01/25/2026
Rylee George has given plenty of notice on her breakaway roping game in recent years. The quiet California cowgirl tied the 1.7-second National Finals Breakaway Roping record in Las Vegas in 2024, then turned right around and set the NFBR average record at the most recent edition of the world championship event in Fort Worth in December. She jumped out and took the victory lap in Round 1 of Bracket 1 at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Friday night with a salty 2.1-second run. About that sweet little sorrel horse who had a hand in all three featsโthe one with the white flecks from Father Time starting to frame his warrior-pony faceโฆ
If he looks familiar, itโs because in his younger years he richly blessed the career of Cowboy King Trevor Brazile. The career Deputy had with Brazile was highly unlikely given the rocks in his early road. That heโs still making headlines at 22 defies all odds and vet checks. And yet, the least surprised by Deputyโs continued success is Trevor himself.
Brazile bought 5-year-old Deputy, his full 4-year-old brother Squirrel and full 3-year-old sister Gabby at the same time all those years ago. Squirrel went on to the Adams brothers and 2004 World Champion Tie-Down Roper Monty Lewis. Gabby went from Trevor to NFR tie-down roper Joseph Parsons to 2017 World Champion Tie-Down Roper Marcos Costa to Lewis. Deputyโs little sister Gabby was bred to renowned red-roan cutting superstud Metallic Cat, and had twins, Relentless Glory and Relentless Big Shot.
โGlory now double ovulates, because she was a twin,โ Trevor said. โShe has over two dozen babies hitting the ground this year.โ
But back to the star of this story, โThere are no short conversations about Deputy,โ Brazile said. โIf he hadnโt fractured his coffin bone and torn his deep flexor tendon at the Timed Event (Championship)โwhere I rode him when he was 5 just because the calves were big and strong, and heโd had calves roped on him when he was youngโDeputy would have become a head horse. He was uncharacteristically big to rope calves on. My original plan for him was to be a head horse. But after he got recuperated from those injuries, I figured itโd be easier on him to just let him keep doing what he knew. So the whole plan for his career changed.
โDeputy had a pretty rare quality about him that only two horses Iโve ever hadโhim and Jagโhad. When you dropped your hand, he ran the exact same speed whether you were kicking him or standing up to rope. Deputy was running until I threw my rope, with no cheat. A lot of horses will give you 70-80% until you hustle them. Itโs just really hard to find a horse that gives you 100% without having to be asked. Deputy and Jag always gave you all they had automatically. When I got on other horses, I had to remind myself to ride after being on cruise control riding those two.โ
Deputy technically would not have passed a standard vet check from 6 years old on, but heโs a poster boy for sometimes taking a leap-of-faith chance on one who may not have squeaky clean X-rays or other test results, but is functionally sound. Trevor took that chance on going on with Deputyโs career, and here he still is taking victory laps doing what he loves.
โA lot of horses arenโt physically perfect in every way. But if you can manage a good horse and he has a heart, he can last a long time at a very high level,โ he said. โDeputy loved it, and he was just so dependable. You could call on him no matter how big the stage, and know what you were going to get every time.โ
Deputy retired from the full-time rodeo trail when Trevor did a few years back. The interesting twist on why he didnโt live out his days in Brazileโs barn was the temptation to enter here or there instead of calling it a career.
โI decided to sell Deputy so I wouldnโt be tempted to crack back out,โ Trevor smiled. โMy retirement was more final when I sold Deputy than when I announced my retirement. I knew in my heart that Deputy wasnโt done, and I loved the idea of him going on to help somebody else. I knew if he went to a good home and was managed (no need to make a bunch of practice runs on him, for example; he knows the drill), how great he would still be and how long heโd last.
โDeputy scores like a statue. And that horse could haul ass, so even if he lost a step, he still had it. I knew heโd be great in short setups forever. What else could you ask for in a breakaway horse?โ
Nothing, if youโre asking George, who at 25 is just three years Deputyโs elder. Deputy was who delivered her to that 1.7-second NFBR record, which was first set by Sarah Angelone in 2023, then tied by both Rylee and Danielle Lowman in 2024. George rode Jill Tannerโs Bob in most rounds at the 2025 NFBR, but cracked out Old Faithful when she drew one that matched Deputyโs gangster gunslinger strengths.
Rylee and Deputy clipped the barrier last night in Round 2 of Bracket 1. Without that 10 at the line, theyโd have tied DLowโs 1.6-second Fort Worth record. They advanced anyway, and will come gunning again in the semifinals later in the rodeo.
Trevorโs rodeo trail days are behind him, but heโs still the sportโs biggest fan. And they donโt make better horsemen, or cowboys who appreciate great horses more.
โPeople still text me when Deputy does good,โ Trevor said. โThatโs awesome, and I love getting to watch the videos. That horse deserves all the recognition he gets. No breakaway roper would have bought him when he was 10 or 11, because he was just too honest and free. He had to figure out the breakaway game, because thereโs no cheat in him. Heโs got it down now, and he still loves being out on those big stages. Deputyโs a winner. Heโs always been a winner. Heโs just a great horse, and he might have a little age on him now, but heโs still got it.โ
Relentless Remuda | Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo | Reliance Ranches | Las Tunas Performance Horses Rodeobum.com๐ธ
