BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
After never finishing higher than 18th in the world standings, Shorty Garrett will arrive at the Wrangler NFR in fourth place in the saddle bronc world standings with just over $90,000 for the season.
While most cowboys who make the NFR pickup some big checks in the winter rodeos, that almost wasn’t the case for Garrett.
He was consistently stacking checks for about $1,000 in Fort Worth and San Antonio, but didn’t break into the big money until the Finals in San Antonio.
Garrett rode Stampede Warrior for 88 points to take second and set his course for the Wrangler NFR with a $7,800 check, which went nicely next to the $4,995 check he got for winning Rodeo Rapid City in between Fort Worth and San Antonio. He dazzled in South Dakota, his home state, with a 90.5 point ride on South Point.
SHORTY GARRETT - 90.5 POINTS IN RAPID CITY
Once rodeo returned for good in June after the COVID-19 break, Garrett was right back in the winner’s circle.
On June 11, he was second in Coleman, Texas to collect $2,378 and he won the Jordan Match Xtreme Broncs 10 days later, winning just over $3,000 at the event.
Where he started the season strong is also where Garrett put an exclamation point on his season. Like Brody Cress, he thrived at the two big end-of-the-season events in South Dakota.
First, Garrett won the Long Round at the Xtreme Broncs Finale in Rapid City. A month later, he returned to Rapid City to pickup more than $8,000 at the ProRodeo Tour Finale.
In between those two events, Garrett placed on 9 of his 10 rides, including sweeping every round at the Ram National Circuit Finals. He put the finishing touches on four days of great bronc riding by turning in rides of a 87.5 and 91.5 points in the final two rounds.
SHORTY GARRET RIDES TOMA JO FOR 91.5 POINTS IN RNCFR SEMIS
It was all part of a magical run from Aug. 26 to Sept. 26 in which Garrett won more than $35,000. In that time, he had an eye-popping 12 rides of 85 points or better (and three more marked between 84 and 85) and on the season, he had 25 rides of more than 85 points, a career-best.
Although a little more than $50,000 separate him and No. 1 Wyatt Casper, Garrett can change the saddle bronc riding quickly at Globe Life Field if he rides the way he did at the end of the season.
RELATED:
Ultimate Guide to Watching the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo: Live Broadcast and Streaming
Meet the 2020 NFR Athletes - Brody Cress
Meet the 2020 NFR Athletes - Wyatt Casper
2020 NFR Saddle Bronc Riding World Standings
Meet the 2020 NFR Athletes - Ryder Wright
