SHOW STOPPER Steiner Dominates at Tucson By Josie Fladager A fiesta it was indeed for 20-year-old cowgirl Steely Steiner at the 95 th annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in Tucson, Arizona. For her first ever ProRodeo win, Steiner won the long and short rounds, earning the average title as well, to win a little over $9,600 for the weekend.
Beating out NFR qualifiers and world champions alike, Steiner says she had Tucson in her crosshairs for a while. She knew that small, indoor pens like most of those found on the winter circuit were not her 8-year- old mare’s forte. Steiner says Hillbilly Bombshell, as the bay mare is called, has a style that works better in larger, outdoor pens. After letting her take the winter off, Steiner’s goal for the mare’s comeback was Tucson. “I really had [Hillbilly] super prepared for that rodeo,” she said. “Then to go and it just be her set-up and everything that she wants, I think it was set-up perfect for her.” Steiner bought the mare as a four year old from Sue Smith, who trained Hillbilly and ran her at the futurities. While Hillbilly did amazingly well at Tucson, Steiner says she has not always been that easy to ride. “She was a little bit difficult in the beginning,” Steiner recalls. “She didn’t want to run into walls or anything. A lot of things scared her. We hit a lot of barrels, but I really took my time with her and now she’s doing good.” Her time spent paid off and Steiner was dominant at Southern Arizona’s oldest rodeo. For the long round, Steiner ran a time of 17.38 seconds. She bettered her
Beating out NFR qualifiers and world champions alike, Steely Steiner says she had Tucson in her crosshairs for a while. She knew that small, indoor pens like most of those found on the winter circuit were not her 8-year-old mare’s forte. Steiner says Hillbilly Bombshell, as the bay mare is called, has a style that works better in larger, outdoor pens. After letting her take the winter off, Steiner’s goal for the mare’s comeback was Tucson and they left little doubt which duo was the best in the Arizona sun. Photo by Kent Soule
done and [the fans] were all leaving, so many people driving by were congratulating me and you don’t get to see that big of rodeo fans that often, so it was pretty cool,” commented Steiner. Steiner says she was excited for the win and grateful some of her biggest fans were in the stands. “It was really special and especially for it to be such a cool rodeo like Tucson. Most of my family got to be there and watch me.” Rodeoing is definitely a family affair for the Steiner clan. Steely’s mother, Jamie, is an NFR qualifier in the barrel racing and hauls with Steely to most rodeos. Steely also has a younger brother, 18 year old Rocker Steiner, that is hitting the ProRodeo road as well this year and finished second in the bareback riding at RodeoHouston. “Being able to kind of compete at the same rodeos and watch him do good, and him watch me do good, is pretty cool,” said Steely. “It’s pretty special and I don’t think a lot of people get to experience that. To be able to do it with him means a lot for me and for him and our whole family.” The whole family, including Steely and Rocker’s father Sid Steiner, 2002 PRCAWorld Champion Steer Wrestler, will be at the California rodeos together this year. “My mom’s coming with me [to California] this year so it will be fun. Rocker and my dad will be out there. We’ll be gone for a whole month,” noted Steely. With only 10 rodeos for her count this year, Steely Steiner is sitting 33 rd in the WPRAWorld standings with a total just over $12,100, and she is not slowing down anytime soon.
time in the short round to run the fastest time of the entire rodeo with 17.23 seconds. Steiner says Tucson was a one-of-a-kind rodeo that gave her an experience she will never forget. “We were parked on the side of the road and when the rodeo was
Steely Steiner dominated at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in Tucson winning the first round in at time of 17.38 seconds. She bettered her time in the short round to run the fastest time of the entire rodeo with 17.23 seconds, easily taking the average in a total time of 34.61 seconds. Steiner says Tucson was a one-of-a-kind rodeo that gave her an experience she will never forget. Photo by Kent Soule
18 WPRA NEWS APRIL 2022
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