Bulls, boots and rifles

MOSES LAKE — Mike Corey is busy rounding up bulls for one event after another year-round, taking his bulls to bull ridings and rodeos everywhere from Wenatchee to Las Vegas.

Unlike other weeks during the year, this week Corey is rounding up the best bulls Corey & Horst have to offer for the Sixth Annual Moses Lake Corey & Horst Invitational Bull Ride.

"It's great to have the people, the town and sponsors get behind us for this event," Corey said. "I like being able to put it on for the hometown crowd. It's become a tradition and people support it really well."

The event features some of the nations top bulls pitted against cowboys from as far away as Caldwell, Idaho and Portland, Ore.

There are some familiar traditions that will continue, including the annual rifle raffle. Local ranchers sponsor a bull for $150 and give each bull a name for the event. Whichever bull produces the championship ride in the long round wins a rifle for both the sponsor and the bull rider. The event also offers $3,500 in prize money for the champion rider.

Some changes have been made the to event as well, namely the seating in the Pavilion. After selling out event seating for last year's event, an extra 600 seats have been added to accommodate a larger crowd.

This year's event also offers more riders than previous years with 44 riders slated to take a turn in the chute.

"We've got some up and comers riding this year," said Corey.

Some of this year's featured bulls will be Perfect Poison, Night Sweats, 3 Spot, Hemi and North Star — all bulls that have made their mark on the PBR circuit.

"All the stars are comin' out that night," said Corey. "This is the best set of bulls I've ever had."

The bucking gets started at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Kenny Ardell Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for kids 6 and under.