As I write this blog, I keep thinking to myself, this can’t be true… My sponsors, Os Independentes, who have been extremely supportive throughout my entire journey, have just made an unbelievable announcement!

The organizers of the largest rodeo in Latin America are building a monument to honor Frenchie, Bruiser, Dude and I. The statue is being created by one of Brazil’s most talented artists, Juvenal Irene.

“Filipe has been a hero since he left Calgary, and he deserves this monument,” Jeronimo Luiz Muzetti, President of Os Independentes said to the newspaper O Diario de Barretos.

The monument, which will be thirty percent larger than our actual body masses, will live in the rodeo grounds and be unveiled during this year’s rodeo. It is the 59th edition of an event that unites more than one million people every year. The ponies and I will ride into the arena on August 23rd for an unbelievable celebration.

I can’t thank Os Independentes enough for everything they have already done and continue to do for us. This monument will help immortalize the true heroes of this journey – Frenchie, Bruiser and Dude.