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An offer that Savanah Reeves couldn't refuse: Lindsey Sears offered her friend and fellow barrel racer the choice of her best horses for last year's NFRs.
CHEYENNE, Jul 27, 2010 (Wyoming Tribune-Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Savanah Reeves will never forget last August.
For how tough it was on this Cross Plains, Texas barrel racer but also for how humbled she felt.
It was then that Reeves had to put down her horse, Moon. She was devastated. She didn't want to rodeo the rest of the year.
Until her good friend and fellow barrel racer Lindsay Sears made her an offer.
Sears had been in Reeves' position and wanted to do what she could for her friend. Sears also knows that chances to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo don't come that often, and Reeves was in a position to do that.
So Sears gave her the choice between her two horses, Martha and Mo, to ride the rest of the year.
Martha is Sears' phenomenal horse that led her to the 2008 world title. Mo is right behind Martha on the pecking order.
The gesture knocked Reeves to the floor.
"It was amazing," she said. "Most people don't go out of their way to help people like that, especially competing against one another. It definitely showed what type of person she really is."
Once Reeves got over the initial shock of that act, it took her a couple of days to make her decision.
She decided to ride Mo.
"That just made our friendship grow to what it is now," Reeves said. "That just does not happen every day. It just shows what an irreplaceable friend she is."
There are few, if any, world champions who would make this offer to a competitor. Let alone an offer that includes your moneymaker.
"It was just one of those deals where I had the finals made at that point and time," said Sears, who makes her home in Nanton, Alberta, Canada. "I knew (Reeves) was at the bottom, and she was struggling to get there.
"I just got this feeling when I found out that I needed to call and offer her horses. I offered what I had, and I said, 'I have Martha and Mo. Take your pick.' So she picked Mo. I don't know if that hurt my feelings or not. I'm just kidding."
Unfortunately for Reeves, it wasn't enough to qualify her for the NFR. Still, it kept her from quitting. And it got Mo more experience competing.
"(Reeves) rode him awesome," Sears said. "Better than I could have ever ride him. She did me a favor in taking my horse and seasoning him for me. It helped her."
Looking back, Sears said she was thrilled her friend didn't give up.
"(Reeves) ended up 16th, which was heartbreaking for us," Sears said. "But I think she was still satisfied that she went all year. She did an awesome job of getting on a new horse at the end of the year. She's a great jockey. She made the best of what she had."
Reeves was rewarded for that resolve a few weeks ago when she won the Calgary Stampede. Fittingly, Sears finished right behind her in second.
"I started out with a young horse this year," Reeves said. "She's done really well. But she's still a colt and makes some mistakes.
"I bought back an older horse from my parents that I used in the past. And I got second on him in Calgary last year, and I won Calgary on him this year.
"It was fitting that Lindsay finished second. I stayed with her that weekend, and our goal was to win first and second. And we accomplished that, so it was a good week."
After their second runs on Monday at Frontier Park Arena, both are in position to come back for Championship Sunday.
Reeves clocked an 18.13-second run; Sears got a 17.40.
"I'm not really going to make the NFR this year," Reeves said. "I didn't rodeo much this winter. My goal is just to win enough to get into the winter rodeos next year and then see how it goes from there."
Family affair
Rodeo is as much a family sport as you will find. Monday was an example of that.
Tie-down roper Tuf Cooper competed with his uncle, Stran Smith, and his first cousin, Stetson Vest.
Cooper holds the lead after the first go-round with his 12.7 run.
He's the son of Roy Cooper, who holds the lead after the first go in steer roping with a 13.9.
Wyoming cowpokes
Clayton Savage from Casper had the best day amongst Cowboy State competitors for Monday's rodeo.
Savage scored an 81-point bull ride.
Wheatland's Tyler Willis recorded a 75; Douglas' Kyle Joss was tossed.
In the saddle broncs, Blaze and Colt Hamaker from Centennial both scored 69s.
In steer roping, Gillette's Gib Bell didn't record a time.
To see more of Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.wyomingnews.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne
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