Cody DeMoss was taking it easy Wednesday afternoon kicking back in one of the bunks at Severe Brothers Saddlery, better known in the cowboy world as Hotel De Cow Punch.

Cody and his brother Heath, along with Curtis Garton and Will Smith, were here in Pendleton for the night on their way to Kennewick for tonights performance of the Horse Heaven Round-Up.

We had a few days off and needed a place to come hang out and wash some clothes, DeMoss said.

DeMoss is having the best year of the four that are traveling together. Hes third in this weeks PRCA world saddle bronc riding standings with more than $72,000. He said he is very pleased with his position.

You know, I really am. Its been a great season already. I just thank God for my blessings and glad that he blessed me in it, he said. Ive been drawing some pretty good horses everywhere and shoot, I could always ride a little bit better, but everythings going good.

Injuries are always a big part of this rough and tumble sport of rodeo and DeMoss has had his share over the years.

Still doing pretty well. Its always good until it breaks, he said. Ive had a couple of little deals this year that wasnt too bad and I sat out some earlier. Its rodeo. Its a rough sport and if it was easy, then women and children would be doing it.

DeMoss and other cowboys love this time of year where most of their rodeos are in the Pacific Northwest.

Its nice up here. I heard some guys the other day complaining about it being hot and shoot, lots of sunshine and its nice, we think, DeMoss said. A couple of weeks ago we went home (to Louisiana) and it was dang-sure a lot warmer there. Coming up here, we get to rodeo and the nights get so cool and its nice and then we get ready for the Round-Up.

Garton has been doing well lately and kept alive his bid to become New Zealands first qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with a nice weekend at the Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo.

Garton won the first round with an 87-point ride on Calgary Stampedes Fearless Warrior and tied for third place in the average to earn $3,788 and jump from 29th to 25th in the world standings.

That puts him one spot shy of qualifying for the $550,000 Justin Boots Playoffs next month in Puyallup, Wash. His earnings of $31,262 are already the highest of his eight-year PRCA career.

Im really grateful it worked out, said Garton of his results in Caldwell. Thats a great horse of Calgary Stampedes. Shes been to the NFR a bunch of times. I was really tickled to hear that I had that horse there.

It has always been my goal to qualify for the finals and it would mean a lot to me to be the first from my country. I believe I will make it, whether it is this year or sometime in the future. Ive got about 12 rodeos left (of his maximum count of 85) and I will give it everything Ive got for the rest of the season.

Butch Thurman has covered professional rodeo for 32 years. His email address is butch@rodeosportsupdate.com