Skip to content
  • My Account
    • Login
  • My Account
    • Login
Ride with the best 🇺🇸
  • My Account
    • Login
  • My Account
    • Login
 
 
$0.00 0 Cart
  • Home
  • Build Your Pad
        • The OG Collection

          Our OG Collection saddle pad has been the core of the company since 2002.

          The Kush Collection

          The Kush Collection saddle pad is made from 100% high-quality, washed & pressed wool.

          The Cadillac Series

          The Cadillac Series saddle pad adds a 3/8″ closed-cell foam insert throughout the bars of the saddle.

          The BHS Series

          The BHS Series saddle pad adds a 3/8″ closed-cell foam insert to help distribute saddle pressure.

          The Fleesar Series

          The Fleesar saddle pad adds a fleece lining to create an especially soft feel for added comfort.

          The Saddle blanket

          Stand out with one of our 70+ saddle blanket colors ranging in sizes of 32x32, 36x34, 34x36, and 34x38.

  • Build Your Pad
    • The OG Collection
    • The Kush Collection
    • The Cadillac Series
    • The BHS Series
    • The Fleesar Series
    • The Saddle Blanket
  • Shop
    • Gift Cards
    • Sale Saddle Pads
    • Apparel & Hats
    • Horse Accessories
    • Tooled / Printed Pads
    • Saddles Custom
    • Award Pads
    • 2022 Catalog
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Saddle Pad Reviews
    • Dealer Locator
    • Best Ever Blog
  • Team Riders
    • Team Riders
    • Sponsorship Application
  • Help
    • Saddle Pad Frequently Asked Questions
    • Saddle Pad Fitting Guide
    • Contact Best Ever Pads
$0.00 0 Cart
BEST EVER BLOG

Cowboy Journal: Brady Minor – Shooting for the Safe Mark

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email


NOVEMBER 3, 2018

Shooting for the Safe Mark

Riley and I aren’t the fastest team out there, but we’re one of the more consistent.

by Brady Minor


PRESENTED BY

small BEP Red Logo_for light bkgrnd.png

In the team roping, you feel like you’ve got the National Finals made when you get to seventy-five thousand won. That’s a safe mark we shoot for. Guys that have a good winter can rest a little easier knowing they’ve got a jump on things. Unfortunately, me and Riley didn’t tap that big money this winter.

We haven’t had many strong winters. I mean, the San Antonio Rodeo is as big as it gets, and the best I’ve done down there is win a couple thousand dollars. It’s almost like we’re jinxed in wintertime.

As the season gets underway, I don’t look at what everybody else has won. Our rodeo count was seventy-five this year. The way I figure it, if you average a thousand dollars per rodeo, you’re on pace to reach that safe mark.

As far as team ropers goes, Riley and I maybe aren’t the fastest team out there. But we’re one of the more consistent teams. We win a lot of fourth- and fifth-place checks versus first-place checks. That’s how we’ve rolled over the years. Riley turns a lot of steers and gives me a lot of chances. We might be a couple of tenths off, but those fourth- and fifth-place checks add up when you win a lot of them.

It helps that we’ve been partners since 2007. For brothers, we get along good enough. In the team-roping world, people change partners often—once a year, every other year, sometimes three or four times in a year. If we weren’t winning together, we might try something different.

We’re both lucky to have good horses. Riley’s horse, Bob, was named the 2018 Head Horse of the Year. Bob’s really fast, which allows Riley to run closer to the steer and take more consistent shots. My horse, Sug, may not be the best horse out there, but he’s about the easiest. He gives you the same shot every time. He’s smart and forgiving. He doesn’t try to screw you. Horses get smart from being rodeoed on so much. Some might want to stop and take your throw away. Some might not work as good if they’re sore. Sug is solid and real easy to go catch on.

Like I said, we didn’t have a strong winter, but most of your rodeoing’s done in summer. The Fourth of July was a turning point. We won a few seconds and thirds at Ponoka, Alberta, and left there with sixty-seven hundred each. At the end of the Fourth of July, I had been to thirty-four rodeos for the year, but I had won thirty-nine thousand dollars. That put me above my thousand-per-rodeo average but only about halfway to the safe mark.

