total of $14,509 between three rodeos the first weekend in June, with four ladies taking the lion’s share at Old Fort Days in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Home of the Navajo Nation in Window Rock, Arizona, and Mount Pleasant Rodeo in Mount Pleasant, Texas.
Hannah Hughes and Aspen Miller split the win at Old Fort Days with runs made on Wednesday night—setting the stage for a weekend that consistently saw 1.9s.
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Old Fort Days Rodeo, Fort Smith, AR
Aspen Miller
Sam Houston University rodeo team member Miller rode heel-horse-turned-breakaway gelding “Jigsaw” to the Old Fort Days Co-Championship, earning $3,579.
“He’s still pretty green to the loud noises but he handled Fort Smith amazingly for how loud it was in there,” Miller, 20, said. “He was raised by Madison Outhier’s family—LA Waters Quarter Horses. We bought him as a 3-year-old and he’s 8 now. He was being heeled on by my dad but had to step it up when I crippled my good horse at Houston. He’s taking to it really well.”
With two years of ProRodeo under her belt, Miller has a more mature view of rodeo competition than she used to.
“I used to think I had to win them all,” Miller said. “Now I focus on doing my job, letting the good calves come to me and taking advantage of them.”
The junior majoring in general business is headed to the College National Finals Rodeo next week. This summer she’s hauling with Resistol Rookie contender Bailey Currie.
Hannah Hughes
Missouri’s Hughes roped right after Miller—matching her 1.9-second run that would eventually pay $3,579.
“I drew the calf Jordan Jo had, so I knew I could be fast on him because she was 2.0 on him,” Hughes, 23, said. “My goal was to see my start—because he was a little softer of a calf—and be ready when he headed right. I did not think I got out, I pushed it pretty hard.”
Hughes rode 25-year-old Frenchmans Effort, known as “Effie,” to the win.
“I’ve been riding her since I was in eighth grade,” Hughes said. “She was definitely bred to be a barrel horse, but we’ve always clicked in the breakaway. I’ve got her number now, and it’s easy.”
A member of the Great Lakes Circuit, Hughes is grateful for the money earned at Fort Smith—good enough for some fuel and entry fees. She plans to circuit rodeo and hit larger rodeos within driving distance of her home base in Fort Scott, Kansas. She’s entered at the Woodward Elks Rodeo in Oklahoma next weekend, a 6-hour drive.
Home of the Navajo Nation, Window Rock, AZ
Josie Conner took home one of the largest lump sums paid out in ProRodeo this past weekend with her 1.9-second run garnering $4,117. The Home of the Navajo Nation added $10,000 for breakaway ropers this year, drawing ladies from across the country to try their hand at the one header.
“Window Rock was a great rodeo,” Conner said. “I had the second run on my calf but there was no video—but I told me was medium and ran straight. I just wanted to treat him like he was going to be good… and boy was he! Right off to the right, I nailed the barrier and Dutch did the rest.”
Conner said she hopes the win is a sign of what’s to come this summer, noting her teammate “Dutch” feels excellent.
Mt. Pleasant Rodeo, TX
Resistol Rookie of the Year leader Shiloh Napp won the Mt. Pleasant Rodeo in Texas with a 1.9-second run, good for $3,294. She did it on San Juan Ranch-bred mare “Evelyn.”
“Evelyn is so solid,” Napp, 33, said. “She was perfect. I feel like this run just gave me some great momentum to hit the ground running for the summer.”
