It’s not often a saddle bronc rider gets to climb aboard the same horse more than once in a season. But luckily for Kenneth “K’s” Thomson lightning struck twice in the form of Korkow Rodeos’ Onion Ring.
Exactly a week apart, Thomson rode Onion Ring to rodeo wins in Gooding, Idaho, Aug. 20 and Bremerton, Wash., Aug. 27. It’s a stretch of luck he says usually doesn’t happen in ProRodeo.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse in back-to-back weeks like that before,” said Thomson, 22. “Usually when you draw a horse a couple of times in a row it’s one you don’t like, and it seems like you can’t get away from them. This time I’d say it worked out pretty good for me.”
The first meeting between the two in Gooding ended in an 86.5-point ride for Thomson. Seven days later he one-upped himself, going for 88.5 points on his way to a first-place finish in Bremerton. He knew the opportunity was there to go bigger and better.
“I found out I had him in Bremerton when we were on our way to Gooding actually,” Thomson said. “In Gooding I know I didn’t ride him as good as I should have, so I was happy to have another shot at him that night.”
This season, Onion Ring has an average stock score of 44 points, with a 20% buck-off rate. In 13 successful rides this year, the average is nearly 87 points.
“He’s one of those that you always want to draw as a cowboy,” Thomson said. “He’s a true, honest horse that puts together a really good trip every time and gives you the opportunity to put up some good points on, that’s for sure.”
Thomson’s recent outs have him in line to qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. The Lundbreck, Alberta, native is 11th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $68,157 and fifth in the ProRodeo Tour presented by Pendleton Whisky.
RELATED: PRCA | RAM World Standings
He said his lifelong dream is looking like it could become a reality.
“I’m not going to do anything different the rest of the season, because what I’ve been doing has gotten me to this point,” Thomson said. “I try to not put any pressure on myself, I’d like to keep that pressure on my reins. But it would obviously mean a lot to get there and ride in those yellow bucking chutes.”
Source: ProRodeo
For more information for Wrangler NFR, please visit www.nfrexperience.com. and ProRodeo.com Check out our latest news at www.wranglernfrlive.com or through social media at /LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR.
Leave a Reply