ERIC SCHMOLDT Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 12:00 am
Seth Glause knows there's no need to panic.
The bull and saddle bronc rider from Rock Springs has some ground to make up as he works toward his second trip to the National Finals Rodeo.
But with the rodeo season's busiest few weeks starting right now, Glause has plenty of time.
"The next three months is where 90 percent of the money is won," he said after a successful bull ride at the Ponoka Stampede in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. "As long as I can keep riding good and maybe have a little luck here in the next three weeks, that'll get it done."
Glause - who made his first NFR in bull riding last year - has made more than $20,000 in the event so far, leaving him more than $13,000 out of the top 15.
But it helps that the former Central Wyoming College cowboy is getting his confidence back.
Glause finished 15th at the NFR and 15th in the world, and the disappointment took its toll during the winter season.
"At the beginning of the year, I thought about it - I hadn't done as well at the Finals as I would like to," Glause said. "It seemed like that was worrying me so I'm just getting back into the groove and riding bulls like I should be.
"[Tuesday], I felt like I rode good and I rode good at a rodeo the other day. I'm getting a lot of my confidence back. I just needed to get some rode and start feeling good about myself."
A quick trip back to Casper, where he caught up with his former Central Wyoming teammates, eased his spirits as well.
And while Glause is focusing on another bull riding appearance at the NFR, he's also working on a top-50 finish in saddle bronc riding.
He's currently just outside the top 40, and a finish there would help gain him entry into some of the bigger rodeos next season.
And a big summer session could help him achieve both of those goals.
"It's a lot more fun when you're getting on every day and going to a rodeo every day," Glause said. "Pretty much starting [today], I'll pretty much go to a rodeo every day until the end of September."
At that point, he'll know whether or not there's reason to panic.
CODY STAMPEDE BEGINS TODAY: The Cody Stampede will help kick off Cowboy Christmas - a portion of the season with some of the biggest and highest-paying rodeos - tonight.
The Cody Stampede is one of eight gold-tier events on the Wrangler Million Dollar tour.
The rodeo begins at 8 p.m. tonight, Thursday and Friday and at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Stampede Park. There is also a Dodge Xtreme Bulls event on Sunday at 6 p.m.
Contact sports reporter Eric Schmoldt at (307) 266-0578 or eric.schmoldt@trib.com.
RODEO TRACKER
KEEPING TABS: The Star-Tribune continues to keep up with professional cowboys with Wyoming ties during the year's busiest months.
GLAUSE FILE: Bull and saddle bronc rider Seth Glause, a Rock Springs native and former Central Wyoming College cowboy, is seeking his second National Finals Rodeo qualification.
NO WORRIES: Glause is currently outside the top 30 in both events, but knows he has plenty of time to catch up as the busiest stretch of the rodeo season begins today.
HE SAID IT: "As long as I can keep riding good and maybe have a little luck here in the next three weeks, that'll get it done." - Glause.