by Kim Redo | Photos courtesy of Courtney Doescher
What does it take to become a champion? Everyone knows
that the level of skill involved requires hours upon hours of practice, great horses, and luck of the draw. Cowboys and cowgirls from rodeo families know the sacrifices they make. Giving up other activities such as going to the movies or taking a family vacation are not even a consideration when a family member is headed to compete in what is known as the Ironman competition of professional rodeo — the Cinch Timed Event Championship (CTEC) at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie each year. Just ask the Cody Doescher family from Webbers Falls, and take a look at how a champion is made.
To begin, let’s look at the history of this event. It debuted in 1985, showcasing the
top all-around cowboys in the world. Unlike professional rodeo, in which a contestant has to compete in two or more events to qualify for the all-around standings, the timed event championship consists of five activities: heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and steer roping. Each cowboy invited to the event must compete in all five events five times during three days. This year, 25 cowboys competed for total purse money of $200,000.
Cowboys consider an invitation to the CTEC as an honor. As 2023 winner Cody Doescher says, “To be here is a blessing.” From now on, his name will be displayed with flags honoring past champions of the event in the Lazy E Arena. Only the best of the best earn this claim to fame.
Cowboy Life Is a Joint Venture
Besides the untold hours of practice in multiple events for most of a cowboy’s lifetime, multiple factors are involved in earning the big win. The luck of the draw is always a major part. How does a cowboy handle a slow calf or a steer bent on breaking the sound barrier? Horses have good days and bad days. If a cowboy is on a borrowed horse, is the comfort level good? How does a working cowboy find time to practice? How much practice is involved? Does he need help?
Doescher’s wife, Courtney Ross Doescher, tells exactly what it takes. The mother of three is hardly a stay-at-home mom. She holds a full-time job teaching preemployment transition services (preETS) at area high schools and manages a busy game schedule and a household with three children. Her husband is gone much of the time in his job as an auctioneer ringman. (He is the guy who watches and notifies the auctioneer of bids being made at horse and car auctions.) Paizley Rock, 13, and Rance Rock, eight, are ball players, and their little brother, Holten Doescher, three, is their fan. Juggling everyone’s schedule is a skill their mother does well.
In addition to work, school, and game practice, livestock must be fed, horses kept legged up, meals and housework maintained. Cody Doescher’s upcoming competition demands practice, and plenty of it. Because he is gone so much of the time, Paizley rides his horses daily to keep them in competition shape. Once Doescher gets home from work, he is off to the practice pen.
“Honestly,” Ms. Doescher says, “Paizley would rather be riding Cody’s horses before she does anything else. Rance is our athlete. And Holten — well, I think he is going to be our next cowboy. He even taught himself to rope by watching the guys on TV!”
Commitment Keeps Everything Going
Being from a rodeo family as well as a competitor groomed Ms. Doescher for the position of keeping everything going. It is tough at times, but she does it well. The former barrel racer won the Indian National Finals Rodeo at age eight, making her the youngest person to enter the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas. After high school, she slowed down and sold her good horse, named No Time. Later, a friend set her up to meet Doescher at the Fort Worth Stockyards in 2017.
“I arrived first. I saw him unloading his horse Pistol off the trailer. I could see that he was a good horse and well taken care of. That was points for Cody right off the bat,” Ms. Doescher remembers. The rest, as they say, is history.
When asked what event she most liked to see her husband compete in, she had to think.
“Wow, that’s a tough one. I guess bulldogging. He enjoys this event so much because it is all on him.”
Does she attend all his rodeos? No. “Unless it is close to home, we do not go. With the kids and school, there are no late nights. I don’t go as much as I used to. I used to go all the time.”
Paizley, Rance, and Holten are pretty excited when they watch Doescher perform. Holten never takes his eyes off his dad. He is keenly in tune with the competition.
Ms. Doescher knows how physically demanding rodeo is and knows that a person should compete and enjoy that lifestyle while it’s possible.
How tough is Doescher’s schedule on their relationship? This year, when Doescher is able to get home, he will hit plenty of rodeos. He will attend the International Finals Rodeo, qualified in steer wrestling, the American Cowboys Rodeo Association finals, and the World Champions Rodeo Alliance. For him to be on the go that much means a capable person must be at home to manage everything. And Courtney Doescher is one tough allaround champion in that area.
For more information about the Cinch Timed Event Championship at the Lazy E Arena, go to www.lazye.com.
