WRCA Top Horse Finds His Way Back to Roberts

The 2023 World Championship Ranch Rodeo Top Horse has a story of his own.

Lauren Fritzler | Nov 14, 2023

WRCA Top Horse Finds His Way Back to Roberts /

Seven short months ago, TJ Roberts got the call to go pickup one of his trusted equine partners that was set to retire. On November 13, that same gelding won the prestigious Top Horse award at the 2023 World Championship Ranch Rodeo.

Roberts rode his 11-year-old gelding, TRR Royal Gold throughout the duration of the ranch rodeo representing Hat Creek Cattle Company. The ranch was established in 2021 and is located in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Roberts is a co-partner of Hat Creek Cattle Company, helping with the cow/calf operation and grow yard. Over the last two years, they have also started building up a brood mare band at their ranch.

TRR Royal Gold comes from Tounge River Ranch genetics. Roberts depended on the horse while working at Tounge River Ranch in Paducah, Texas. He sold the horse to the Livingston family, where they roped calves on him in the arena. Once they were ready to retire the horse, Roberts asked if he could return to the ranch to be turned out with his other geldings. But upon arrival, the horse proved his continued abilities to perform ranch tasks.

TRR Royal Gold is by a stud that Tom Moorehouse had called Waurika. When Moorehouse was managing Tounge River, he bred his stud to some of the mares that were there, one of them being Charlena, an own daughter of Smart Little Lena. This cross led to strong ranching genetics and athleticism for TRR Royal Gold.

"We're pretty tickled with him. I used him in a lot of the events and my son used him in his events as well," Roberts shared about the versatility of the gelding.

The Top Horse awardee has a long prize line to take home, including a Resistol hat, a Yeti cooler, and several others, but most importantly, they get to load up the Top Horse and travel home to the ranch. The true trophy is ownership of a horse they trust to carry them while they care for livestock day after day.

"We put a lot of value on the horses," Roberts said. "When we win something like this with as many good horses that are here, we realize just how blessed we are."

Published Nov 14, 2023

LAUREN FRITZLER

Originally from Northeastern Colorado, Lauren grew up on a farm and ranch where she was heavily involved in production ag. The small Colorado town allowed Lauren to flourish. Lauren’s family has a generational love for rodeo and she was naturally attracted to the western lifestyle. From an early age, she would compete in rodeos and travel with her mom to rodeos around the state while juggling school involvement. She prides herself in not only competing in rodeos, but winning rodeos on horses raised on the ranch. Lauren got to Texas as fast as she could. She currently attends West Texas A&M University where she studies Agricultural Media and Communication with a double minor in Ag Business and Economics and Broadcast Journalism. She is an Agricultural Ambassador for the Department and serves as the President for Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. When Lauren is not in the classroom, she is striving for excellence in her professional life. She has completed an internship at the College National Finals Rodeo and the Tri-State Fair and Rodeo, where she gained skills to make her mark on the western industry. She uses her graphic design skills to create logos for small businesses, travels to spend time with family, and immerses herself into the rodeo world. No matter where life takes her, Lauren is strong-willed and dedicated to her God-given purpose. Day by day, she aspires to be an advocate for agriculture and the western lifestyle. Lauren Fritzler believes we are all lifelong students, that the western lifestyle allots extensive learning opportunities throughout a lifetime. In efforts to teach others about rodeo, she is thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with Sports Illustrated Rodeo Daily.