The Best Wishes For A little Boy

The steer wrestling will be a little different this weekend at the 32nd annual Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals. Jesse Peterson won't be bulldogging steers. And his famed mount "Gunner" won't be running them down. While Peterson, the former three-time Circuit champion from Dillon, hasn't competed in the steer wrestling here for a few years now, "Gunner" has been a frequent winner for more than a dozen years at Four Seasons Arena. The red roan with a skunk tail carried Luke Branquinho to the PRCA world championship in the steer wrestling six years ago. Indeed, 'Gunner' has been a familiar figure in Las Vegas as well as Great Falls. Cowboys like Branquinho have for years struck deals with Peterson to rent the former race horse with the explosive start and competitive nature. In recent Januarys, veteran MPRF qualifier Shawn Downing of Silver Star has hauled the star steed to town for the weekend. But not this year. "Luke offered to let 'Gunner' winter in California," Peterson said Tuesday on the telephone. "Shoot, I figured that was better than letting him stand up here on the ice. He had another good year. He's 18. Getting older for sure, but he seems to be doing good." Peterson said he misses traveling to Great Falls for the Circuit Finals. It was nine years ago on a memorable night at Four Seasons that the Helena Capital graduate won a go-round on 'Gunner,' then raced home to Dillon to be with his wife, Jenny, for the birth of their son. Justus, 9, is a young athlete with a seemingly bright future. His little brother, though, has had some health issues that have affected all in the Peterson family. Since he was born, little Jace Peterson has been afflicted with seizures. "It's been a huge change in our lives," Jesse said. "The first two years he had them weekly and they averaged two hours in length. Every one was life-threatening and every time it was a mad dash to the ER, followed by a life flight and four or five days in the hospital." Jace is now 4, and perhaps thanks to an experimental medicine that is manufactured in France and costs $1,000 per month, things are better.