OklahomaHorses Magazine March 2022

March/April 2022 • OklahomaHorses 29 The Burgetts are the epitome of what a good marriage should be. For more than 25 years, the business has allowed them to work and travel together around the world and to 49 states. They now have two daughters, Gracyn, 16, and Lillie, nine. Both girls help with a multitude of chores and ride as often as possible. Team Effort Pays Off About the time the couple decided to start a family, Burgett leaned heavily toward steer wrestling. That became his passion. With several seasoned doggers in the area, it was easy to stay focused and maintain the drive. “This is a team effort as far as I’m con- cerned,” he states unequivocally. “I had guys like Danny Jackson and Justin Frank- lin who were always in my corner, always helping me. I know people talk about ro- deo being a family, but in the bulldogging world … well, it is exceptionally close. You will not find a group of guys who will help you like this group.” Burgett continues, “Of all our team helping each other, I have to say that Chance Howard (Sallisaw, Oklahoma) has been the one guy who has influenced me the most. Others include West Ratliff (Stilwell, Oklahoma), Danny Jackson and Dusty Franklin (Natural Dam, Arkansas), Parker Howell (Westville, Oklahoma), even five-time PRCA World Champion Luke Branquinho, who sells the steer-wrestling dummy that I designed. Brian Muse has also made undeniable contributions to our horse herd. He is a retired racehorse trainer with a sharp eye. He has the ability to help people win.” Burgett is quick to share future goals and thanks with all his team: He wants to (1) get Chance Howard to the National Finals Rodeo, (2) be a hazer at the NFR, and (3) have one of his horses earn the PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year award. Why not Burgett as the steer wrestler? “I’m almost 44 years old. I’m at that age when it would be better for me to haze for a young- er guy,” Burgett says. Prizewinning Horses “I’ve been blessed to have pretty nice horses. Baby (Babys Gone Country) went three times to the National Finals Rodeo and has won the American. She also won her first time out with Will Loomis riding her, then Jacob Talley took her the next two years. Sam Dixon owns this horse now. She has won over $750,000. We have one nine-year-old gelding we call Train (AQHA RC Train TC Shawne). He is fast … not just superfast but unbelievably fast. He is incredible. We started him coming out of the box in December of 2020. I have had several offers on him, but he is staying here. We have a goal to reach.” The Burgetts have a few horses they talk about a lot: Momba (CVG Cheap Sunglasses, age 11), Chappo (Red Roan Texolena, age 13), Guielly (Famous Baby Disco 37, age 12), Baby, Pistol, and Train. “When I said Train was fast, I mean he is a freak. He is dirty fast. And he never does anything wrong. We started him a year ago after a couple of girls had tried him on the barrels. He was so fast, he would outrun their cue for the first barrel. We got him through Brian Muse. He has a good feel for a horse with potential.” Train took Chance Howard to a second- place finish at Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Deadwood, South Dakota, in 2021 in the short go and the semifinals in the same week. Being a reserve champion is nothing to sneeze at out there. For prospects, Burgett looks for horses with good minds and speed. “They have to be able to stay quiet in the box, run, and rate back pretty good. They have to be big and stout. After running, they have to settle down good, and I want a horse to come back to me easy.” He gets a call every now and then about a horse to look at. The Burgetts also have raised a few two- year-olds. “I’ll take horses and track steers first to see if they have any ‘cow’ in them, and go from there. I take my time and do lots of scoring. I might jump one on the first day or two, then go to jumping two, then three, but never more than four even when they’re finished. I have five dogging horses going right now that are up and coming and five hazing horses. I think all of them will be NFR quality.” To have that many horses of that quality is not only skill but luck, according to Burgett, who once again attributes much of that success to Chance Howard. “Our team is serious about getting Chance to the NFR. Last year, he missed by $184 coming in at the 16th position. (Only the top 15 make the National Fi- nals.) Like I said, it takes a lot of teamwork to get someone to the NFR. We couldn’t do this without a whole lot of help. To be the best in the world, you have to have one heck of a team for every single aspect. We have our team here, our friends we have met along the way, lots of guys we can call on for advice, and great sponsors. It would be wrong not to mention the sponsors who help us so much: Finish First supple- ments, KoolSpeed Feed, No Hit Bits, K&D Equestrian, H & H Tires…. I hope I’m not missing someone who deserves thanks.” In addition, Cary Watkins of Mulberry, Arkansas, lives onsite and keeps the barn up and running on a daily basis. Burgett and his team obviously have the skill. Maybe Lady Luck will grace them all in 2022. Sarah Burgett rides Texas at the 2018 Rodeo of the Ozarks.