Young Cole Hould among top placers in heeling after event four

Cole Hould isn't your typical 12 year old athlete.

In a world ruled by sports like basketball and football, young Hould is a roper.

Though he is from Havre and isn't a Phillips county resident, he is roping well.

According to his mother Ruby Hould, Cole has been riding horses since the age of three or four.

At his age today, Hould is the youngest of the Crossfire summer series team ropers, but age isn't anything but a number.

Hould was brought into the sport of team roping last year after he spent time with his uncle Jeff Hould.

"My husband's side of the family (Hould-Robinson) do a lot of roping and he saw that," Ruby Hould said. "He is infatuated with Trevor Brazile the famous roper."

Brazile is a 19 time national rodeo champion, who often times with his heeler Patrick Smith in team roping can wrangle a calf within ten seconds.

Though he has tried heading, like his hero Brazile, Hould prefers being a heeler because it's easier for him, he told the PCN.

To most mothers, the sight of their child on a horse, chasing cattle may make them cringe.

"I was raised on a ranch and was always around rodeo and horses so it's in the blood I guess," Ruby said.

With that type of pedigree, Ruby does not get nervous when her young son takes the arena.

Hould does get nervous however when her sons venture into rough stock.

"I have an 18-year-old that does bareback riding and some roping," she said. "Another 18-year-old, my stepson does some roping and my other stepson, who is 15 does some roping as well. He also rode a couple of bulls."

Cole, who is a seventh grader, does breakaway roping, steer riding and miniature bull riding.

Hould has been in rodeo since he could put on his own pants and has even won four or five buckles according to Ruby.

"He won in steer riding in Chinook last Thursday (July 10)," she told the PCN.

He has yet to win any buckles in team roping, but due to some of the skills he has displayed in the Crossfire series, it may not be long before he does.

"He has done some ropings for points in the junior high division of the Montana Rodeo Association," Ruby told the PCN. "He's definitely a determined child."

It helps that his uncle, Zortman's Jim Robinson is not only around to help but also has a few horses in his stables.

Cole rode Holly at last Wednesday's event, because Hould's horses aren't trained for roping yet.

"He spend's a lot of time out at Jim and Leslie's ranch out by Zortman," she said. "So Uncle Jim is letting him borrow a horse all summer."

Young Cole Hould is a crowd favorite, who often received cheers after he ropes a calf.

"It's exciting. It definitely encourages him more and it makes me happy to know that they are welcoming him here," said Hould. "He loves it here."

(Being a part of Crossfire roping has been) good. It's helping me become better than I was in the beginning," Cole told the PCN.

It is apparent that rodeo runs deep in Cole Hould's veins because in this summer series after three events, Hould is sixth in heeling.

Other top placers after three events are:

Heading:

1. Shane Anderson - 38

1. Justinn Marshall - 38

1. Matt Simonson - 38

4. Shayne Bishop - 37

5. Lonnie Kaufman - 31

6. Ross Salsbery - 30

Heeling:

1. Ken Salveson - 40

2. Shon Simonson - 33

3. Jessie Orahood - 28

4. Tyler Simonson - 25

5. Dennis Oxarart - 23

6. Cole Hould - 21

All Girl:

1. Justinn Marshall - 38

2. Jessie Orahood - 28

3. Macey Cox - 18

4. Kirsty Stewart - 5

5. Lindsey Lund - 3

All Around:

1. Tyler Simonson - 44

2. Jett Anderson - 39

3. Logan Lund - 32

4. Jace Bishop - 25

5. Jim Robinson - 20