LOVINGTON, N.M. – CoBurn Bradshaw wasn’t exactly born to be a saddle bronc rider, but you can’t tell that by the way he rides.

On Thursday night, he matched moves with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Cowtown for 84 points to take the lead at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. It was a nice change of pace for the cowboy who might finally see some success in this southeastern New Mexico community.

“I’ve been here the last two years and haven’t done any good, so it feels good to be able to have some success here,” said Bradshaw of Beaver, Utah. “I had that horse a few years ago, and he was a little better to ride here than he was in San Angelo (Texas).”

ProRodeo success has come quickly for the 21-year-old cowboy. As a high school star, he finished second at the National High School Finals Rodeo in both 2011 and ’12. A year later, he finished third. As a freshman at Western Texas College in 2014, he earned the national championship.

Last year, he not only earned the Rookie of the Year title but also qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, where he earned just shy of $230,000 over 10 nights in Las Vegas. Bradshaw won the second and fifth rounds, placed in four others and finished with the second highest 10-round cumulative score.

Not bad for a cowboy who didn’t start riding broncs until a few years ago, when he was beginning high school. He married into the famed bronc riding family, the Wrights, which consists of two-time world champion Cody Wright and his younger brothers, Jesse (the 2012 titlist) and Spencer (2014). Another brother, Jake, is a four-time NFR qualifier.

Meanwhile Cody’s oldest son, Rusty, earned his first trip to Las Vegas last year with Bradshaw; in 2015, Rusty Wright finished third in the final world standings, while Bradshaw placed fourth.

“I was good friends with Rusty in high school,” Bradshaw said.

In fact, that’s how Bradshaw met his wife, Rebecca; Rusty asked Bradshaw to take his aunt to prom. They were married in 2013.

Now he travels the rodeo trail chasing gold-buckle dreams with his in-laws. So far this season, he has earned more than $90,000 on the backs of bucking horses.

He’d like to add more from the Lea County Fair and Rodeo.

Lea County Fair and Rodeo
Lovington, N.M.
Aug. 10-13
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Caleb Bennett, 82 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Lady Gaga; 2. Troy Vaira, 80; 3. (tie) Jordan Petlon and Caine Riddle, 71; 5. Luke Creasy, 64; 6. John Killian, 62; no other qualified rides.

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Shayde Etherton, 3.7 seconds; 2. Wyatt Jurney, 3.9; 3. (tie) Monty Eakin and Matt Reeves, 4.1; 5. Dean Gorsuch, 4.3; 6. (tie) Mike Garcia and Rowdy Parrott, 4.8; 8. Aaron Vosler, 5.2. Second round leaders: 1. Shayde Etherton, 3.8 seconds; 2. Dean Gorsuch, 3.9; 3. Wyatt Lindsay, 4.3; 4. (tie) Coltin Hill and Ryan Jarrett, 4.4; 6. (tie) Jace Melvin and Jake Rinehart, 4.5; 8. Gary Gilbert, 4.6. Average leaders: 1. Shayde Etherton, 7.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Dean Gorsuch, 8.2; 3. Matt Reeves, 9.3; 4. Wyatt Lindsay, 10.2; 5. Heath Thomas, 10.3; 6. Billy Bugenig, 11.0; 7. Sam Powers, 11.1; 8. (tie) Coltin Hill and Rowdy Parrott, 11.4.

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Ryle Smith, 8.2 seconds; 2. Westyn Hughes, 8.8; 3. Sterling Smith, 8.9; 4. Kooper Saiz, 9.2; 5. Shank Edwards, 9.3; 6. Ryan Jarrett, 9.6; 7. (tie) Bryson Sechrist and Marcos Costa, 9.7. Second round leaders: 1. Hunter Herrin, 7.6 seconds; 2. Marcos Costa, 8.3; 3. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Connor Hall, 8.7; 5. Reese Riemer, 8.8; 6. Timber Moore 8.9; 7. Sterling Smith, 9.0; 8. Cimarron Boardman, 9.1. Average leaders: 1. Sterling Smith, 17.9 seconds on two runs; 2. Marcos Costa, 18.0; 3. Westyn Hughes, 18.2; 4. Reese Reimer, 18.8; 5. Timber Moore, 20.1; 6. Connor Hall, 20.7; 7. Kooper Saiz, 21.4; 8. JoJo LeMond, 23.4.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. CoBurn Bradshaw, 84 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Cowtown; 2. Cole Elshere, 79; 3. Doug Aldridge and Leon Fountain, 78 points; 5. Zeke Thurston, 77; 6. Ryan Mackenzie, 75; 7. Jesse James Kirby, 73; 8. Taos Muncy, 65.

Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Bryce Davis and J.P. Wickett, 9.5 seconds; 3. Shay Good, 9.6; 4. (tie) Cody Lee and Jess Tierney, 10.1; 6. Steve Wolf, 10.4. Second round leaders: 1. Rocky Patterson, 8.7 seconds; 2. J.P. Wickett, 9.6; 3. (tie) Jason Evans and Marty Jones, 9.8; 5. Landon McClaugherty, 9.9; 6. Roger Branch, 10.7. Third round leaders: 1. Garrett Hale, 9.1 seconds; 2. Chet Herren, 10.2; 3. (tie) J.B. Whatley and Jess Tierney, 10.5; 5. Troy Tillard, 10.6; 6. Brodie Poppino, 11.1. Average leaders: 1. J.P. Wickett, 32.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Shay Good, 32.8; 3. Jess Tierney, 33.4; 4. Jason Evans, 33.8; 5. Bryce Davis, 34.6; 6. Roger Branch, 37.2.

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Luke Brown/Jake Long, 4.4 seconds; 2. Tyler Wade/Dakota Kirchenschlager, 4.7; 3. Coleman Proctor/Billie Jack Saebens, 4.8; 4. Billy Bob Brown/Logan Medlin4.9; 5. Colby Lovell/Travis Graves, 5.0; 6. Rhen Richard/Cole Davison, 5.2; 7. JoJo LeMond/Kory Koontz, 5.4; 8. Manny Egusquiza Jr./Daniel Braman, 5.5. Second round leaders: 1. Garrett Rogers/Jake Minor, 4.3 seconds; 2. Nathan McWhorter/Dustin Davis, 4.4; 3. Cody Snow/Dugan Kelly, 4.6; 4. Luke Brown/Jake Long, 4.6; 5. J.D. Yates/Trey Yates, 4.9; 6. Coleman Proctor/Billie Jack Saebens, 5.1, 7. Billy Bob Brown/Logan Medlin, 5.2; 8. (tie) Landon McClaugherty/Joel Galvan Jr. and Casey Gattis/Kirt Jones, 9.3. Average leaders: 1. Luke Brown/Jake Long, 9.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Coleman Proctor/Billie Jack Saebens, 9.9; 3. Billy Bob Brown/Logan Medlin, 10.1; 4. Cody Snow/Dugan Kelly, 11.5; 5. Garrett Rogers/Jake Minor, 4.3 seconds on one run; 6. Nathan McWhorter/Dustin Davis, 4.4; 7. Tyler Wade/Dakota Kirchenschlager, 4.7; 8. J.D. Yates/Trey Yates, 4.9.

Barrel racing leaders: 1. Sarah Rose McDonald, 17.36 seconds; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 17.50; 3. Taylor Homuth, 17.51; 4. Emily Miller, 17.61; 5. Katelyn Scott, 17.90; 6. Sherry Cervi, 17.97; 7. Kortney Cleveland, 18.03; 8. Tierra Gray, 18.10; 9. Brandee Hawkins, 18.12; 10. Candie Miner, 18.20; 11. Aimee Kay, 18.23; 12. Sabra O’Quinn, 18.33; 13. Samantha Smith, 18.40; 14. Jenna Duhon, 18.45; 15. (tie) Shy-Anne Jarrett and Ilyssa Glass, 18.49.

Bull riding leaders: 1. Brennon Eldred, on Salt River Rodeo’s Silence Reigns, and Tim Bingham, on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Spotted Fever, 87 points; 3. Jordan Wacey Spears, 86; 4. Shane Proctor, 85.5; 5. Cole Melancon, 81; 6. Justin Hendrix, 80.5; 7. (tie) Rocky McDonald and Dylan Vick, 80.