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Getting back on the horse

Less than four months ago, Colt Prather was dragged off a bronc, slammed against a pen door, trampled, and walked away from the incident missing just a patch of hair and

link Colt Prather, 22, talks about his family, bronc riding and other subjects Thursday at a local restaurant. Prather competed in the Southwest Bronc Riders Association Bronc Stomp in Clovis on Saturday, along with his cousin, fellow bronc rider Pecos Prather.

nursing a painful stinger. Prather has shaken off the bumps and bruises and was back on the bronc during Saturday’s Bronc Stomp at the Curry County Event Center. The 22-year old will also get to compete against his cousin Pecos Prather, a bronc rider as well.

How long have you been in the area?

I’ve been around Clovis and Portales for most of my life. We moved back when I was around 6. I moved to Portales to finish school, and right now I work at Oppliger Land and Cattle.

When did you get your start doing bronc riding?

Through high school I rode a lot of colts for people, just outside horses. When I decided to start rodeoing I had a bunch of horses, but nothing good I could go rope on or get a good time on. So I figured I just start riding range broncs. I started riding roughstock for a lot or people, and I’m still riding outside horsing. It just kind of clicked. I got into it just to do it, started riding with a rodeo ranch team and it went from there.

Have you ever won any money?

A couple times. I won Fort Sumner a couple of years ago, and I got second last year. I placed in the top 10 in the Chisum Challenge in Roswell, but I just missed the money. I’ve won a few jackpots around Portales. The most I went home with in one night is $300.

Where’d you go to school?

I’ve kinda been everywhere. I attended school in Fort Sumner, House, Hagerman, Clovis, and Portales. I went to Eastern (New Mexico University) for a spell, and I’m still working on finishing school.

When’s the last time you competed?

I actually got bucked off of a horse in October in Roswell at the Chisum Challenge, and I haven’t competed since. I got hung up, rolled around the pen a bit. It took about 40 guys to get my horse pinned down and get me loose from it. It was one of those fluke deals that wouldn’t really happen normally. This is my first horse this year, and I’m anxious. I got the nerves and butterflies, but growing up, I was always taught that if you get bucked off, you got to get back on and ride, so I’m ready.

— Compiled by CMI staff writer Eric Norwood

 
 
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