The first is my new partner Matt Sherwood. Matt used to tell me, years ago, that we would someday rope. Matt called me in december and said that Randon had decided to take a year off, he had been thinking about partners, and my name kept coming to mind. He wanted to know if I was interested in heeling for him in the upcoming year. I leapt at the chance. I has always been a dream of mine to heel for him, and after telling him so, I could hardly hold another thought in my head for weeks.

Our first competition was Odessa. Even though we have roped a lot together in the past, it felt very different. I felt nervous and had a hard time being myself in the arena. In spite of my nerves, I did well in Odessa. I heeled two good steers at the rodeo, and all by two feet at the jackpot. I have made a little video of the rodeo, and you can watch it by clicking here,  Travis @ Odessa. We had some hard luck, and didn’t win much, but felt good about our performance and moved on to Denver.

Denver was another disappointment. To make a long story, short. In the first go, Matt broke out on a good steer. In the second go, Matt turned a great steer that was going left, and I didn’t get down the arena far enough, got inside, and roped a leg…. Damn. People that have never rodeoed, or maybe people that have never played sports, don’t understand winning is a process. Look at the Miami Heat as an example. Very talented individuals on the team, but not yet working like the well oiled machine that they know there capable of. Matt and I are no different. We both understand that our jobs, as teammates, is to keep our nose down, stay positive, encourage each other, and winning will take care of itself.

Next on the list was Ft. Worth. We made a pretty good run on our first steer, 6.o. I heeled the steer good but I could have heeled him faster. I told myself good job and left it at that. The second steer was more challenging. He checked off and came left, hard. When Matt turned him his butt swung into the left fence and I had to keep swinging and riding. Finally roped him to be 8.0…. I thought a lot about it. I could have been more aggressive and we could have been high call on the steers we had. I’m an aggressive heeler anyway. Thats who I am. The mental pressure of heeling for a two time World Champ had left me with a no mistakes attitude, an afraid to make a mistake attitude, a losers attitude. I made myself a promise right then, If I did lose at the rodeos, lose my partner, and the worst did happen. I could live with it, as long as I was aggressive, and roped like myself. No more nerves, no more worrying, Just have fun and enjoy the ride, don’t be so obsessed with the destination.

So, with my new attitude, We headed for Rapid City. It was very cold (-27 with the wind chill). We flew up and got mounted. Matt rode Seth Gurney’s horse and I rode Jett Johnson’s. I had rode Jett’s old Gray horse, that Jim Cooper now owns, and loved him. I called Jett and told him that. Asked him if anything he rode now, felt like his old gray. He said his sorrel did, and I was welcome to him. He was right. His horse felt great to me. One of the best I’ve ever mounted out on. Matt didn’t get the best start on the first steer, but we made a good run 6.0. We made a great run on our second steer and were 4.8. Winning 5th in the second round and 5th in the ave $3k worth if it holds. I was proud that I kept my nerves under control and allowed myself to rope like I can.

I’m very excited to be getting the kinks out with Matt, and excited to see what the future holds. Special thanks to Jett Johnson for the ride. He is a great heeler and a very good guy. If any of you get the chance to talk with him you won’t regret it. Thanks for keeping up with me. I’ll keep you posted on how San Antonio and San Angelo go, here in a week or so. Thanks again

-TW

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