Paige Emmons came away with $35,000 in winnings for her 2.19-second time in the Hooey Jr. Patriot 15-and-Under breakaway roping, her biggest win ever.
“I went in there, backed in the box, told myself I needed to see a move, saw it and threw it,” Emmons describe matter-of-factly. “Big moments like this used to get to me, but now I just take the same run every time. Tonight, I was just telling myself to breathe and do my best.”
Emmons’ equine partner is gray mare “Lucy,” who she says matches her in “fiery spirit.”
“We act the same,” Emmons, 16, said. “She tries to kick people, she bites, but she’s really competitive. She’s very fast across the line, fast going to the calf and stops good. She can do short or long setups.”
Rattler Rope added $15,000 to the Patriot Breakaway Ropings; $5,000 in each division.
Using Lucy’s athletic abilities, Emmons neatly looped the black beef calf in a time that couldn’t be caught. Her experience with a rope comes from long hours in the practice pen, where she also prepares for goat tying and barrel racing.
“In practice I try to rope every one correct,” Emmons said. “I’ll rope one or two fast, but my [priority] is correctness. And then I ride my [rodeo] horses and keep them freed up.”
