ADS
Short go win, Jorgenson aboard ‘Tic Tac’ of Beutler & Son Rodeo Company. [Photo: Gilson Photo]
The electric rides keep coming from North Dakota bareback rider, Clay Jorgenson. Marking an 84-point ride and winning the short-go of the Tucson Rodeo-La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in Tucson, Arizona, the cowboy was heading home to Watford City from the Grand Canyon state to feed cows at the family ranch.
Splitting the rig with his traveling partner Ben Kramer of Towner, N.D., Jorgenson went to Tucson, while Kramer made waves at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. More to follow on Kramer’s season soon on DHM.
“We had gone to Jackson, Mississippi and then a couple rodeos in Florida, but I was hurt last year and didn’t have enough money won for San Antonio,” explained Jorgenson.
San Antonio, Texas was out, but the desert called his name, and he brought the heat!
“My first ride was an 80 1/2 on Hard Times (Rocky Mountain Rodeo). I knew this horse, it’s a veteran and fun horse,” said Jorgenson. The ride split him 8th place, qualifying him in the top 12 for the short go on Sunday, February 26.
Jorgenson had never drawn ‘Tic Tac’ of Beutler & Son Rodeo Company. According to his research, Tic Tac made the same trip every time. “Tic Tac was kind of a wild little thing, she kind of went left and felt really good,” added Jorgenson.
His game plan was to ride jump for jump and rely on muscle memory. “I found out I drew Tic Tac on the night I was in Grand Island, Nebraska for the rodeo. I had some travel time from Denver to think about it, visioned it in my head, but when it comes down to the ride, you just do what you do and rely on instinct,” added Jorgenson.
Jorgenson will make his annual appearance in Valley City, North Dakota Winter Show PRCA Rodeo this March 10-11, and then travels to Arcadia, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Montgomery, Alabama.
It gets hectic with calving in the spring and his personal business, Jorgenson Fencing, but the bareback rider says he is happy to be able to do what he loves.
“I got a little bit of money won, putting me in the top 40 (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in the bareback riding) and would like to keep that momentum going. I’m feeling healthy for the first time in two years since a broken jaw, and now I just get to be out there rodeoing and doing what I love,” stated Jorgenson.
Tisa Peek is a long-time horse trainer, competitor in barrel racing and team roping, and writer about the equine. Rodeo and horses run deep in her roots. JT Family Equine is where she calls home, south of Bismarck, ND. Tisa, along with her husband, Jon, and boys, Blu and River, train horses and host clinics. Tisa is the host for Dakota Cowboy on BEK TV.