C5 Rodeo’s Virgil: 2017 Bareback Horse of the Year
Nine years ago, a big gray colt was born to the Franklin Rodeo Company mare, Apple, on Dale Kling’s ranch in Grassy Butte, North Dakota. Kling had leased John McNeely’s stallion, Big John, to cross onto a few select mares. For the service, McNeely got one of the colts. He picked Virgil.
Photo: Scofield Photography – Defending world champion Tim O’Connell riding C5 Rodeo’s Bareback Horse of the Year, Virgil, to tie the 91.5 point WNFR arena record.
When he was a 2-year-old, he sold through Kling’s Breeder’s Classic Sale and went to buck at the Cody Night Rodeo. Virgil was spectacularly wild, but always good. When he was five, Mo Betta brought him to Rodeo Houston where he was purchased by Vern McDonald’s C5 Rodeo Company, Lac La Biche, Alberta, with the strong support of his breeder, Kling.
Since then he has been 90 points under several riders, named PRCA Reserve Champion Bareback Horse, Canadian Pro Rodeo Association’s Bareback Horse of the Year and now, PRCA’s top gun for the First Nation’s Canadian firm.
He’s a bucker, that’s certain. He’s also a quiet, engaging sort of horse, curious about all people, expects the best and is amused by most. He’s business in the bucking chutes, lets the rider he’s drawn have every opportunity to get right with him. Virgil has no dirty tricks. He’s strong, honest and good at what he does. World champion good!
Beutler & Son’s Wound Up: 2017 Saddle Bronc of the Year
Photo: PRCA Pro Rodeo Instagram x klingranch
Two times voted Saddle Bronc of the Wrangler National Finals, Beutler & Son’s Nutrena’s Wound Up has taken her place in the history books of champion bucking horses. The 9-year-old mare by Beutler’s Commotion and out of the 1995 Reserve PRCA Bareback Horse the Year, Round Up, was voted PRCA Saddle Bronc of the Year 2017.
Nutrena’s Wound Up has had 29 lifetime outs and ridden successfully only 9 times. In her rookie year, as a 5-year-old, she was unridden in three attempts. Over the last year she was ridden just once in 5 outs.
That was by Rusty Wright at Rodeo Austin and earned the pair 88 points.
“That first year, she had a big first jump and a hard left,” Rhett Beutler said. “She’s developed a more patterned trip as her career goes on.”