Rodeo: Fischer trying to bounce back from rough 2010

Barrel racer Tammy Fischer used to stay on top of her statistics.

She could recount her best times, best years and biggest rodeo wins and rattle off just about anything else related to her 10-year pro career.

But then her 18-year-old son, Riley Key — Fischer's personal stat keeper and ever-present traveling buddy - died in a tragic auto accident in May 2009 on State Highway 36 near Brenham.

The numbers were insignificant without him.

"It was the first summer he stayed home," said Fischer, who finishes Super Series III tonight at RodeoHouston. "It was the first time he didn't go (to any rodeos) with me."

Down and out

Last year was the first Riley didn't go anywhere with Fischer. It also was her first time competing without her favorite horse, Roundpen, who helped her win a championship here in 2006.

Without either, Fischer didn't advance out of her super series or win any money. But she didn't leave empty-handed.

"Everything's different now," Fischer said. "Last year was hard because it was the first time everywhere without (Riley). And then we were really blessed and shocked (because) two weeks before Houston last year we adopted a baby girl.

"It was an accident. We weren't looking. She (Sydney) just turned 1."

Now Fischer, 42, is riding with new hope - and a new horse.

She's back for the second year with Money, a much younger gelding than injured Roundpen, and she's hoping Money is ready to step up his game.

He certainly has a championship pedigree.

Money was bred from the same sire as defending Houston champion Sherry Cervi's mare, Stingray.

Fischer and Cervi are best friends and frequent traveling partners, and Cervi currently is kicking up her boots at Fischer's home in Ledbetter.

"It's motivating because I don't resent her, I don't hold anything against her - I (just) want to beat her," Fischer said. "I tried to talk her into leaving me her horse, but she wouldn't do it."

Horse of a winning color

Fischer wouldn't be riding without Roundpen if she could help it. After all, he is the horse she rode in on.

Together they have won nearly $600,000, qualified for five National Finals Rodeos and finished third in the world in 2002.

"It's like your favorite pair of jeans, and you put them on and you know that they look good, you know that they fit, you know that they're comfortable," Fischer said. "Then you get a new pair and sometimes they're not just right.

"That's the difference in my two horses."