THREE MILLION DOLLAR COWGIRL Pozzi Tonozzi Relishing 2023 Rodeo Season By Ann Bleiker
I t is hard to believe after two decades as a member of the WPRA, there are still so many rodeos that two-time world champion Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi has never graced the winner’s circle, but she is checking off that list fast and furious in 2023. “It is crazy to have so many firsts this late in my career,” Pozzi Tonozzi said with a chuckle. “After doing this for 20 years, it has been an exciting year. Usually when you have been doing something for this long, it is hard to get excited about things. “It feels a lot like 2012 when Duke was winning everything. Obviously, it is always fun to win but that is not usually reality. It has been incredible.” There actually might not be enough superlatives to truly describe the type of year that the Lampasas, Texas, cowgirl is having. A few first-time highlights include: • Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo (Odessa, Texas) champion • Reno (Nevada) Rodeo champion • Calgary Stampede champion • Dinosaur Days Rodeo (Vernal, Utah) champion • Gold medalist at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo – Salt Lake City • Dodge City (Kansas) Roundup champion And, last but not least, the newest member of the $3 million in career earnings club, joining Sherry Cervi and Lisa Lockhart. “Crossing the $3 million in career earnings is for sure the cherry on top,” said Pozzi Tonozzi. “It is funny as I have always been known as No. 3 – when the announcers introduce me it is the third winningest barrel racer, so I am just trying to catch up to No. 2. “It is an incredible milestone that not everyone gets to cross in their rodeo career. It has been just a really fun summer.” Pozzi Tonozzi has come a long way since she was an 8-year-old, wanna-be cowgirl who was not from a rodeo family but wanted a horse
so badly that she would pester her father. “I would circle horses in the classified ads, and then when my dad got home from work, I would set the newspaper in front of him asking him to call these people” Pozzi Tonozzi recalled in a video posted by Professional’s Choice on social media. “That happened for about three years, and he finally gave in. I think my parents thought this was just a phase I would grow out of, but then it turned into an obsession.” So, what do her parents think now of the newest $3 million barrel racer? “They are now my biggest fans and thanks to The Cowboy Channel they can watch all my runs instead of waiting on a phone call,” said Pozzi Tonozzi. Throughout her illustrious career, she has been blessed to swing her leg over a host of talented equine partners. “It started with Leroy then Stitch then Duke, and after I had those three horses, I didn’t think there would ever be another dry day,” Pozzi Tonozzi said with a laugh. “And then there were three years I didn’t make the finals, and I had to rebuild my program. Then came Steeley, Mona and Katniss. “This year was totally unexpected as we didn’t really know what Benny was going to do and how he would transition over to rodeo. Not to mention being able to stay off Birdie and ride her only in the situations that she loves. She has won more because I have been able to keep her sound. And now Titan is coming around the corner.” Jets Top Gun “Benny” has transitioned over to ProRodeo like a veteran, taking his rider to some rare air. Owned by Busby Quarter Horses and sired by the late Blazin Jetolena, Benny has carried Pozzi Tonozzi to all her major wins this summer and hopes to carry her to a Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi is no longer the bridesmaid at the Reno Rodeo. In 2023, Pozzi Tonozzi set an arena record (16.70) en route to her first set of Reno Rodeo spurs given to each champion. She edged reigning world champion Hailey Kinsel by one-one hundredth of a second with a total time of 51.35 seconds on three runs. Photo by Click Thompson
Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi then took her talents north of the border and won the Calgary Stampede for the first time in her 20-year WPRA career. She did so aboard Jets Top Gun “Benny” owned by Busby Quarter Horses. Photo by Covy Moore
12 WPRA NEWS AUGUST 2023
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