story by Naomi Loomis, WSRRA Association Representative
TeJay Fenster is a ranch-raised cowboy from Casper, Wyoming who now makes his home in Nebraska. He has a colt starting business called Screw ‘Em Up Right Quarter Horses. He not only rides horses, in his spare time you can find him riding a few bulls. “I learned a lot about rodeoing from my late dad Tony,” TeJay says. “My mother, Melissa and my step dad, Jim have always helped where they can, too. They want to see me be great at what I love to do and for that kind of support I can’t thank them enough.” TeJay also has a brother, Ty, that ranches in South Dakota.
TeJay started riding broncs in Edgemont, South Dakota in 2011.
“That was the first year Burch Rodeo Company had the broncs there. I showed up with a couple of friends from college and somebody was a no show so I entered up and loved it. By the time the whistle blew I was whooping and hollering and was hooked on it.” ~TeJay
TeJay met WSRRA member, Wesley Rosengreen and a few other WSRRA members and they encouraged him to enter more WSRRA Ranch Bronc ridings. “They gave me something to strive for,” he says.
In 2015, he saw a Facebook post by Naomi Loomis for the WSRRA Ranch Bronc Riding Bash in Torrington, Wyoming and entered. “I didn’t really know anything about the association but bought my card and never looked back! The WSRRA is just an awesome association with down to earth people and great stock. I encourage anyone curious about the WSRRA to buy your card and enter up.”
After TeJay became a member he quickly gained the lead in the rookie of the year race for the WSRRA. “Then I placed out of the money at some ranch bronc ridings, got busy at the ranch, and couldn’t go like I wanted. My buddy, Gatlenn Huddleston, ended up taking the WSRRA Rookie of the Year title which was my major goal, but I got a call to go to 2015 WSRRA Finals and won Rookie of the Finals. I had two no scores but was a great experience that left me with the goal of getting a WSRRA world title.”
I asked TeJay what it feels like to ride a ranch bronc, “It’s ten times faster than, and almost as exhausting as, riding a bull. You can ride all the broncy colts you want but until you climb aboard one in a buckin’ chute you have no idea. It’s almost unreal because you are scared and nervous until the second jump, after that you know you can ride the bronc and then everything just becomes fun!”
TeJay trains for bronc riding by getting on as many practice horses as he can. Other than that, he visualizes a lot of bronc rides in his head and practices lifting on his reins and setting his feet. “My saddle horses have become serious spur boards for me while riding pastures,” he says.
Ranch bronc riders have their favorite broncs, the broncs that they hope to draw. TeJay’s is Storm Watch from the Bad Medicine Rodeo Company. “That blue mare is so cool. I watched Justin Quint win the round on her at the 2015 WSRRA National Finals. One day, I’ll get the chance at her.” He also likes riding ranch broncs of the Burch Rodeo string. “Honestly, any day you can get on a Burch fire breathing dragon or any bucking horse in general is a good day!”
On the rodeo trail, TeJay has five things that he makes sure are in his rig. First, his bronc saddle. “That’s a major necessity,” he says. Second is his Australian-Shepherd- Hanging Tree dog named “Dog”, “He goes everywhere with me.” Third are his tunes, “I listen to Matt Robertson, Chris Ledoux, Dave Stamey and just about anything else worth listening to.” His coffee is fourth, “Too many long miles to travel without good strong black coffee to keep ya going.” Fifth is his bedroll and cell phone, “Yah just never know what’s gonna happen on the rodeo trail!”
TeJay has his sights on a WSRRA World Championship title. His goals for 2016 are to make it the 2016 WSRRA World Finals. “When I left the 2015 WSRRA Finals last year I wasn’t happy with how I rode, having been bucked off two horses. But watching Justin Quint win his first world title set my sights pretty high and I decided I was going to push for a world title in the ranch broncs and get a team qualified for the finals as well,” TeJay says. With his goals set, I expect TeJay to excel in the WSRRA in 2016.
Congratulations TeJay for being the 2015 WSRRA Rookie of the Finals
