Patrick Smith’s Kadabra King is the 2022 Nutrena AQHA/PRCA Heel Horse of the Year, because the 12-year-old gelding by Abrakadabracre out of the Holidoc mare Quixote Jessie carries two-time World Champ Smith to his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification in seven years.
“I think he’s a standout kind of horse,” Smith, 42, of Lipan, Texas mentioned. “I think he’s one of those horses that’s special—that’s good anywhere, Salinas or Cheyenne. He hasn’t been to the Thomas & Mack yet, but I know he’ll perform there as much as anywhere.”
Smith and Kadabra King at Salinas with Tanner Tomlinson. | Phil Doyle Photo
The dun gelding Smith calls Turbo was bred by Wayne and Carolann Hodges of Weatherford, Texas, however he spent his early profession below the possession of South Point Hotel & Casino house owners Michael and Paula Gaughan. National Cutting Horse Association Hall of Famer Cookie Banuelos had been driving him, however he wasn’t making it in that area so Banuelos despatched him to Lari Dee Guy. Smith’s outdated accomplice Trevor Brazile noticed the horse below Guy’s coaching accomplice Hope Thompson in 2015, and he informed Smith he oughta attempt him. Smith ran a couple of steers on him and acquired him.
Smith turns in on one to position at Estes Park on Turbo. | Phil Kits Photo
“I sent him to Ben Gambrell for a whole year,” Smith mentioned. “Because he wanted to buck every time I saddled him. He spent almost a year on him, with no live cattle, only the machine. When I got him back, he was ready to apply the pressure. It took him a while.”
Turbo’s first high-pressure scenario was the Wildfire in 2017, the place Smith, behind Aaron Tsinigine, cut up the win with Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira.
“He was unpredictable, but by the time he was 9, he was finally mature enough to focus,” Smith mentioned. “Before that, he was a little kid with the attention span of a gnat.”
Finally having figured issues out, Smith was able to promote Turbo and search for one other nice horse. Then within the spring of 2021, Turbo bought harm. But by July of that very same 12 months, Rooster and Smith’s third-string horse have been harm, too. Smith borrowed horses over the Fourth of July, after which had Turbo—freshly rehabbed at Outlaw Equine—despatched again out on the highway to complete the season.
“I couldn’t sell him anymore, because he was all I had for a whole year,” Smith mentioned. “I’ve always said I’ve had two great ones and a lot of good ones. But Turbo is close to being a third great one.”
In 2022, Smith stayed on Turbo to earn nearly all of his $107,368.21 in ProfessionalRodeo earnings, together with placings at Nampa and Salinas and wins at Mandan, North Dakota, Gooding, Idaho, Burley, Idaho and Missoula, Montana.
“Joe Beaver just told me he won a lot of stuff, but winning Horse of the Year means more than almost anything,” Smith mentioned. “This is special to me—it was the same as Amigo. I got him young, and I learned so much and stuck it out. It means a ton to have a great horse in this game. He’s perfectly sound, and with his mentality he’s the kind of horse that can go for another decade. He’ll probably outlast me.”
Team Roping Header
- JESS A MOOSE, “Grey,” ridden by Lightning Aguilera – owned by Jim Donnan (Stand by for story on Aguilera’s Jess A Moose!)
- COLE E MAN, “Biscuit,” ridden by Andrew Ward – owned by Andrew Ward
- RK TUFF TRINKET, “Bob,” ridden by Riley Minor – owned by Riley Minor
Team Roping Heeler
- KADABRA KING, “Turbo,” ridden by Patrick Smith – owned by Patrick and Christi Smith
- NITA WIN PLAYBOY, “Drago,” ridden by Logan Medlin – owned by Login Medlin
- THE STAR PEPTO, “CJ,” ridden by Jake Long – owned by Jake and Tasha Long
