Rodeo Cowboy And His Horse Killed By Lightning Strike
on Jul 05, 2023
Terrel Vineyard, 27, was a Nebraskan Cowboy who qualified three times for the World Series of Team Roping in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On the afternoon of June 21, 2023, team roper, Terrel Vineyard, was checking his cattle when he was struck by lightning, killing him and his horse named Dose.
At 4 years old, Vineyard started riding full time with his dad and calved his first full spring horseback the next year. He was born and raised in a ranching family and knew that life like the back of his hand. Terrel earned a rodeo scholarship to LCCC in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he attended in the fall of 2014. He returned to the ranch in 2017 to work alongside his dad, Shawn, where he continued to work until he passed away.
“Terrel was great at making friends. Anywhere he was. He maintained his first friendships and made a million more along the way. He had success in the arena, but he was most proud of the friendships he made. To know Terrel was to love Terrel,” the obituary for the beloved cowboy reads.
Stacey, Terrel’s wife, posted on Facebook thanking everyone for their support after losing her husband only 5 short months after their wedding.
Terrel’s sister, Tori, wrote a very heartwarming tribute to her brother on social media.
“I always wondered who Terrel would marry. He had been crushing on girls well.. for- ever. But he found a really great gal that we all love. And those 3 sweet girls,…he would do ANYTHING in this world for them. Although he was called home decades too soon- any old cowboy would be proud to leave this earth the way Terrel did. We lost a good man and a good horse on the first day of summer this year. And our lives will never be the same.”
In true cowboy fashion, many friends and family brought their horses to the funeral. The obituary stated, “Horses and their riders are encouraged to attend the funeral.”
Terrel’s widow thanked everyone for making the extra effort to bring their horses to the funeral.
“Thank you to everyone who was able to bring horses. We are very grateful for the extra effort it took to do that.”
The obituary says, “Terrel purchased Dose a few years ago as a roping prospect. Terrel and Dose left for greener pastures together -Terrel with his rope in hand.”
The family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made via GoFund Me or directly to an account set up at Nebraska State Bank. Donations can be mailed to Stacey Vineyard c/o Nebraska State Bank, P.O. Box 260, Oshkosh, Nebraska, 69154. Click HERE to donate via GoFundMe.
Watch the video below to hear Roy Rogers and Dale Evans sing “Happy Trails.”
