10/05/2026
What does Colter Todd and Steve Duhon have in common?
Colter Todd “It’s Over”
I’ve seen the post by The Team Roping Journal Magazine documenting a conversation with
team ropers Colter Todd and Derrick Begay at the end of the Last Hoorah. Todd asking, “If the heeling was over?” Being on the NFR bubble can be stressful and in Team Roping that
stress is magnified cause it involves a partner. Now Colter Todd is a Team Roping Veteran with over 20 years of PRCA experience with 5 NFR Qualifications with 1 NFR average title.
Todd did finish 16th in the world standings in 2024 so he definitely knows how that feels.
But I can’t help but think it’s more than the individual feeling that Todd experienced in 2024, it’s the stress and disappointment that comes with letting down a partner. And in this case, it’s not just a partner, Begay and Todd are like family. Derrick Begay, the front half of this infamous team roping partnership, recently removed himself from the Governors Cup with
over $50,000 in winnings to team ropers to stay on the rodeo trail to support Todd’s top 15 effort.
During the Governor’s Cup Begay/Todd made 4 rodeo’s in 3 states. Texas, Utah and
California placed 3 of the 4 including one win in Amarillo, TX for a cumulative amount of $7,919 which was just enough to get Todd into 15th place going into the Last Hoorah,
$1200.07 ahead of Wyatt Cox. Far from safe with the Last Hoorah paying $4,333 per round in a 3 head + Short Go and avg payout of $8,666.
The loyalty Begay showed the team roping world is stories that turn legendary. Create heroes that are larger than life. Begay’s selfless act likely put more pressure on Colter Todd more than the ill feeling of a 16th place finish. The closest story in my lifetime of roping that I recall is one from World Champion Steer Wrestler Steve Duhon back in the late 1980’s. At the time of this story Steve Duhon, a future Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Cowboy, was heading for his nephew Issac Duhon in the Southeast Louisiana Roping Association known as SELRA. We pronounced it Sale-Ray. Issac was heeling in the SELRA youth finals and could pick his header. Issac selected Uncle Steve to be his header. Steve already had 2 Steer
Wrestling World Titles and an event record of 3.0 seconds. And I remind you, Steve was linebacker for the LSU Tigers Football Team. Steve has spent a lot of time in a pressure cooker. I recall Steve saying he never felt more pressure in a roping box than that day were little Issac only needed to stop the clock and win a year end champion trophy heeler saddle.
I suppose that’s the kind of pressure Colter Todd felt relieved of when he exhaled, “It’s Over!”
