For the second year in a row, two of Pro Rodeo’s top animals were selected the best in their respective category by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Dippin’ Tahonta of Big Bend Rodeo Company – one of the rankest bulls that owners Don Hutsell and Sonny Riley have ever owned – won Bull of the Year honors, while Calgary Stampede’s Grated Coconut, a 1,250-pound, 7-year-old bay stallion topped the field as Bareback Horse of the Year.

The top 30 cowboys in each roughstock event conducted the stock-of-the-year voting. Owners of the top bucking animals receive a bonus from the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company.

Also, Kesler’s Cool Alley Dip received the ultimate compliment when the industry’s top bronc riders voted the powerful 9-year-old brown mare as the PRCA’s top saddle bronc and third-best bareback horse of 2004.

Dippin’ Tahonta, a 1,900-pound gray bull, earned the top honor with a flawless campaign in 2004. No one came close to topping the bull in 13 attempts and he’s been unridden in 50-plus trips over the past two years.

Hutsell and Riley are no strangers when it comes to rank bulls that buck. The pair have owned PRCA bulls of the year such as Smokeless Unforgiven (2002), Skoal’s Border Patrol (2000), Skoal’s Yellow Jacket (1999) and Rapid Fire (1997).

Robin Burwash, rodeo ranch manager for the Calgary Stampede and an 11-time Wrangler NFR qualifier in bareback riding, says Grated Coconut “is pretty special.”

“I can’t say enough about him being a poster boy for bucking horses. He’s very quiet; he loves people,” Burwash said. “He’s not what people think of when they think of bucking horses. When they think of bucking horses, they think of something mean and trying to eat up everybody. He’s halter-broke. If you are in the same pen as him, he has to come up and be right in the middle of your face. He’s got to be scratched and petted. Just loves people.”

Cool Alley Dip is another great story. Alley Dip bucked off 21 of 22 saddle bronc riders this year and dominated the cowboys. Only Glen O’Neill, the 2002 world saddle bronc riding champion, made the whistle.

Meanwhile, the American Quarter Horse Association has honored the top horses in the timed-event end of the rodeo arena.

As Guy Allen takes aim at a record 18th world steer roping title this fall, his longtime horse, Jeremiah, is building an impressive record as well.

Jeremiah, whose AQHA’s registered name is Two D Ole Man, captured his fourth AQHA steer roping horse-of-the-year honor with another stellar campaign.

The AQHA annually honors the top three tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping and steer roping horses in the PRCA and the top three barrel horses in the WPRA. Horse owners receive a bonus and a bronze for their accomplishment. The top PRCA and WPRA timed-event contestants conduct the voting.

Zan, owned by Jim Burks of Benton, Ark., has continuously carried Ronnie Fields and many other top steer wrestlers to the pay window in this season. The 10-year-old sorrel was recognized as the AQHA’s steer wrestling horse of the year.

Other AQHA award winners were Megazord, Tee Woolman, team roping (heading); Pets Ten (Chili Dog), Rich Skelton, team roping (heeling); IR Still Dry (Ned), Monty Lewis, tie-down roping; and Krimps Ready To Go (Elmer), Paula Seay, barrel racing.

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Butch Thurman of Pendleton has covered professional rodeo for 24 years. He can be reached at bthurman@oregontrail.net.