LAS VEGAS – Miss Congeniality has been named the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s saddle bronc riding horse of the year two times.

On Monday night during the fifth round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Cort Scheer of Elsmere, Neb., got his chance to match moves with the outstanding Powder River Rodeo bucking mare. It paid off to the tune of $10,541 for the first-time NFR qualifier.

“I’ve seen that horse a couple of times this year, and I was dang sure happy to have drawn her,” Scheer said, referring to the computerized match system that pits cowboy vs. animal. “She’s definitely one of the best horses out there, and I was happy with her. She dang sure bucked.”

That’s part of the game at ProRodeo’s championship. The top 15 contestants in each event at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the NFR, and the top animals are selected by the cowboys that ride them throughout the year. Miss Congeniality has been to the NFR several years and won the year-end halter in 2005 and 2007.

But she’s not the only great bucking horse in Vegas. Scheer has been tested through the first half of the championship, and his talent and mindset will be further challenged over the remaining five rounds.

“I haven’t been too impressed with my markout,” Scheer said, referring to bronc riders starting the ride with their feet over the points of the animal’s front shoulders, something that sets the rhythm of the spurring motion for the every cowboy that rides a bucking horse.

“I feel like I could be riding better, so we’ll just go out there and keep working on it.”

Monday’s ride was the second time Scheer has placed at this year’s NFR – he’s already earned $17,794.

“Shoot, I’m having the time of my life,” he said. “This is what you dream of when you rodeo.”