Rodeo Regrets

There’s no such thing as a perfect person, cowboys included. As hard as we try to do the right thing and make our best decisions at life’s countless crossroads, we’re all human. Most mistakes and failures are mere stumbles, and so insignificant in the grand scheme of life that they are fast forgotten. Others stand out so much that even decades later they still feel fresh. They were big enough deals that we just never really got over them. Rodeo regrets are no different than any others that might make us remorseful. We polled an elite eight of some of the most respected ropers of all time to gather their reflections on moves they wish they hadn’t made.

Jake Barnes

I have two regrets from my rodeo career that really stand out. The biggest one is that I wish I’d let my rope go on the fifth steer at the 2005 (Wrangler) National Finals Rodeo when I cut my thumb off. Kory (Koontz) and I had so much momentum going, and I roped that steer pretty deep around the neck. When I pulled my slack, the steer was going left and I dropped my slack. I tried to grab my slack and beat Barney (Jake’s beloved head horse that revitalized his career) to the horn. We’ve all done that and gotten away with it, at worst