Broncs on the mind

Coleman Shallbetter takes top spot in state rodeo finals


Coleman Shallbetter tightens a saddle on his horse Shishino.

When Coleman Shallbetter turned 18 on Nov. 15, the first thing he did, after loading a cattle pot with his father at their ranch on the edge of Gunnison, was sign up for his Colorado Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA) membership as a saddle bronc rider. Card in hand, he’ll be roaring into his adult eligibility already on a hot streak. 

In 2021, Shallbetter came out on top during the Cattlemen’s Days ranch rodeo when he was only 16. Earlier this summer, he notched a first place spot at the Colorado Deer Trail Rodeo with a score of 78. This October, he took first place again at the CPRA State Pro Rodeo Finals in Montrose in the third “go” — or attempt on the bronc — with a score of 87.25. He averaged second overall from three gos, with a score of 239. 

Shallbetter said bronc riding and rodeo were so normal while he was growing up, it was almost inevitable that he’d find himself on the back of a bucking horse. 

“I just kind of grew up around people riding broncs,” he said. “My dad always had his old saddle and stuff laying around, and I’d always mess with that as a little kid. I just wanted to do it. And then, once I did, it kind of just took off from there.”

Though Shallbetter grew up around rodeo culture, he only began to officially compete two years ago through high school rodeo. He’s homeschooled, partially so he can help on the ranch. But it also helps him concentrate on rodeo, he said. The schedule is unusual and wouldn’t always work with a normal public high school drumbeat. 

He’s traveled all over Utah and Colorado on the Mountain West circuit. Often Shallbetter is on the road with travel partners, in particular his friend Monte Downare from Hartsel, Colorado, who he only met two years ago. Together the pair racked up the accolades in Montrose, including a first-place notch for Downare in bareback riding. 

“He was already high school rodeo-in’,” Shallbetter said. “We became friends through that and then started traveling together.”

Looking ahead, Shallbetter said he’s got a few colleges interested in him, but for the time being, he’ll test his skills on the pro circuit. At the moment he’s also enjoying sponsorships from Turquoise Junction and the Gun Room. He said he likes the community and culture surrounding rodeo.

“I think it’s definitely a cool deal to be a young kid rodeo-in’ and whatnot,” he said. “You get a lot of respect out of it from all those older guys, so it’s definitely a cool thing. But that’s about the  size of it mostly.”

Shallbetter said when he comes to the end of his rodeo career he’ll dive back into the family business. 

“I’d like to see where rodeo can take me and then eventually have a small ranch,” he said. “I have quite a few of my own cows here. My dad gave me some when I was a little kid, and I’ve kind of been growing from there.”

(Jacob Spetzler can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or jacob@gunnisontimes.com.). 

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