As the weeks ticked by, we didn’t have many big wins. We won a thousand here, thirty-five hundred there. We hit a slump during the first couple weeks in August. Then came Ellensburg, Washington, our hometown rodeo. For the first time ever, we won the Ellensburg. That was pretty special. (Here’s what Riley had to say about winning the hometowner.

Ellensburg added another six thousand to the season’s winnings. That finally pushed us past our safe mark. When the season ended, I was tenth in the standings. I’m not at the top of the pack, but I’m glad to be heading to Vegas in December.

Making the National Finals was especially exciting the first time I qualified back in 2006—and also the second, third, fourth and fifth times. This will be my tenth NFR. It’s always a great chance to make some money. After all, this is what we do for a living, and I have a family to support. But now there’s only one goal in mind—the same goal that’s on the mind of everybody going to the NFR—and that’s winning a gold buckle. It’s the best thing in rodeo. It can’t get any better than that.

  • Turquoise - Best Ever Team PatchesBest Ever Team Patches

    Team Patches

    $3.00
    Select options
  • barrel racing saddle pads

    Custom Fleesar Pad

    $260.00
    Add to cart
  • Best Ever Velcro Tailbags

    $15.00
    Select options
  • Royal Blue - Best Ever Horse Tail BagsBest Ever Horse Tail Bags

    Best Ever Spandex Tailbag

    $9.50
    Select options
  • Ride for the Crown Boots

    $28.00 – $55.00
    Select options
  • air freshener

    Crown Air Freshener

    Read more
  • rope strap

    Best Ever Rope Strap

    $4.00
    Add to cart
  • Best Ever Hook Rope Halter w/ 10′ Lead

    $50.00
    Select options
  • best saddle pads western saddlesgood saddle pads

    Flat Brim Logo Patch Classic Flexfit

    $20.00
    Select options
  • Trucker Hat Leopard Print

    $20.00
    Select options
  • Best Ever Saddle Pad Liner

    $30.00
    Select options
  • Webb Brothers

    Best Ever Pads Gift Certificate

    Select options Add to cart
  • Sale!

    32×33 Casa Zia Navajo Saddle Blanket (#31060)

    $125.00 $100.00
    Add to cart
  • saddle pad toteBest Ever Team Gear Saddle Pad Tote Bag

    Saddle Pad Tote Bag

    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • Best Ever Roping Glove

    $2.00 – $22.00
    Select options
  • SleekEZ® Saddle Pad Brush & Horse Grooming Tool

    $18.00 – $20.00
    Select options

Share & Connect

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
PrevPreviousCowboy Journal: Riley Minor – The Hometowner
NextMindemann advances to the NFRNext

Join the best ever VIP Email Newsletter

Worldwide Shipping

Shipping all across the globe

90 day return policy

90 days money back guarantee

100% secure checkout

256-bit bank level security

BEP-opt

“Ride with the best”

2445 Paradise Lane, Los Osos, CA 93402
Phone: 805-528-8009
Text: 805-234-5836

Copyright 2020 Best Ever Pads | All Rights Reserved.

Shop

  • Home
  • Build Your Pad
  • Shop
  • See Our Catalog
  • Our Riders
  • Home
  • Build Your Pad
  • Shop
  • See Our Catalog
  • Our Riders

About

  • Our Story
  • Saddle Pad Reviews
  • Dealer Locator
  • Best Ever Blog
  • Our Story
  • Saddle Pad Reviews
  • Dealer Locator
  • Best Ever Blog

Support

  • Saddle Pad Frequently Asked Questions
  • Saddle Pad Fitting Guide
  • Contact Best Ever Pads
  • Saddle Pad Frequently Asked Questions
  • Saddle Pad Fitting Guide
  • Contact Best Ever Pads

Connect with us

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Pinterest Snapchat

Payments Accepted

Cc-paypal Cc-apple-pay Cc-visa Cc-mastercard Cc-amex Cc-discover