Joseph Harrison Takes First through Third at Cowtown Classic Futurity Heeling

Joseph Harrison and CR Better Be Tuff never placed lower than the top five through three rounds of heeling at the American Rope Horse Futurity Association (ARHFA) Cowtown Classic and finished the show with a championship worth $10,733. CR Better Be Tuff wasn’t his only mount that had a standout performance.

Harrison took the Championship on CR Better Be Tuff (Woody Be Tuff x Calie Del Rey x Dual Rey), the Reserve Championship on Copperton (Spots Hot x Copperish x Metallic Cat), and third place honors on Bet Hesa Smooth Cat (Bet Hesa Cat x SDP Quiverin Step x Wimpys Little Step). Over the whole weekend, Harrison and his horses took home an estimated $30,000.

CR Better Be Tuff didn’t pull a check from either round, but in the finals he proved he’d earned his spot and marked a massive 238.42 for $10,733. He’d placed third and fifth during the morning rounds.

“He’s a pretty cool horse,” Harrison said. “Darren and Terra Johnson own him, and they’ve become good friends of ours, and customers. We’ve got several of theirs over there at the house. They really liked that little horse (CR Better Be Tuff), and they tried him at a couple of places and he just wouldn’t get along good. Then Mr. Darren and I kind of came up with a plan. We’ve got him on the right track and have placed on him several times, but that’s the first time I’ve won on him at one of these futurities.”

Harrison said he starts training each horse in the same ways, they all learn their end of the steer, then he allows them the opportunity to excel where they show promise, wether that be in the show pen, or at jackpots, or rodeos. The ability to cater to a horse’s personality and athletic ability has worked out well for CR Better Be Tuff.

“He’s a lover, he wants you petting on him, he’ll lick you, he wants to rub you with his head. He isn’t rude about it, he just wants to be your buddy,” Harrison said with a laugh.

Harrison said that he, and most of the horses he rode at the Cowtown Classic are preparing to head to Utah for another ARHFA futurity. He is excited about the added money, $405,000 to be exact. Which will be the highest added money ARHFA show on record.