After a distinguished career and two years of retirement, the celebrated mare, Killer Bee, passed away at 19 on July 10.
Killer Bee, from Beutler & Son Rodeo, had an impressive rodeo career, competing in both bareback and saddle bronc riding events. She earned the title of Top Bareback Horse at the NFR in 2018 and 2020. In saddle bronc, she was named the Top Saddle Bronc Horse of the NFR in 2013, 2014, and 2022.
Her achievements at the National Finals Rodeo were remarkable. In 2019, she was the Top Bareback Horse of Round 3, and in 2022, she was the Top Saddle Bronc Horse in Rounds 4 and 9. The cowboys voted her as PRCA’s Bareback Horse of the Year, the highest honor for a horse in the sport.
Her final appearance in the arena was during the 2022 NFR when Dawson Hay rode her in Round 9. The ride was unforgettable, with the crowd roaring as the 8-second buzzer rang. Hay’s 92-point ride clinched his first round win of the finals, and Killer Bee earned the Top Saddle Bronc Horse of the Round. She left the arena to a standing ovation, a fitting tribute to her incredible career.
After her last ride, she retired to the Beutler & Son’s ranch in Elk City, Oklahoma, where she joined their renowned breeding program.
Rhett Beutler told Pro Rodeo Sports News, “She was a once-in-a-lifetime horse. You’re going to go through a lot of horses to find one that gives what she gave every time, and has the longevity, awards, and spectacular outs she had.”
Reflecting on her last ride, Beutler added, “She had lots of spectacular moments, but the way that was billed, the way it happened, and the retirement run around the arena were the icing on the cake. It was a good farewell.”
Stock contractors hold their animals in high regard, considering them part of the family. The Beutlers chose to retire Killer Bee while she was still at the peak of her performance. “You don’t want them to keep going until they get to the point where everybody rides and gets 83s,” Beutler said. “Then you lose that electricity that she brought into the arena. You couldn’t have scripted it, written it up, or drawn it out any better than the way it happened.”
Killer Bee’s spirited personality and enthusiasm for rodeos will be missed at the ranch, but she left on her own terms, with respect and honor. Hats off to an extraordinary athlete.
