Nebraska Rodeo Star and His Horse Killed by Lightning

A Nebraska rodeo star and his star horse were killed when both were struck by lightning.

Terrel Vineyard, 27, was riding his horse, Dose, while checking on cattle in Oshkosh, Nebraska, when they were struck on June 21, reported NBC affiliate KNOP2.

First responders arrived to declare Vineyard dead at the scene. A lightning strike was later identified as the cause of his death.

There were no immediate details about Dose's death. But a GoFundMe page to raise money for Terrel's family noted: "Terrel and Dose left for greener pastures together — Terrel with his rope in hand."

Vineyard was a professional calf and team roper who had qualified for the World Series of Team Roping in Las Vegas three times and was “well-liked in the rodeo community,” according to Cowboy State Daily. 

Vineyard married his wife, Stacey, earlier this year with Stacy's three daughters by their side. She called her new husband a "father figure" to her girls.

The lightning strike occurred just two months before the planned wedding reception.

The GoFundMe campaign has been set up for a college fund for their daughters. A local bank in Oshkosh has also established a fund.

According to the crowdsourcing page, Vineyard learned to rope as a 6-year-old and spent countless hours honing the craft at local arenas.

He became so accomplished at roping through junior high and high school that he went to Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on a rodeo scholarship. 

Vineyard was laid to rest on last Tuesday. Mourners were encouraged to attend service at the Garden County Fairgrounds Arena in Lewellen on horseback.

His wife expressed heartfelt thanks for support from the community and those who knew and loved her husband.

“June 27th, 2023 we laid our husband, son, and brother to rest,” she wrote. “It has been truly humbling to receive the love that has been shown for Terrel and all of us.”

Terrel Vineyard is the sixth person in the U.S. killed by lightning in 2023 and the first person in Nebraska in more than 10 years, according to the Lightning Safety Council.

There were 223 lightning deaths in the U.S. between 2013 and 2022, the council declares.