Rueger Swindle has been roping for half of his young life, and it showed in the in the Hooey Jr. Patriot 12-and-Under Tie-Down Semifinals, where runs of 10.26 and 10.06 netted him the top spot, winning $2,400 along the way.
“My times surprised me both times,” Swindle, 12, said. “The first one I thought I was going to be a little slower, and the second one I thought I was going to be a lot slower. I was just trying to do my job and let it all play out.
Swindle has been tying down for the last four years, roping the dummy and tying from the post almost daily. He’s a linebacker and quarterback in junior high, and he says his experience in sports helps his mental game in the arena.
“I like the adrenaline that comes with [sports],” Swindle explained. “It helps me in situations like today because I was very nervous roping today. I focused on roping the neck and doing my job on the ground.”
Riding mare “AP,” Swindle prioritized clean catches and placing his slack right on the dairy calves.
“I could have turned my slack around wrong and been longer,” Swindle said. “But I like tying down because it’s like breakaway, but more complicated. Once you practice enough, it’s fun.”
