Little Wrangler All Around
story by Siri Stevens
Gage Hudson from Eutaw, Alabama, won his second Little Wrangler All Around title at the Lazy E Arena last week. “I liked competing on my horses and riding them,” said the 9 year old who brought three horses to the Finals. He competed in all four Little Wrangler events. “I will miss competing in the barrels and poles,” he said thinking to next year when he will move into the Junior boy division. He is not sure if he is ready to tackle the roughstock, but plans to add team roping and ribbon roping to his event list.
Along with the Scott Thomas saddle, Gage took home scholarship money, a Resistol hat, a lot of buckles, two sets of spurs, and a YETI cooler.
“I like to rodeo because I get to meet new people, travel, and ride my horses,” he said. Gage started rodeoing in the NLBRA in 2015 when the Alabama Little Britches Rodeo Association was formed. He also rodeos in Mississippi with the MidSouth Little Britches. He won the poles, barrels, and the all around at Mississippi. He won the barrels and the all around at the Alabama franchise. He has 11 saddles and 30 buckles. “We’re going to build a trophy room.”
Gage brought Sam Cardinale “Sam”, A Sharper Cardinale “Sharpie,” and Peppy’s Lovin Ruby “Ruby” to the Finals. Ruby is new to the family and “she runs like Sharpie.”
Sam, 13, is Gage’s goat tying and flag racing horse, and Sharpie, 12, is his mount in the pole bending and barrel racing. “They are brother and sister, and my mom raised them and trained them,” Gage said. “They try their best and they are consistent. I give them treats when they do good, and breaks.” He practices several times a week with his parents, Billy and Angela Hudson, and also works with his ponies.
Gage is homeschooled so he can travel and rodeo. Along with competing, he helps with the family farm as well as their rodeo company, Double Creek Rodeo Company. They produce rodeos in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. Gage pushes cattle out, carries a flag and helps in the back pen.
He doesn’t enjoy being an only child. It’s boring – I have nobody to play with.” He lives by the motto of always trying his best and having fun.
