We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Georgia Orahood and Brittany Cox
MSUN Rodeo standouts Georgia Orahood of Malta, MT, and Brittney Cox of Chinook, MT, competed in their first Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals at the Metra in Great Falls, MT, January 9–11, 2025, adding excitement and memorable performances to the event.
Brittney Cox entered the Montana Circuit Finals alongside her standout mare, CCR Pearl N Blu, sitting in the number 10 spot. Describing her 14.2-hand, 1,225-pound mare, Cox said Pearl was "tough," explaining that she would have run barrels on three legs if asked. Pearl thrived in big, wide-open outdoor arenas, loved performing in front of large crowds, and consistently proved to be one of the most intelligent horses Cox had ever worked with. Her awareness, heart, and reliability allowed Cox to trust her in every situation.
The road to qualifying for the 2025 circuit finals had been a challenging one for Cox. Her other horse, Earl, had been recovering from throat surgery, placing the full weight of the season on Pearl. Cox also tore her shoulder early in the summer, leaving her arm supported only by muscle. Despite many weekends of arriving at rodeos in a sling and removing it only to compete, Cox was able to continue through physical therapy and support from her team, postponing surgery until after the circuit finals. One of her most memorable moments came in Billings, where Pearl slipped badly twice during their run yet never quit, clocking alongside some of the top horses and cowgirls in the sport. It wasn't until Cox watched the video afterward that she fully realized how much Pearl had battled, a moment that left her emotional and reinforced Pearl's grit and love for her job.
Cox entered the Finals Barrel Racing in fifth place and led the Rookie of the Year standings, holding a narrow $300 lead over fellow rookie Tammy Steadman of Arlee, MT. She finished fifth in the average with a three-run time of 40.58, just one-tenth of a second behind the fourth-place time of 40.48 posted by NFR competitor Brittney Sporer of Stephenville, TX. For her efforts throughout the season, Cox was crowned Barrel Racing Rookie of the Year.
Georgia Orahood also delivered an impressive performance during the circuit finals. She set an arena record in Breakaway Roping with a 1.9-second run in the second performance. Although the record was later reset with a 1.8-second run by NFR competitor Joey Williams of Volborg, MT, Orahood's accomplishment stood as a highlight of the weekend. Her consistent performances throughout the season earned her the Breakaway Roping Rookie of the Year title.
Both athletes brought determination, talent, and heart to the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals, and their performances made a lasting impact. Their success added to the excitement of the rodeo, and their achievements were a source of pride for MSUN and the Montana rodeo community.
