BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
For the second consecutive year, Caleb Smidt won the NFR Average and the World Championship in tie-down roping.
Smidt finished 82.5 second on 10 and was in cruise control from about Round 6 on, when it became clear no one would threaten his title defense. Smidt placed in the first eight rounds and won two of them.
“I don’t know how I became so blessed with such a great horse (Pockets), I’ve won everything in my career on him,” Smidt said. “I thank God for everything he’s blessed me.”
The trust in Pockets helped Smidt relax in an unfamiliar situation, being the one in control of his own destiny in Round 10.
“When I back in there, I just focus on myself and he takes care of the rest,” Smidt said. “A lot of guys switching horses, I only planned on riding one and I rode one.”
Smidt’s $374,737 was more than $100,000 better Shad Mayfield and earnings broke his own single season tie-down roping earnings record, which he set in 2021.