For Shea Fournier, the three-day run in Waco, Texas was familiar – only this time, the stakes were much bigger.
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Last fall, the up-and-coming saddle bronc rider from Raceland, La., finished just outside the qualifying limits for the 2022 PRCA Permit Finals but was placed into the field as an alternate after several competitors had to withdraw. The rider who wasn’t even supposed to be there ended up walking away with the title.
This year, he earned a qualification. Along with some decent prize money, a win at the 2023 PRCA Permit Finals meant a guaranteed spot in the 2024 RodeoHouston field.
“This year was harder on me because I’d done it before and I expected myself to do it again,” Fournier said. “It was just a lot more pressure, especially with it being a Houston qualifier. It was really nerve racking. I knew I could do it, but it’s just that pressure there that eats at you.”
Fournier placed in all three rounds, including a second-go victory to finish at 251.5 points on three head and win back-to-back PRCA Permit Finals titles.
Winning the championship was a battle as Fournier competed against very familiar foes. Of the dozen qualifiers, three were also Fournier’s traveling partners – Bailey Small, Ira Dickerson and Issac Richard. All three ended up placing in at least one round, with Small winning the third.
Zachary Dallas was Fournier’s biggest competitor, taking runner-up overall after winning the first round and placing fourth in the second and third.
Fournier put himself in good position to win by following up his third place in the opening round with a second-go victory thanks to an 86.5-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Wilamena. It was the highest scoring ride of any saddle bronc competitor over all three rounds.
His third ride actually turned out to be a rematch from last year as Fournier was paired with Cervi bucking horse Redial. In the 2022 showdown, Fournier rode the horse to a victory, which helped secure the championship. The rematch (84 points, second place) might not have ended the same, but the outcome did.
“I do really good at Cervi rodeos and in my opinion they’re one of the best (stock contractors) in the business,” Fournier said. “The one I got on in the third round I actually won the third round of the Permit Finals on the previous year, so I was pretty tickled to draw that one again.”
A second straight win in Waco was a good way to close out 2023 and start looking ahead to 2024. With his spot in RodeoHouston secure, Fournier is eager to continue the positive momentum as his career in professional rodeo launches.
“It’s a big weight off my shoulders to be able to get into Houston and not have to hustle with qualifications early in the year. Now, I can save some of my rodeo count and still make it,” Fournier said. “This year was honestly one of the best years of my life and I was blessed this year on my permit. It was a big confidence boosting year to be able to go out there and get exposed to actually rodeoing.”
Other winners at the $92,331 rodeo were all-around cowboy Cole Eiguren ($5,374, tie-down roping and team roping); bareback rider Mason Stuller (244.5 points on three head); steer wrestler Cole Walker (11.3 seconds on two head); team ropers Jesse Boos/Jace Steenhoek (18.4 seconds on three head); tie-down roper Hayden Ford (28.0 seconds on three head); barrel racer Tessa Arnold (48.34 seconds on three runs); and bull riderJacob Carige (158 points on two head).
Courtesy of PRCA
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