Chasing world titles

With outwardly pointed toes, Leander "Guy" Thomas grips tightly to the reigns lashed to his bucking horse, lifting and spurring to synchronized jumps.

At age 25, he's completed many successful eight-second rides in his career after leaving the reservation to train under the best saddle-bronc riders in the world while obtaining a university degree.

Joining the nation's elite saddle-bronc riders, Thomas was recently crowned the 2010 All Indian Rodeo Cowboy Association's year-end saddle-bronc champion. His first job as AIRCA champion was to represent the association at the 2010 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association's Turquoise Circuit Finals last weekend in Las Cruces, N.M., where he finished fifth in the saddle-bronc average.

The title also qualified him for the International Indian Finals Rodeo later this month in Farmington and the Indian National Finals Rodeo next month in Las Vegas, Nev.

"It's been a long time coming," he said.

Despite his desire to make a run for an Indian world title, after high school Thomas focused on obtaining an animal science degree and perfecting his technique.

"I was always told that if I wanted to rodeo full time, I needed to have something to fall back on," Thomas said of his decision to continue school.

Upon graduation from Ganado High School in 2003 and after completing two seasons as a one-man rodeo team for the school, Thomas packed up his gear bag and drove to Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla., where he graduated in 2007.

"The school produces more world champions than any other schools I know of," Thomas said. "They have the best coaches and ride the best bucking horses."

On the coaching staff at Panhandle were brothers Robert Etbauer, two-time PRCA saddle-bronc world champion, Dan Etbauer, a 10-time NFR qualifier, and Craig Latham, a PRCA competitor.

His freshman year at Panhandle, Thomas competed as a walk on.

Having proved himself on NFR-qualifying, legendary bucking horses from stock contractors David Bailey and Benny Butler, Thomas was offered a rodeo scholarship for his remaining three years.

Thomas still sees his former teammates on the rodeo trail. For example, he competed against college teammate Cody Taton, who traveled to the NFR at age 21, at the Turquoise Circuit Finals. Taton is No. 1 in saddle bronc.

After three years as an independent horse trainer and full-time rodeo competitor, Thomas finds himself not only vying for his dream titles but also is an agricultural science teacher in his home community.

"I didn't think I'd ever become a teacher," he said, laughing. "I had never taught before and was nervous."

His teaching style, one might ask? Just the way he's always learned.

"I want them to learn something new everyday," he said, "and most of it is hands-on learning."

Class consists of textbook work on topics such as animal nutrition and disease, and outdoors work such as feeding and grooming the livestock.

Thomas is also rebuilding the school's Future Farmers of America program. As an FFA sponsor Thomas mentors students in areas such as horsemanship. He recently took his students to the Northern District Livestock Show in Snowflake, Ariz., where his team took district champion honors in the livestock judging.

"At first, there were only a few who were interested," he said. "Now, not only are more students taking an interest, but more women are too."

Like every rough stock contender, Thomas had to pay his dues with injuries or streaks of no-scores, both of which he struggled past.

"I knew injuries came with rodeo," he said. "It was just bad timing for me."

In his first year as a pro, he suffered a broken arm after an unsuccessful ride at the 2008 Navajo Nation Rodeo Cowboys Association finals, which put him on the injured list for six months.

"Things are going really good for me now and I just hope I can keep it up," Thomas said. "I'm making up for lost time now."

His inspiration comes from many angles. His oldest brother Andy Thomas, a Texas Tech University graduate, is one of Navajo Nation's legendary bull riders. His cousin Ernest Bitsui is a former INFR bareback champion and his cousin Ryan Bitsui is an INFR bull-riding world champion.

But his parents, Anderson and Bernice Thomas, and siblings Arlo and Leandra Thomas, have been in the stands cheering no matter the cost and length of travel, according to Thomas.

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