Burger joined the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association in 1985, when she moved to Oklahoma with her husband, Kerry, but just dabbled in the ProRodeo ranks until 2006. That year a horse named Rare Fred carried her to her first WPRA world title. She not only etched her name in the record books for the 2006 world title, but she also became the oldest world champion in the WPRA at the age of 58.
“It used to bother me when people would talk about age and not being able to do things because of age, but then when I made it to the NFR (for the first time) and all the different fans that would tell me how much of an inspiration I was. It changed the way I looked at it,” said Burger. “I am just thrilled to be able to do what I love and glad that I can serve as an inspiration.”
Burger would qualify for the Wrangler NFR two more times (2008-09) with Fred. In 2010, Fred was sold and so began Burger’s search for the next great ride. Enter a buckskin gelding registered Sadiefamouslastwords, known as Mo.
“I have trained all my life and have had lots of top-notch horses come through, so I knew I had it in me to train another great one after Fred,” said Burger in 2016. Brad Leiblong, a futurity trainer and horse trader, had sent horses to Burger in the past and he found a 2-year-old that he wanted to trade for, so she asked him to send a photo.
“Once I saw the photo there was just something about him and I knew I wanted him, so we made the trade,” beamed Burger, who traded an open horse for Mo. “It was the best trade I have ever made in my entire life.”
Mo took to the ProRodeo circuit like a champ, collecting his first big win at RodeoHouston and followed that up a few months later with the title at the Calgary Stampede. The first week of August, Burger surpassed Lindsay Sears’ record for most money won prior to the NFR with $185,439. Sears set the record in 2008 with $184,567. Burger would set a then regular season record earnings mark with $190,977 and would become just the third WPRA contestant in Wrangler National Finals Rodeo history to wear the No. 1 back number, joining Charmayne James and Sherry Cervi.
Burger would finish the 2016 season with $277,554 in earnings capturing her second gold buckle at her fourth and final NFR.
