2007 World Champion All-Around Cowboy

2007 World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider

Shawn Minor

Winning world championships is not a new thing for Shawn Minor of Camden, OH and at the end of IFR38 Minor had added two more titles to his resume.  He again earned the IPRA’s top honor, World Champion All-Around Cowboy.  “This was the best one for me, at least the less pressured race to win,” said Shawn.  “I like to win the all-around; it felt good to win it again this year.  I think I appreciate it more as I get older and know that I am getting to the end of my riding career.  I plan to rodeo hard this year for sure, and then we’ll see.”

Shawn has always been a dominating factor in the bareback riding and holds four world titles in that event.  IFR38 brought a changing of the guard as Billy Griffin unseated Minor to take his place as reigning world champion.  Not to be shut out, Minor stepped up in his second event, saddle bronc riding and unseated Tyler West of Center Ridge, AR.  West had held the top seat in the world standings much of the 2007 rodeo season but competed the latter part of the year with a recurring back injury.  The injury proved to be significant enough to prevent West from making the eight seconds on three of his four IFR mounts, opening the door for Minor to slip past him and claim his first gold buckle riding broncs.  “I don’t know how I won it really, because I have never thought I was that good of a saddle bronc rider.  I guess sometimes you prove yourself wrong.  I just try to stay on and win some money and it worked out for me this time,” Shawn explained. 

Shawn rode Painted River from Wild Horse Rodeo in round one of IFR38 for 71.5 points.  He failed to draw a check but laid the groundwork for the all important average race.  Minor split fourth, fifth, and sixth in the second round of the IFR aboard Girlfriend from the Wild Horse Rodeo string with 75.5 points.  The third round paired Minor with High Roller from Hampton Rodeo Company, a low score of 63 points kept Shawn from drawing a check in the round but kept the average a factor.  Shawn and Playgirl from Wild Horse Rodeo Productions failed to finish their eight second dance together but the 210 points Minor accumulated on the three previous rides was enough to earn fourth in the average and edge past Tyler West for the gold buckle. 

The Minor’s have a lot planned for 2008, hitting as many rodeos as possible of course, but there is also a relocation plan in the works.  “We are going to explore our options and see what’s out there.  We want to get something that will work for all of us,” said Shawn.  “I am pretty diverse, I grew up ranching and now I am a welder, so I have a lot of options.”

No matter where the Minor’s end up hanging their hats, gold won’t be far out of their reach.