Sisters bronc rider headed for finals

Cassidy Keeton, a 2008 Sisters High School graduate, is on his way to the National High School Rodeo Finals.

Keeton, a bareback rider, scored a 71 at the State Finals Rodeo in Klamath Falls last weekend to win the short round in that competition. He finished third in the year-end results.

The top four year-end finishers in every event, from all 50 states, will converge on Farmington, New Mexico, July 20-28 for the National Finals.

Keeton has just two years of high school rodeo competition behind him but plans to continue while attending Ranger College in Ranger, Texas. Bareback riding is something he said he's always wanted to do, and he aspires to hold his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association card one day.

He credits much of his success thus far to quality coaching from local professional rodeo stars Bobby Mote and Clint Corey. Mote, from Culver, is a two-time PRCA World Champion in bareback riding.

Weekly practice sessions took place at Mote's house and started with learning techniques on a simulator called a Mighty Broncy. The machine can be programmed to varying degrees of difficulty and is somewhat more predictable than a twisting, hoof-flailing, squealing horse. Keeton and one of his buddies eventually bought a couple of practice horses from a local roughstock contractor.

He admits he's worked hard for his achievement, but is reticent about discussing just what sort of athletic ability and strength of character it takes to climb aboard a bareback horse.

No matter how you look at it, bareback riding is an extremely physically demanding event, with cowboys judged on spur technique, body and arm placement and, of course, staying aboard until the buzzer. Bareback horses are quick and strong, and most are bred for the job. It's known as the toughest of the rodeo events.

"It's something you have to keep working on all the time," said Keeton.

Keeton is a member of the Central Oregon High School Rodeo Club, which organizes local rodeos and helps members with traveling expenses. Each member competes individually at the rodeos. He spent the high school season traveling around Oregon, taking part in rodeos in Prineville, Moro, Condon, Hermiston, Burns and Mollala. He'll spend the rest of the summer working for his dad, Steve Keeton, and competing on the Northwest Pro Rodeo Association circuit, which holds rodeos in the three Pacific Northwest states.

Keeton said his parents are supportive about his chosen sport.

"I like the fact that I can be with my friends and family, doing what I love to do. I have the right help to be good at it if I work hard," he said.

Keeton doesn't think about the risk too much but you can be sure his mother, Pam, does. But she is there, either behind the chutes or in the stands, cheering each time Keeton stays the distance and chalks up another victory for the cowboy.