Houston Hutto prepares for 2012 rodeo

Photo courtesy dudleydoright.com

Tomball's Houston Hutto has been competing in rodeos in tie-down roping competitions since he was a kid. Now, at the age of 30, he competes in nearly 100 rodeos every year across the U.S. and internationally as well. Hutto finished third place overall at last year ' s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in tie-down roping, earning himself $12,500. At this year's event, he is shooting for first.

Q: What are you doing to prepare for the Houston Rodeo?

A: Nothing too out of the ordinary. I try to rope everyday. A bunch of people work out, lift weights and stuff. I make sure to rope, ride my horse and stay in shape.

Q: Do you look forward to the Houston Rodeo more than other rodeos?

A: I get more excited to go here than most places I go to, by far. I have a lot of family and friends that don't get to watch me all year that come out to the Houston Rodeo. Most rodeos aren't this big either. Most rodeos we go to we run $10,000 – $15,000 if you win and you really got to clip them.

Q: What other rodeo events do you compete in?

A: I compete in about 100 each year, from right here in Houston up to Calgary. We'll go all over — Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California. We don't go to the east coast much — some in Florida, and Mississippi.

Q: How much time do you spend on the road?

A: I'm gone all year pretty much. I'm home for maybe 4 – 5 months total each year, mostly in the winter. If they had more rodeos like the one in Houston, we wouldn't have to be gone as much. It's the best one in the states.

Q: What's the most you've ever won?

A: I won $54,000 at the Houston Rodeo back in 2007. I won in 2003 too when it was in the Astrodome. To win any of them is exciting. To win the [$50,000] – I don't know how you describe it. When you got friends from all around that just makes it that much better.

Q: What do you enjoy about the rodeo lifestyle?

A: There is no better way to live, I would think. You don't have to answer to anybody. The one drawback is if you don't win you don't make any money and you're roping against the top 100 guys in the world. It's a tough way to make a living, but you can honestly make good money out of it. You keep clear-minded, you try not to take the lows too low. It can get you down, you get tired of getting [beat], but when you're winning everywhere there ain't nothing else better. You do it for the glory, but it can humble you real quick.