CHANGE OF PLANS Schoeppach Seals the Victory at Red Bluff By Joe Kusek C leaning teeth will have to wait. Payton Schoeppach had been contemplating attending school to become a dental hygienist. She found one program but would need an additional college class this fall before starting her career path in 2024. That intended road veered sharply in another direction with two swift barrel racing runs at the Red Bluff Round-Up, April 21-23 in California.
Posting times of 17.32 and 17.22 seconds in two rounds, Schoeppach won the average in a total time 34.54 and pocketed a healthy $10,427. “It means so much,” said the 21-year-old cowgirl from Lincoln, California. “I’ve always dreamt of winning a rodeo as big as Red Bluff.” She won the first round and tied for second in the second round. Loni Kay Yates, of Stephenville, Texas won the second round in 17.19 seconds, the fastest of the rodeo. It was the second year in a row that Schoeppach won the first round at Frank Moore Arena. She did not place in the average in 2022. “The second round, I didn’t give my horse his best ride,” said the third-generation rodeo competitor of last year. “My fault for sure. “It gave me much more focus this year. To get my mindset where it needed to be. I have confidence in my horse. I had to have confidence in myself.” Schoeppach is riding Bossy, a 13-year-old paint registered as The
Finals Rodeo and the College National Finals Rodeo while she competed for Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California. Schoeppach arrived in Red Bluff outside the top 50 in the WPRA world standings. She left inside the top 30 and a new game plan. “I had no interest of going very far,” she said of her early plans for 2023. “I was planning to compete in circuit rodeos. And I wanted to go to some out of state. Last year, I rode in Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon. My horse really liked those, and all the people were really nice. “I want to do that again.” Schoeppach has been riding horses since the age of three. Her grandfather, Bill Burns, competed in team roping and tie down roping. Her mother Anita was a multi-event competitor in high school, as was her aunt Lynn Burns. “I remember my mom leading me around when I was teeny-tiny,” said Schoeppach. Her father John is a financial planner. “I have a very, very supportive father,” said the daughter. Schoeppach joined the WPRA in 2016 as a junior roper and got her permit in 2020. That progress was slowed by the COVID pandemic. “I was bummed,” she said. “I figured it would be a great time to get my horse in the best shape to barrel race and get myself ready.” She finished 24th in the California Circuit standings in her rookie season in 2021 and was fourth in the standings last year. The victory in Red Bluff has Schoeppach adding to her schedule with making the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo a goal within her reach. “I definitely changed my plans,” she continued. “Hopefully, I find another horse. Right now, all I have is Bossy. I know he can do more. My parents are very supportive. They said I can put off school so I can go as far as I can. “I want to see how far I can make it. I want to stay out there a little longer.” Posting times of 17.32 and 17.22 seconds in two rounds, Payton Schoeppach won the average in a total time 34.54 and pocketed a healthy $10,427. Photos by Fernando Sam-Sin
Mafia Boss. Schoeppach has owned the horse – sired by Dashing Cartel and out of Rose Among Thorns – for the past five years. “He’s really fast. He loves to run,” said Schoeppach. “A standard course is to his advantage. He runs hard into the barrels and swings around them at full force. It is mind blowing.” Bossy helped Schoeppach qualify for the National High School Payton Schoeppach rode Bossy, a 13-year-old paint registered as The Mafia Boss to the winner’s circle at the Red Bluff (CA) Round-Up. Schoeppach has owned the horse for the past five years and always dreamt of winning this prestigious rodeo.
24 WPRA NEWS MAY 2023
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