Big Tex, a horse that bucked at 17 NFRs, passed away peacefully on the Pete Carr Pro Rodeo Ranch near Moscow, Texas earlier this week. He was 24.
Big Tex was sired by Night Jacket and named 2010 Bareback Horse of the Year in addition to all of those NFRs.
Prior to that title, Big Tex was the Reserve Bareback Horse of the Year in 2008 and that December Bobby Mote tied the Thomas & Mack arena record on him with 91.5 points.
In 2010, every single cowboy who rode Big Tex was marked 90 points or higher including Tilden Hooper’s 94-pointer in Carthage, Texas. At the time it matched the World Record.
“That is a fantastic horse and has been for a long time,” Hooper told TwisTed Rodeo afterward. “He’s always special. That day with me, he was more special than he’s ever been. I did feel like I made a pretty good ride, but that day that horse was just phenomenal.”
Big Tex was regarded for his combination of size and athleticism, a potent blend that produces great athletes - man or beast.
The horse spent the first half of his life in the bareback riding before transitioning to saddle bronc later in life.
“He was pretty cool, and you were always excited to see Big Tex by your name when the draw came out,” four-time NFR saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper told ProRodeo.com. “You had a good chance to win on him any time you drew him. He pretty much had the same trip, and he gave you all he could every single time.”