Taylor Hanchey had extra motivation to win the Dodge City (KS) Roundup Rodeo knowing her husband, Shane, had never won a buckle at this prestigious event. Well Taylor picked up a new shiny buckle for the family display case winning the breakaway roping in a total time of 5.3 seconds on two runs. She just eclipsed Loni Kay Lester, who finished with a 5.4-second time, for the title. Photo by David Seymore
HARD WORK PAYS OFF Hanchey wins Dodge City Roundup Rodeo By Josie Fladager A fter making the National Finals Breakaway Roping in the final moments of the 2021 season, Taylor Hanchey worked hard to not put herself in that position again. The Carmine, Texas cowgirl left for home from Las Vegas last December intent on improving every aspect of her roping to rope even more competitively with the best in the business.
“[Catman] is as solid as they come and literally the only thing I have to worry about is roping,” Hanchey said. “Really they are both exceptional horses that work in any setup. I’m super lucky to have two horses I can win on.” Hanchey also credits “her crew,” the name of the group text between she and her hauling partners, for creating an environment in the rig that allows them all to focus on roping. Hanchey, Beau Peterson, Tacy Webb, and Madison Outhier have been piled up in rig together all summer and have built a rare but invaluable atmosphere that supports the elite mental mindset that is necessary to consistently win in professional rodeo. “With four girls in a trailer all summer long, we don’t have room for egos or attitudes,” Hanchey noted. “I think traveling partners are crucial for not only having a good time but also for winning. Iron sharpens iron.” Hanchey’s hard work has paid off this year. With her sights set on the 2022 NFBR at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, she is still entered with “the crew” as they work to earn their spots inside the top 15. Hanchey loves to schedule and enter rodoes so she has spearheaded that part of the business for herself and her hauling partners all summer, and will continue to do so for this last month of rodeos. She is also trying to go with Shane to support him, although she admits neither one of them is great at just watching. Indeed, Hanchey’s final moments of the season look a bit different than they did this time last year. And while she is not on the bubble, she knows exactly what it feels like to be there. “Beau, Tacy, and Madi still have a chance for making the finals and my job is to make sure they are entered up!” Hanchey explained. “This is an exciting time of year. I love watching ‘bubble’ competitors in all the events and I’m going to try my hardest to get the rest of my ‘crew’ qualified for the NFBR.”
And she has done just that; her win in the inaugural breakaway roping at the Dodge City (KS) Roundup Rodeo was yet another testament to the discipline Hanchey has put into her craft. Now No. 3 in the ProRodeo Breakaway standings, Hanchey has won an average of $933 for each rodeo she has attended in 2022, and has earned herself a strategic position in the world standings as the curtains begin to close on the 2022 ProRodeo season. Excited that the Dodge City committee was giving breakaway ropers a shot at another major rodeo, Hanchey used her draws to her advantage. Between having time to study the setup and drawing a good calf, Hanchey capitalized in round one to take the win in a time of 2.5 seconds. Another quick throw in 2.8 seconds in the short round would earn her the average title and the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo buckle - a buckle from one of the few major rodeos that has so far eluded her husband Shane, the 12-time NFR qualifier and 2013 PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Champion. “There are only a few major rodeos that he hasn’t won and Dodge City is one of them,” Taylor said. “So to be able to bring home a buckle that Shane hasn’t won was a big deal.” Hanchey’s horses, Catman and Pam Pam, have been crucial to her success in 2022. Hanchey has been strategic in where she enters Pam Pam and the mare has been reserved for more of the southern rodeos this year. Catman joined Hanchey’s team from Abby Medlin in May and has been Hanchey’s main mount for most of this year, traveling the country with Hanchey.
30 WPRA NEWS SEPTEMBER 2022
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