Mike McGinn needed two things – a horse and something good to happen.
Ahead of his runs at California Rodeo Salinas last weekend, the Haines, Ore., steer wrestler was looking for to build momentum as the summer run reached its peak. After a relatively lackluster June, McGinn picked up a little more than $5,900 in earnings during the Fourth of July schedule, then placed in two rounds at the Calgary Stampede.
That was keeping him inside the top 20 of the PRCA World Standings, but not by much. His usual horse, Eddie owned by Tanner Milan, was unavailable for Salinas. So, McGinn made a call to fellow bulldogger Tucker Allen to inquire about hopping on his equine partner, Peg Leg.
“That’s the first time I’ve ridden him, actually,” McGinn said with a laugh. “I called Tucker and he let me on him and it worked out well.”
That might be an understatement as McGinn won the opening round then placed in the other two on his way to an aggregate time of 21.3 seconds. Ironically, he edged out Grant Peterson (22.2) for the average title. Peterson and Allen are co-owners of Peg Leg.
The outcome was certainly a significant one as McGuinn hadn’t won a rodeo since taking home the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show in Union, Ore., one-header back in early June. His last average title came at the Clovis (Calif.) Rodeo in late April.
The $15,628 boost was exactly what the veteran steer wrestler was looking for, especially as he continues pushing to stay in contention for his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
With almost $71,500 in total earnings for the season, McGinn is sitting 13th in the World Standings as July winds down. It’s a spot that has him hungry for more.
Since 2019, McGinn has found himself ranked inside the top 50 of the standings at the end of every season. His high point was finishing 20th in 2022 with a career-high $63,558 in money won. He’s already eclipsed that mark with more than two months left to play out in the regular season.
“I need to keep after it but it’s been good so far. That was a big hit right here in the middle of the summer. A guy needed that to keep up in the standings, so that was big,” McGinn said. “I’m just riding good horses, just trying to be better myself. I’m staying more mentally focused, visualizing more and taking care of business better.”
While he’s in a good spot today, McGinn recognizes there is still work to be done. As of Wednesday, he’s sitting tied for first in the average at Spanish Fork (Utah) Fiesta Days Rodeo after two runs, giving him the chance to keep that momentum rolling.
No matter the route, McGinn has his eyes on one finish line – Las Vegas in December.
“That’s been the goal for a long time and hopefully we’re on track for that,” McGinn said.
File photo courtesy of Fernando Sam-Sin/@fsamsin