BIG SPRING, Texas – It’s been 20 years since River Boat Annie burst onto the rodeo scene as one of the sport’s top bucking horses.
She was a standout, the one the cowboys wanted to try. Known for her power, she was the driving force for many contestants on their way to championships. In 2007, she was named the reserve bareback horse of the year. She was selected to perform at the National Finals Rodeo 11 times.
Now 23, her job is making and raising bucking babies. She last bucked in Las Vegas in 2014. The next year, her first standout colt, Painted River, followed suit, and countless others have kept the legacy rolling.
Bareback rider Tim Murphy got to test that line of genetics and found it to his liking during Friday’s second performance of the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo. He rode Rockin The Boat for 81 points and holds the lead heading into Saturday’s final night.
“Kade Berry got on that horse in Bay City (Texas) at the beginning of the year and was 82 points,” said Murphy, 26, of Cleveland, Texas. “I knew it was going to be good. I’d never seen a video of it, but it’s a colt from River Boat Annie, which is a pretty famous bucking horse from back in the day. It had good genetics, so I was expecting good things for sure.
“She’s a pretty horse. She’s big and a little bit strong.”
She and Murphy made things happen inside the historic Rodeo Bowl. The east Texas cowboy has played in that arena a lot over his lifetime. He competed at Western State College in nearby Snyder, Texas, which is an hour northeast of Big Spring. The Howard County Community College rodeo team conducted its annual rodeo in the same complex. Since finishing his education, Murphy has continued to chase his rodeo dreams across the Lone Star State and beyond.
“I’ve rode in this arena more times that I can count on my two hands,” he said. “I’ve watched this rodeo grow into something huge, and now they’re having big, giant concerts over there. It’s turned into something spectacular. I hope it keeps growing.
“I’ve had good lick here, and I’ve had bad luck here, but today, we had some good luck.”
Riding bareback horses isn’t for the weak. Cowboys strap their rigging tightly to the animal’s back. Wearing specially designed gloves that have binds in them, they then wedge their hands into the suitcase handle-like rigging and are virtually locked onto the animal.
“It’s a dogfight no matter what,” he said of riding bareback broncs. “Some are easier than others, but it feels so good to get tapped off on one. That’s why I do it. It’s a huge adrenaline rush, and it’s a feeling like no other.”
Every ounce of positive energy he can get is crucial. Murphy is in position to catch a nice payday by the time the rodeo closes Saturday night. By then, he will be in El Paso, Texas, before venturing northwest to test his talents across the country. Winning Big Spring would definitely be motivation and momentum as head journeys forward.
“That would be fantastic,” Murphy said. “I’m going to keep my fingers crossed and hope we pull it off, but a second or third will be fine for me, too.”
Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo
June 20-22
Bareback riding: 1. Tim Murphy, 81 on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Rockin The Boat; 2. (tie) Jacob Lees and Luke Thrash, 78; no other qualified rides.
Steer wrestling: 1. Ryan Nettle, 4.3 seconds; 2. Jay Williamson, 4.5; 3. Dylan Schroeder, 4.7; 4. Gavin Soileau, 5.0; 5. Gary Gilbert, 5.3; 6. Matt Reeves, 5.4; 7. Heath Thomas, 5.6; 8. Rowdy Parrott, 7.3; 9. Ben Mitchell, 13.0; 10. Clay Guthrie, 15.1.
Tie-down roping: 1. Seth Hall, 8.1 seconds; 2. Klay Kirkes, 8.4; 3. 3. Cash Hooper, 8.8; 4. Landyn Duncan, 9.4; 5. Hayden Ford, 9.8; 6. Jacob Walters, 10.0; 7. Weldon Watson, 10.1; 8. Word Hudson, 10.2.
Breakaway roping: 1. Macy Davenport, 2.2 seconds; 2. Addison Elliott, 2.4; 3. Baili Herring, 2.7; 4. (tie) Jenna Caldarola, Lauren Hopkins, Jaden Usher, Tibba Smith and Haley Mason, 2.9; 9. (tie) Jordan Hollabaugh, Hali Williams and Kayelen Helton, 3.0; 12. (tie) Bradi Good and Bailey Jay, 3.1.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cooper Thatcher, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Saya’s Eyes; 2. Jarrod Hammons, 79; 3. Chris Williams, 76; 4. Tom Webster, 75; 5. Darcy Radel, 73; 6. Blaise Freeman, 72.5; 7. Michael Womack, 79; 8. Joe Macqueen, 69.
Team roping: 1. Riley Kittle/Will Woodfin, 4.8 seconds. 2. Cody Snow/Hunter Koch, 5.1; 3. Seth Hall/Pace Blanchard, 6.4; 4. Jim Breck Bean/Jasper Klein, 7.1; 5. Casey Tew/Cody Tew, 9.7; 6. Cody McCluskey/Jace Davis, 9.9; 7. Billy Bob Brown/Josh Patton, 10.7; 8. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 14.4.
Barrel racing: 1. Dena Kirkpatrick, 15.79 seconds; 2. Jymmy Kay Cox, 15.88; 3. (tie) Cheyenne Wimberley and Aspen Adams, 15.89; 5. (tie) Deb Guelly and Tasha Welsh, 15.94; 7. Shannon Griffin, 15.98; 8. Caley Walkoviak, 16.00; 9. Corley Cox, 16.04; 10. LaTricia Duke, 16.05; 11. (tie) Fallon Taylor and Gracen Harman, 16.13.
Bull riding: 1. Cody Teel, 84.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Brown Bomber; 2. Lex Oakley, 82; no other qualified rides.