CONSISTENCY PAYS OFF Morgan Marks 10 Clean Runs with NFR Average Title By Joe Kusek S helley Morgan’s partner probably wasn’t feeling too well when they returned home to Texas. “Maybe when we came home, she had a bellyache from so many treats,” said Morgan. The barrel racer was speaking of her horse, Kiss, an eight-year-old sorrel mare. “She loves those delicious horse treats … and she had a lot of them,” Morgan finished. Kiss deserved them all. And more.
Morgan and her beloved horse returned home to Eustace, Texas after winning the average at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Dec. 1-10. “It was awesome,” said Morgan, a four-time qualifier for the Wrangler NFR. She has qualified the past three years and in 2009. “Kiss gave her heart and soul all 10 rounds. I am forever indebted to my equine partner.” Morgan turned 10 flawless trips around the cloverleaf pattern in 137.28 seconds. She placed in six rounds, including back-to-back third-place finishes in Rounds 9 and 10. Rookie Bayleigh Choate of Fort Worth, Texas was second in the average in a total time of 138.98. Morgan and Choate were the only barrel racers with 10 clean runs. Morgan earned $154,568 – the average win was worth $74,150 – to more than double her season earnings. She came to Las Vegas sixth in the WPRA standings with $110,461 won and left The Thomas and Mack Center in third place for the final world standings with $265,029 for her 2022. “I told someone before I left Texas, my goal was to have 10 clean runs in a row,” Morgan said. “Because last year, I said the same thing for the NFR.
“Kiss is not a barrel hitter. I wanted to make clean runs and at the end of the 10th round, let the chips fall where they are supposed to fall.” Morgan admitted there were a few close calls. “Oh yes, absolutely,” said the former math teacher and basketball coach. “The first round, we had a very close call. Kiss didn’t get her feet set up under her at the first barrel. When we came back to head to the second barrel it was close.” Morgan and Kiss had a time of 14.04 seconds in Round 1, their slowest of the event. The pair got progressively faster as the Wrangler NFR continued. There was only a difference of .44 seconds in their final nine runs. “I do think Kiss got more comfortable as the NFR went on,” said Morgan of the horse registered as HR Fameskissandtell by CEO and out of the mare Fames Fiery Kiss. “Buildings are not Kiss’ strong point. She does great in the outdoor arenas during the summer run. “They let us practice in there to get comfortable. I think that’s why she likes it there. I really tried to focus on one run at a time. I didn’t want to think about all 10 runs. I just wanted to make a clean run that night.” The tall, long-striding horse and Morgan posted a time of 13.47 seconds in Round 9, their fastest of the Wrangler NFR. Following that round, Morgan was just one run away from the second-most coveted buckle in professional rodeo. “I almost threw up,” she said after Round 9. “I was sick to my stomach when I went to bed.” But a calmness settled over Morgan by morning. “The next day, I was fine,” said mother of two sons, Zach and Tanner. continued on page 46 Shelley Morgan set a goal going into the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to have 10 clean runs aboard HR Fameskissandtell “Kiss.” She accomplished that goal and in so doing won her first NFR average title as one of only two ladies to have 10 clean runs. Morgan finished in a time of 137.28 seconds, while WPRA rookie Bayleigh Choate was second in 138.98 seconds.
Shelley Morgan (second from right) was all smiles from the time she turned the third barrel in the 10th round until she returned to her trailer with the NFR average saddle and buckle. Competing in her fourth NFR, this was Morgan’s first NFR average title and was an achievement she knew her 8-year-old mare Kiss could acquire. WPRA photo by Kenneth Springer
24 WPRA NEWS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator