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Grain Valley, MO —
A 2011 Grain Valley High School graduate is returning to a national rodeo competition to compete against the best high school rodeo teams in the United States.
Chase Gabriel has once again earned a spot on the Missouri High School Rodeo Team. He will be competing in saddle bronc riding and cutting horse at the 63rd annual National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo. The competition starts Sunday and runs through July 23.
A member of the National High School Rodeo Association for about two years, Gabriel is a relative newcomer to saddle bronc riding.
“I am a little surprised,” he says of his success in the event the last two years. “I am excited to once again have this opportunity.”
Saddle bronc riding involves the participant riding a horse that is attempting to buck him off. The rider has a saddle and a halter, but no bridle. Similar to bull riding, the rider must attempt to stay on the horse for eight seconds. In addition, the rider cannot touch the horse with his free hand.
“I love the intensity of the competition,” Gabriel said. “The experience (of competing) has been great.”
Cutting horse is a western style of riding where the rider is judged on how he separates and keeps an animal away from the rest of the cattle herd.
This is the first year he is competing in this event at the national competition.
In order to earn a spot on the state team and a spot in the national finals, Gabriel must have placed in the top four in an event at the state level. He also had to accumulate enough points on the state circuit.
More than 1,500 contestants from throughout the United States, Canada and Australia will be competing in the rodeo. More than $200,000 in prizes and $350,000 in college scholarships will be awarded to the winners. Those who finish in the top 20 after two rounds will have the chance to compete to become the National High School Rodeo national champion.
A 2011 Grain Valley High School graduate is returning to a national rodeo competition to compete against the best high school rodeo teams in the United States.
Chase Gabriel has once again earned a spot on the Missouri High School Rodeo Team. He will be competing in saddle bronc riding and cutting horse at the 63rd annual National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo. The competition starts Sunday and runs through July 23.
A member of the National High School Rodeo Association for about two years, Gabriel is a relative newcomer to saddle bronc riding.
“I am a little surprised,” he says of his success in the event the last two years. “I am excited to once again have this opportunity.”
Saddle bronc riding involves the participant riding a horse that is attempting to buck him off. The rider has a saddle and a halter, but no bridle. Similar to bull riding, the rider must attempt to stay on the horse for eight seconds. In addition, the rider cannot touch the horse with his free hand.
“I love the intensity of the competition,” Gabriel said. “The experience (of competing) has been great.”
Cutting horse is a western style of riding where the rider is judged on how he separates and keeps an animal away from the rest of the cattle herd.
This is the first year he is competing in this event at the national competition.
In order to earn a spot on the state team and a spot in the national finals, Gabriel must have placed in the top four in an event at the state level. He also had to accumulate enough points on the state circuit.
More than 1,500 contestants from throughout the United States, Canada and Australia will be competing in the rodeo. More than $200,000 in prizes and $350,000 in college scholarships will be awarded to the winners. Those who finish in the top 20 after two rounds will have the chance to compete to become the National High School Rodeo national champion.
