The gloves that bind

Tanner Theriault was bursting.

Known as a “Cowboy’s cowboy” among his friends and peers, Theriault found himself getting emotional during the bull riding of the Northern Rodeo Association Finals.

This wasn’t just about a dramatic ending to the NRA Finals at Majestic Valley Arena during his tenure as bull riding director, this was a full-circle moment that was born from a small-town Montana act of kindness almost a decade ago.

Memories of that meeting are still in a teenage bull rider’s bedroom.

Devyn Hundley of Darby won the third round of bull riding at the NRA Finals, going 84.5 points aboard Crushed Smokes owned by Jacobs Livestock Rodeo.

The round win and third place in the average was enough to lift the 18-year-old to his first NRA year-end title.

“I think it was awesome,” said Theriault. “I think I got as emotional as his dad (Josh). I knew he had to ride that last bull to win. That same bull bucked me off in 2023.

“Heck yeah, I got emotional. So many memories. Knowing I would never get on another bull and Devyn’s got his whole future in front of him. A pretty crazy happenstance.”

Theriault’s connection with the Hundley family goes back to a chance meeting at a Darby gas station.

Theriault and his traveling partners had competed in a bull riding competition the night before in the western Montana town of less than 1,000. The group stopped for fuel before heading home to Townsend.

“We filled up and it wouldn’t start,” said Theriault of his 1996 Chevrolet van. The bull riders spent an hour trying to solve the problem.

“Like we knew what we were doing,” Theriault said with a good laugh.

Josh Hundley happened to drive up and see the frustrated bull riders.

“Guy pulls up, says “Hey, I’m the mechanic in town,’ ” remembered Theriault. “We hooked the van up and pulled it to his house. He looked under the hood. Luckily, Josh knew what he was doing. He was under there quite a while.”

Young Devyn Hundley, “I was about 10 or 11,” he said, saw three bull riders milling around his front yard and immediately sprinted upstairs to his room.

“I ran up and got my NFR shirt for them to sign,” he said. “Dad took me to the bull riding the night before and I got autographs on a hat.”

Hundley was initially hesitant to approach the cowboys. “I was kind of in awe,” he said. “I was nervous. We talked and stuff.”

Theriault and his friends offered to pay Josh Hundley for his services.

“We were broke as hell,” Theriault said. “We could have scraped together some money. I think one of us won some money the night before but it came in check form.

“We offered to pay with what we had. He declined. That’s what kind of man Josh is. We were very thankful he fixed our van.”

Looking for something to give the family, Theriault reached into his gear bag and found some old bull riding gloves, “And some other things, I can’t remember what,” he said and handed them to the son.

The group made it back to Townsend.

Theriault and Hundley family crossed paths again at the NRA rodeo in Hamilton four years ago. By then, Devyn Hundley was riding mini-horses and mini-bulls.

His mother Amy approached Theriault. “Remember us?” she asked. They took a picture that both sides still cherish.

Josh Hundley pulled Theriault aside. “Ever since you gave him (Devyn) those gloves, all he does is eat, drink and sleep bull riding since you were at the house.”

“I tear up thinking about that,” said Theriault, himself a father of two young sons.

The signed ballcap hangs on a hat rack and the gloves are kept in a box.

Devyn Hundley won two Montana state titles during his high school career. The 2024 graduate of Darby High School is installing gutters for his uncle while preparing to get his pro card.

“Dad rode bulls,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to be a bull rider since I was itty-bitty. I started and loved it.”

Hundley had nine top-four finishes at NRA rodeos this summer including wins at Bozeman 1, Deer Lodge, Boulder and his hometown Darby.

“His focus, his attitude,” said Theriault of Hundley. “Devyn is one of the most young, dedicated bull riders I’ve seen in a long time.”

The 33-year-old Theriault retired from bull riding in July. He has custody of his children and they are his focus.

But his story with Hundley is not over.

“I rode all over the country in that van,” Theriault said of the vehicle that has 180,000 miles. “It sat for a few years. I finally got some money and got it going again. It runs great.

“I’m trying to get Devyn to buy it.”