Trevor Hale and Brushton Minton Split Denver Calf Roping Win
Trevor Hale and Brushton Minton shine in Denver, sharing the calf roping title at the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo with a pair of 7.3-second runs.

Brushton Minton and Trevor Hale kicked off their 2025 season with a bang at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo on January 26, 2025, splitting the calf roping win with identical 7.3-second runs, each pocketing $5,071.

Hale advanced through bracket 3 with runs of 8.7 and 9.4 seconds, securing his spot in the semifinals where he clocked an 8.6-second run, earning $1,887. Minton, competing in bracket 6, posted times of 9.6 and 8.3 seconds. He dominated his semifinal performance with a 7.8-second run, adding $3,774 to his earnings.

All-Around Hand

Cinch Timed Event Championship cowboy, Brushton Minton, showcased his all-around talent in Denver, competing in both calf roping and steer wrestling.

“I wanted to team rope at Denver, but I wasn’t qualified, so I had to go to the qualifier,” Minton said. “I figured if I was going to the qualifier to team rope, I might as well enter the bulldogging. I entered the bulldogging and team roping at the qualifier and made it to the performances in the bulldogging.”

Although Minton has always been an all-around cowboy, he’s spent the past few years focusing on calf roping—a decision that paid dividends in Denver.

“In the first round, I had a bigger calf, so I knew I probably wouldn’t place,” Minton said. “She was big and soggy, so I just tied her down and ended up with a 9.6. My second calf was better, and I won the round, qualifying for the semifinals.”

Minton’s mount of choice at Denver was none other than “Gunny,” the horse who he credits for his first trip to the NFR. Prior to the California Circuit Finals, Gunny had been on a three-month break.

“My horse worked great in the semifinals, and he’s not even in shape,” Minton laughed. “I drew a good calf, hit the barrier, and clocked a 7.8 to win my semifinal set. In the short round, I just planned to get paid, aiming for a long seven or short eight. It all came together, and I was 7.3 to split the win.”

Minton’s 2025 season is off to a stellar start, with over $20,000 won at just three rodeos, giving him an early jump in the top 15 race.

“Having over $20,000 won gives me a lot of confidence,” Minton said. “I’m excited for the Texas swing rodeos.”

Hale’s Journey to Victory

Perryton, Texas native Trevor Hale is no stranger to success. Growing up in the reined cow horse world, Hale has been riding his entire life.

“My parents both rode and trained horses,” Hale said. “I grew up at horse shows and transitioned to rodeo around age 10 or 12. Once I started rodeoing, I never really stopped, but I tried to balance both.”

From college rodeos to futurity pens, Hale has seen it all. Winning in Denver was just another chapter in his young ProRodeo career.

“I was in the second bracket at Denver,” Hale said. “My plan was just to make it out of my bracket and come back to the semifinals. For the set of calves we roped, it was really tough to make it back to the short round. When I roped, an 8.9 was the cut to make it back—it was a great roping. Coming into the finals, I knew I drew a good calf. It all came down to that one calf and I love those scenarios.”  

Hale rode “Titus,” to the win in Denver, a horse he recently acquired from two-time World Champion Riley Webb.

“I’ve loved Titus for a long time, and I’m lucky to own him now,” Hale said. “He worked great at Denver.”

CDS Spots Move aka Titus owned by Trevor Hale

With Titus under him, Hale had plenty of confidence coming into the semifinals in Denver.

“Denver is the first place I took Titus,” Hale said. “I knew he was going to do his job, so I had plenty of confidence coming back to the semifinals. In the short go, I was trying to be aggressive on the barrier and get it on him as fast as I could. When I roped, Brushton had already went 7.3 and I think a 7.7 was fourth or fifth, so there wasn’t a lot of room to play with. Thankfully, I got it on one and it all worked out.”  

Finishing 21st in the world last year, Hale is optimistic for the 2025 rodeo season.

“Starting the year with a win, especially on a new horse, is great,” Hale said. “Winter rodeos are crucial because of the high payouts. I won $7,000 at Denver—some rodeos don’t even pay that for first. It’s good to capitalize when the money is there, and it helps with tour points.”

After narrowly missing the top 15 in 2024, Hale plans to adjust his rodeo strategy.

“I’m changing how I rodeo this year,” Hale said. “I’ve learned which horses fit which rodeos and what kind of cattle they rope. I’m excited to test that theory out this year.”

Hale has a strong string of horses for 2025. Alongside Titus, he’ll ride Cornbread, the horse he won Pendleton on in 2022 and set a college finals arena record with, and “Hard Times,” another solid mount he rode in 2024.

With early wins and strong horsepower, both Hale and Minton are poised for standout seasons in 2025.

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