The Gold Buckle Knockout was contrived as one last hurrah for the 2020 ProRodeo Season — a last chance for bareback and bronc riders to make some money, and a last chance for the guys on the bubble to get to the NFR.
For those sitting in the No. 16-20 spots, it’s a particularly welcomed opportunity at the end of a season when the standings are tighter than ever. But for No. 13–15, the Knockout could mean that on the final day of the season, they lose their shot at the Finals.
One such guy is Chad Rutherford, No. 15 in the bareback riding with less than $100 separating him and No. 16 man Winn Ratliff.
“Two of three weeks ago, I was really excited to have [the Knockout],” said Chad Rutherford said with a laugh. “Now that I ‘m sitting No. 15 with Winn just about $30 or so behind me, I’m kind of wishing we didn’t have it.”
“It’s going to be an exciting event. I’m really tickled to death that, even with all the things that have happened with the world this year, with covid and whatnot, and all the rodeos getting shut down, it really is awesome that we’re able to have events like this, these standalone events that really highlight our event … It’s exciting that we’re finally able to have bronc riding events that really showcase us and the horses we get on, and the stock contractors that produce them.”
Rutherford only recently made his return to rodeo after a horrible wreck in 2017 landed him in the hospital with broken bones and nerve damage. He thought he’d never ride again, but with the encouragement of family and, in particular, wife Katie, in 2019, he got back in the saddle.
While Rutherford eased back into it at the end of the 2019 season, going to a few smaller rodeos to see how he felt, he took an all new approach to this season. He’s given it everything he’s got with his sights set on the NFR.
“That was one of our ultimate goals. Back in August [2019], [Katie and I] sat down and wrote out a declaration for this 2020 season. We just wrote down all of our goals. NFR was one of them; gold buckle was another one, but more of less, it was just to jump back out there and give it our all.”
And that’s exactly what he plans to do today, putting aside the high stakes.
“It does add a lot of pressure. It’s one of those tests that we’re given. I’ve just gotta look at it as if it’s just another rodeo, another day of the year. … I just gotta treat it like another event and go at ‘em like I’ve been going at ‘em all year. Just give it to God; let him guide the horses.”
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