Snyder resident, Hale, set to return to the NFSR

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  • Snyder resident and professional steer roper Garrett Hale and his horse, Gumby, try to rope a steer during a steer roping event. Hale will compete in the National Finals Steer Roping event in Mulvane, Kan. on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23.
    Snyder resident and professional steer roper Garrett Hale and his horse, Gumby, try to rope a steer during a steer roping event. Hale will compete in the National Finals Steer Roping event in Mulvane, Kan. on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23.
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A year removed from earning around $17,000 in earnings in the 2018 National Finals Steer Roping (NFSR) event in Mulvane, Kan., Snyder resident Garrett Hale is back with even bigger ambitions.
Hale, a 2010 Snyder High School Graduate, competed in the NFSR event a year ago and racked up roughly $17,000 in earnings in his first year at the event, placing in six of his go-rounds and finishing in tenth overall.
Hale has only improved heading into 2019. According to www.prorodeo.com, Hale is currently ranked tenth in the world standings with $39,310 in earnings in 2019.
He will look to continue that success as he makes the trip to Mulvane, Kan. for the second time in two years to compete in the National Finals Steer Roping event yet again. While he had success in his first trip to the finals, Hale said there are several things he can improve on and correct this year.
“The horse I rode for the first few rounds was the worst I had rode all year,” he said. “I have a new horse, but I need to be willing to make the change if he struggles. I also need to be more patient with my roping and let things set up, that way I can put together a smooth run.”
A year wiser and more experienced, Hale has learned how to make the most of his runs and he said he has set some lofty goals for himself as he prepares for the competition.
“I have become more disciplined,” he said about his patience during his runs. “It takes time and a lot of discipline. My goal heading into this year was to increase my catch percentage. If you don’t catch the steer, you can’t score, so my goal for the Finals is to catch all 10 steers and give myself a chance to win the average.”
Hale said he is proud to represent the Scurry County communities and that residents have began to take notice of his accomplishments.
“The support has grown a little bit,” he said. “I have had a bunch of people from the Snyder community reach out. They may have known my family but did not fully understand what I was doing. That has definitely helped.”
Hale will compete in the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping event in Mulvane, Kan. on Nov. 22-23.