story by Lindsay King
It takes more than a torn ACL to keep Parker Glenn off the back of a horse. Though his injury came from riding, it wasn’t the kind he’s used to. This Edmond, Oklahoma, cowboy rides saddle bronc horses in addition to roping calves and steers in the OHSRA. “I started in the breakaway roping and then tied calves for a while, but it was never my strong suit. Ever since I started riding saddle bronc it has gone better for me than roping ever has,” said the 18-year-old. This recent high school graduate grew up around the Etbauer family. It was only a matter of time before he climbed into a bucking chute. “Billy brought a bronc saddle out one day and strapped it on a steer. He told me to ride it and I have loved it ever since. He has helped me every single day since then. Billy has always been really good to us [the family].”
Born to parents (Rodney and Diane) who grew up roping and running barrels, Parker and his older sister Peyton, 20, were destined to compete. “My mom’s family raised barrel horses while she was growing up. Now my sister and I compete for my grandparent’s ranch (XN Ranch) in futurities and derbies on the young horses.” Competing on a national stage in a high-stakes situation isn’t uncommon for Parker.
The first year steer saddle bronc riding was featured at junior high nationals (2015), Parker took home the championship buckle. He won state by one point in the saddle bronc riding last year after winning all three rounds and the average. “I went into state seven points behind and I had to win it all to take state and that’s what I ended up doing. I just focused on myself, the horse and my saddle so I could make the best ride every time.” After missing the mark out in round one at nationals, Parker more than made up for it in the second round. Parker placed in the top four with that second ride, which took him to the short round in his first year of riding saddle bronc at nationals. He has lofty goals to make another appearance at nationals, despite his torn ACL. “I am going to finish riding broncs this season, compete at Shawnee and hopefully make nationals.”
Parker sought help from Tandy Freeman out of Dallas for an everyday brace and one he can ride broncs in. “He works with a lot of the pro guys. He helped me order a paddle brace so I can keep riding broncs. It just goes on the outside of my knee and we wrap it up with a bunch of tape.” Parker intends to finally have surgery in August and spend his first semester at Southeastern Oklahoma State University healing. “I want to start competing again in the spring semester, then I will try to buy my PRCA permit.” After a stint as a professional saddle bronc rider, Parker intends to take over the family business: 4G Concrete. “I was going to buy my permit in May, but that wasn’t going to happen after I tore my ACL.” Parker finds both humor and a lesson in his recent injury.
“Rodeo will keep you humble. It teaches you to lose. You might be upset and beat yourself up about a loss, but there is always another rodeo to go to.” Though Parker has competed at the IFYR in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the last two years, this will be his first as part of the Bloomer Trailer team. He enters both the saddle bronc riding and team roping. “I like everything about Shawnee: the set up, the horses, the people. There are so many people there that you meet and end up being friends with forever.” One of those lifelong friends is Jack Wright. “We have been best friends since the day we met. We can go months without seeing each other and it is just like we were together the day before. Without rodeo, I would not have met him.”
