How a 23-year-old Quarter Horse helped a young tie-down roper make his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and shaped a family’s rodeo legacy along the way.
At 23, “Bob” is an old hand.
If he had a rocking chair, he’d sit in it all day, watching life go by.
He’s a little grumpy now, prefers being at home and doesn’t eat much when he’s on the road. Yet, when the gate cracks and the moment matters most, Bob still shows up like he always has.
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association tie-down roper Tom Crouse, who qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2025, has won most of his money aboard Bob, registered as Last L Straw. Tom is just nine months older than the sorrel gelding, and the two have been a team for as long as Tom has thrown a rope.
“I technically took Bob to his first jackpot … I was 8 years old,” Tom says. “I caught all three calves, and back then, that was a big deal. I’m not a very confident person per se, but that horse gave me a lot of confidence.”
That confidence is reflected in the pair’s resume. Together, they won Joe Beaver’s open roping (ages 13-15), four Missouri high school state championships, the Junior American in 2019, and the 2020 Great Lakes Circuit Finals average and year-end titles.
In 2025, Tom’s trust in his faithful steed ultimately allowed him to win the renowned Cinch Roping Fiesta and capitalize at some of the most important rodeos in his breakout season.
“Last year in Calgary, I was roping against guys like Shad [Mayfield] and feeling like I could be faster,” Tom says.
That belief proved true on July 12, when he clocked the fastest run of his career — a 6.80 — to finish runner-up and ride away from the Stampede with $32,500 on Bob.
When asked about how much the gelding influenced his son’s performance in Calgary and the season as a whole, Gene Crouse says, “probably 95% of it.”
“It’s like putting on a pair of old gloves, you know exactly what it’s gonna feel like,” Gene, who trained Bob, adds. “Tom didn’t have to worry about anything but roping.” ‘
During his long career, Bob hasn’t just carried Tom — he’s carried the entire Crouse family.
“Kirbie [Tom’s sister] had him at the college finals in Casper, and she rode him all four years,” says Gene. “Her freshman year, she makes the short round, and Tom’s at the junior high finals in Des Moines, Iowa. As soon as the short round’s over, they throw Bob in the trailer and drive all night so Tom can ride him there. He ended up winning the round.”
Kirbie captured the 2016 College National Finals Rodeo title, the biggest of her career, on Bob.
“Everybody in our family rode him … He didn’t work any different for either one of us,” Gene says.
Bob didn’t just help the kids. Gene won multiple over-40-year-end and average titles, while his wife, Carrie, won regional breakaway championships and qualified for major finals — all aboard the same horse.
“I joke nowadays that Bob made Tom look good; now, Tom makes Bob look good,” Karie says. “He’s been a once-in-a-lifetime horse for sure.”
Rodeo life, however, is rarely perfect. After helping Tom secure his first NFR qualification, a dream come true for the Missouri cowboy, Bob came up lame just days before being hauled to Las Vegas, Nevada.
“He’s got a strain in his deep digital flexor tendon,” says Aaron Brisbane, Bob’s long-time veterinarian.
Brisbane, originally from Australia, says Bob is unlike any horse he’s treated.
“I think it’s just the way the horse is put together — he’s got more try than most,” Brisbane says.
With Bob sidelined, Tom borrowed a horse from his friend Nolan Richie and rode Shane Hanchey’s horse for the final two rounds. Even with the setback, he still put together a strong NFR debut, placing third in Round 1 with a 7.9 and winning checks in three additional rounds.
“It was disheartening that Bob didn’t get to go,” Karie says. “But moving through problems is the important thing, and that’s what Tom did. We couldn’t be prouder of him.”
Tom finished the season 11th in the tie-down world standings with $213,697.
“This was a dream come true for me,” Tom says. “People where I’m from in Missouri don’t make it there, and I have to give a lot of credit to Bob. He’s been there every step of the way.”
With one of the most ordinary names in the English language, Bob turned out to be anything but. The Quarter Horse originally came to the Crouse family through a trade with Nebraska breeder Cheryl White, exchanging one of Karie’s barrel prospects for two of Cheryl’s roping colts. Because of White’s surname, the sorrel was first called Bob White, like the bobwhite quail. Gene jokes that with age, Bob has grown more distinguished, earning the nickname ”Robert White.”
When asked what the Crouse family would say to Robert White if he could understand them, the answer came quickly for everyone: “Thank you.”
“If we could get him in the house, he’d have a seat at the table,” Gene adds. “He’s part of our family.”
Bob is expected to return to the rodeo trail shortly after his 24th birthday in July, with hopes of competing at the 2026 Calgary Stampede.
This article was originally published in the April 2026 issue of Western Horseman brought to you by Martin Saddlery.
I remember when I was a kid the man that helped me get started in tie-down roping said “most of the great horses are old enough to vote”.
Go getum Tom and Bob!!
We also have Bob..he is grumpy but very focused. As a now 30 something year old, he , too, is a Robert. A gentleman who has his “good soup” and as many treats as he wants…Bless all the Bob’s and the ones like them.