A couple of headers who've beaten Father Time pretty handily are Dick Yates, 85, who roped at 13 National Finals Rodeos, and Bill Spratt, 83, a rancher and former National Finals Steer Roping qualifier who winters amid the Arizona jackpots. Both said it's not their mechanics that have been affected by the years. They still rope the same—they just don't quite ride the same.
“The only thing I notice is sometimes me and my horse aren't on the same page,” admitted Spratt, who sold 11-time NFR header Riley Minor his great horse Cadillac more than 15 years ago.
Digging up the core strength and reaction time to stay with his big, powerful head horses means Spratt needs a few more strides out of the box before he feels like he's back at the front of his saddle.
“I suppose that's the biggest thing I run into,” he said. “Once I get leveled off, it's just like it's always been. It just takes me longer to get together with my horse.”
Yates echoed that sentiment, saying an extra stride or two is necessary because he doesn't
