Published: August 21, 2008 09:21 am            

The next 8 seconds

LG bull rider wins junior championship

He’s only been riding bulls for a couple of years, but already Hesston Horawa has made a name for himself among the bull riding community. A 15-year-old sophomore at Locust Grove High School, Horawa recently won the PeeWee Bull Riding World Championship in Fort Worth, Texas.

After qualifying through the Youth Bull Riding Association at Flat Rock Arena, Horawa made the trip to Fort Worth Aug. 5-8 to compete with other 15-year-old riders. He competed for four days, riding four bulls. Horawa, unlike many of his competitors, was able to ride all four of his bulls. He said his scores were not as good as he would have liked, but by making qualified rides he was able to win the

competition.

On Aug. 5, Horawa faced his first bull. He said the animal didn't cooperate coming out of the chute jumping and kicking. After his 8 seconds were up, his score totaled 69. The first score was recorded in the books and Horawa found himself in 12th place.

“That day I got a check for $73,” Horawa said. “The next day I got on a bull - I think it was a black and white one. He was pretty rank. I got a 63.”

On the third night of competition, Horawa scored a 65. With three scores in the 60s, Horawa still remained toward the top of the pack because he had qualified rides on each bull he’d drawn.

“After those three nights I was sitting in second,” Horawa said. “The fourth day I got on a little black bull. He ... jumped and turned back. They scored me a 76 on him.”

With qualified rides on four bulls, Horawa had to wait for one more rider to compete to see if he would bring the title home to Locust Grove.

He said the rider who was in first place was from Texas. He had also qualified on his first three bulls. It was the bull the Texan drew in the short round that caused him trouble.

“He had a rank bull and only lasted five seconds," Horawa said.

Since his competition didn't last the full 8 seconds, Horawa was crowned the PeeWee Bull Riding World Champion.

When he realized he had won, Horawa said he “started freaking out.”

He received a buckle and a check for $1,200 for his win. In four days of riding, Horawa totaled $1,600.89 in prize money.

Now that he’s the champ, Horawa plans to keep the same routine. He started riding again in the Youth Bull Riding Association at Flat Rock and may attend some Junior Bull Riding events in the future.

Horawa got on his first bull two years ago at a Sapulpa Ranch Rodeo. He lasted seven seconds. He said he just rode for fun that time, but after his ride he was hooked.

“Once you try it it’s hard to quit. You just get hooked on it, especially if you’re an adrenaline junkie,” Horawa said.

During his first year, Horawa said he doesn't think he rode a bull the full eight seconds. It was during his second year that he began to make qualified rides and become consistent. He placed fourth at the YBR at Flat Rock and didn't expect a trip to Fort Worth since only the first two finishers were going to the World Finals.

When he arrived at the awards banquet for the Flat Rock association, Horawa was told he was going to the finals. It turns out the first two finishers had already qualified for the finals through another association, pushing the third and fourth place finishers into the open spots.

“I had no idea I was going to Fort Worth,” Horawa said. “Kenny Harris said ‘you’re going to Fort Worth. Did you know it?’”

That surprise trip paid off for the Locust Grove teen. He said now that he has more experience, he plans to work more on the technical side of riding. A member of the Locust Grove FFA, Horawa said he doesn’t have time for many other organizations or groups.

“Bull riding takes up a lot of my time. It’s a lot of fun and it keeps me out of trouble,” he said.

In the future, Horawa hopes that his riding will take him to the professional level.

“I want to make it to the PBR one day,” the champ said.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.