HOUSTON — RodeoHouston is about the competition, but before one competitor was able to get into NRG Stadium, he first had to fight Houston traffic.
Marty Yates, a tiedown Roper from Stephenville, Texas, was due second in his event last week. He thought he left where they were staying with plenty of time to get there, but hit traffic on the 610 Loop.
That's when Yates had an idea. He decided to get on his horse and ride to the rodeo.
"Once I got on the horse and I was headed up here, I knew I was going to make it," he said. "So it kind of turned fun. Everybody was hooting and hollering and videoing and stuff and it was a good time. And then, I don't know, when I rode in here, something about it came over me that, man, tonight is going to be a good night."
He was right. It was a good night. Not only did Yates make it to his event, he won. He also made it to the finals Sunday, where he took home $10,000 for third place.