Page 158 - Barrel Stallion Register 2016

Brian Fulton
October 14, 1962 - August 28, 2015
Brian Fulton passed away on Aug. 29 in Valentine, Nebraska, at the age of 52. Brian
was born in Pierre, South Dakota, graduated from Miller High School, and attended South Dakota State University. Out of college in 1984, Brian joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and quickly made a name for himself in timed events.
Brian always followed advice he received from his father in that an individual should “just leave their saddle in the tack room” unless they have
a skilled horse. Brian carried this principle with him through the time he spent in competition, and then he made it the foundation of his business, Fulton Performance Horses.
Brian received 12 All-Around Cowboy titles (from 1984 through 1999), six Steer Wrestling titles (from 1986 through 1999), and a Calf Roping title in 1994. He was a 10-time Dodge National Circuit Finals qualifier, the Dodge National Circuit Finals Champion Calf Roper in 1995, and the Dodge National Circuit
Finals All-Around Champion in 1996. He was
a National Finals Rodeo qualifier in 1991, the National Finals Rodeo Reserve Champion Steer Wrester in 1996, a Lazy E Arena Timed Event contestant in 1997 and 1998, and a 2-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Brian was inducted into the Casey Tibbs Hall of Fame as a Rodeo Cowboy Great in 1999.
Brian dominated as a competitor for decades,
but a knee injury forced him to leave that part of his life behind. The legacy he created in competition, however, was just a part of who he was, but it was this part of him that he would draw upon to prepare the horses he and his wife Lisa would offer to the public.
Brian and Lisa have operated Fulton Performance Horses in Valentine, Nebraska, since 1995. Fulton Ranch has long been a facility with the reputation of having some of the top barrel and performance bloodlines in the country. Continuing with the principle Brian learned early on from his father, they believe working horses on the ranch is a key part of their early training and that this experience readies them for work in various events. They also try to keep racehorse genetics in the pedigrees to give their horses speed, while all the time striving for a high quality universal horse that can go in many directions.
Among the many stallions owned and standing at stud by the Fulton Ranch, the
most recent include A Streak Of Fling and CS Flashlight. A Streak Of Fling had a lucrative race career, winning three races, earning a 98 speed index, and banking over $27,000. The red roan stallion was also a Grade 1/Grade 3 stakes finalist. As a sire, he is the decade’s #2 all-time leading living barrel sire with $1.6 million in earners. CS Flashlight is also a top barrel sire as well as a multiple stakes sire on the track. The
gray stallion won four stakes events, earned a 106 speed index, and banked over $64,000. Both stallions are an example of the Fulton goal of providing speed and high quality horses for sale.
For 15 years, they held the Fulton Performance Horse & Production Sale. The
last one was held Aug. 21, just one week prior to Brian’s passing. A multitude of horses that sold through their sales have gone on to become top competitors, including 2011 Cheyenne Frontier Days Steer Wrestling Champion Pac N The Heat, 2011 Canadian Finals Champion A Streak Of Rita, and 2011 AQHA All-Around Open Horse Streakin Boon Dox.
Brian’s strong will and determination in all he did, along with support from family and friends, helped him in his battle with brain tumors for the past six years. He underwent several surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy, but the cancer returned and Brian succumbed to the disease on Aug. 28. Nearly 2,000
people attended his funeral, which was held
at the Cherry County Fairgrounds in Brian’s hometown, and a celebration of life, which was held at the Fulton Ranch.
On the Fulton website is a note from his family thanking everyone for their tremendous outpouring of support. There is also a quote from Winston Churchill that defines Brian’s life, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Brian is survived by his wife Lisa, children Jake, Jared and John Lloyd, and many other family members and friends.
156 SPEEDHORSE
The Fulton Family
IN MEMORIAM