Sid Miller and Big Smokin Wonder scored a 223.5 to win the tie-down roping finals November 8 at the AQHA World Championship Show. It was the second year in a row that the pair took home the championship.
“I had a good calf tonight, really set the run up good,” Sid said. “My mare worked real good tonight. She just worked perfect.”
Sid has been roping off of Big Smokin Wonder since she was 6 years old. His brother owns the sorrel mare’s sire, Big As I Am, and leased the dam, Lucky Smokin Jade.
“He raised her, so she’s been in the family from the beginning,” Sid said.
Sid said the mare’s attitude is part of what makes her a great tie-down horse.
“What separates her from the other horses is she can really run and she stops and just jumps back all in one kind of unique motion,” he said. “It’s not something you can train a horse to do, they either can do it or they can’t and not many of them do it naturally.”
Sid lives in Stephenville, Texas, and serves in the state legislature where he is chairman of the agriculture and livestock committee. He also has a stocker calf operation and grows shade trees.
“You have to do several things to make a living if you live in Stephenville,” he said with a laugh.
Sid leased Big Smokin Wonder to Jeff Chapman to campaign in the tie-down at Pro Rodeo Cowboy’s Association rodeos this year. They’re currently ranked 16th in the nation and Sid is hoping they will slide into the top-15 so he will get to see his mare at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December.
Regardless, it seems Sid is pretty proud of his mare.
“I’ve always heard a saying that the good Lord gives you one good woman, one good dog and one good horse and I’m fortunate enough to have all three.”
