Riders benefit from bronc riding school

link QCS photo: Thomas Garcia

More than 200 bronc horses were ridden by 30 students during the Taos Muncy and Cody Taton Bronc Riding School Friday-Sunday at the Quay County fairgrounds.

Bronc riders with the Mesalanads Community College and from schools across the country benefited from the Taos Muncy and Cody Taton Bronc Riding School held last weekend at the Quay County rodeo arena.

The bronc riding school was very well received by the community and those who participated in the event, said Tim Abbott, Mesalands interim rodeo coach.

The instructors leading the three day clinic in Tucumcari included Muncy, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier and two time world champion; Taton, a two-time NFR qualifier and 2008 NFR average-score champion; as well as bareback NFR qualifier JR Vezain and NFR pick-up man Chase Cervi.

Abbott said the instructors demonstrated first-class knowledge and ability to work with student riders.

Three Mesalands rodeo students participated and Abbot said he thinks they learned quite a bit from the experience.

Over the weekend 30 bronc riders tested their skills in clinic, looking to gain an edge in preparation for upcoming spring rodeos. Over three days, the students bronced over 226 horses that were provided by Cervi Championship Rodeo, one of the largest rodeo stock contractors in the country.

The Cervi Championship Rodeo staff all focus on promoting bronc riding safety, according to its literature, and share vast knowledge and expertise to ensure the students have a great learning experience as well as a good time.

“I could not pass up the opportunity to learn from such experienced riders who have been where we are and have fine tuned their abilities and are currently atop their fields,” said Anthony Edgerton, Mesalands rodeo student.

Edgerton said a chance to learn from legends in the bronc riding field comes around very seldom, “and it’s not every day you get to meet Taos Muncy and Cody Taton.”

He said the insight Muncy, Taton and their fellow instructors gave the students was amazing.

Edgerton said not only did students pick up knowledge from NFR champions, they received hands-on tutoring in both classroom and arena.

Edgerton said what he learned will have him riding sounder, increasing his productivity in practice and helping him compete at a higher level come this spring.