Bareback riders travel rodeo circuit as a pack

NAMPA - Professional rodeo may not seem like a team sport, but Royce Ford and his traveling companions - known in rodeo circles as the Wolfpack - buck that notion.

Ford, three-time world champion Will Lowe, Wes Stevenson and Tom McFarland - all bareback riders - share a van, which brought half of the pack to the Snake River Stampede at Nampa's Idaho Center.

"A few years ago, we started traveling together, we were first second and third about everywhere we went, and a friend walked up to us and said, 'Man, you're like a pack of wolves. You don't leave any scraps for any of us,' " said Ford, of Briggsdale, Colo. "Everybody kind of got to calling us the Wolfpack and it kind of stuck, I guess."

Even without Stevenson and McFarland in town, the Wolfpack still had some bite Friday.

Ford - ranked 14th in the world standings - won the go-round with a score of 86 to move into a tie for the lead with Kaycee Field heading into Saturday's finale. Lowe - ranked fifth in the world - registered a 69 and was offered a re-ride, but opted not to take it and will watch the finals.

McFarland, of Wickenburg, Ariz., is recovering from a severe wrist injury he suffered last month and Stevenson went home to Lubbock, Texas, to tend to some other business before he rejoins Ford and Lowe on Monday.

"(McFarland) had a horse flip on him at Pecos, Texas, and he broke his wrist in about 20 places, so he's done for a while," Ford said. "It hurts you just as much as it does him to see your friend hurt like that. But he's a tough old bugger. He'll find a way to survive and go on."

The four cowboys have been traveling together for about four years and Ford said he, Lowe and Stevenson plan to be back in the Treasure Valley for the Caldwell Night Rodeo later this summer.

"These guys are as close to brothers as I've got," Ford said. "I spend more time with them than I do with my wife and kids during the season, so yeah, it's great to have friends like that."

The four have also been known to let out a howl after a good ride.

"I'm sure it's happened," said Lowe, of Canyon, Texas. "When you're feeling good, you never know what's going to come out. I'm sure that has something to do with that nickname sticking."

Ford didn't have a chance to let out a howl after Friday's ride, because he was busy collecting his thoughts after an unorthodox dismount from Grakel Roan.

"He's dang sure a handful," Ford said. "That horse probably weighs about 1,900 pounds. He's a big old strong thing. I felt like I did my part, but right there at the end, he tried to kick me in the face. He didn't beat me, so I feel pretty good about it. I put myself in a pretty good position to win this thing Saturday, so that's my plan."