Courtesy of Rodeo Houston
Rodeo Houston $50K Bonus Catapults Athletes in World Standings
The major winter rodeos have been completed, and the world of professional rodeo is heading into the spring season. With the $50,000 bonus at Rodeo Houston, big moves have been made in the World Standings.
There are some new sheriffs in town, and we will break down the top 10 in each event for you as of March 18, after Rodeo Houston's payout.
Bareback Riding
Weatherford, Texas, brings the top man in bareback riding, Leighton Berry. The three-time NFR qualifier has been a member of the PRCA since 2018 and has earned $748,119 in career earnings. He finished sixth in the 2023 PRCA World Standings with a total of $259,249 in winnings after earning $101,294 at the 2023 NFR.
Berry has found a comfortable place in Houston, as this is his second consecutive win. He is sitting pretty in the top position with $74,558 in season earnings ahead of Garrett Shadbolt from Merriman, Neb., who has earned $57,004.
Top 10 Bareback Riders
- Leighton Berry, $74,558
- Garrett Shadbolt, $57,004
- Coop Cooke, $56,377
- Keenan Hayes, $55,156
- Rocker Steiner, $54,250
- Dean Thompson, $43,303
- Bradlee Miller, $42,505
- Tanner Aus, $38,260
- Taylor Broussard, $38,067
- Cole Reiner, $33,103
Saddle Bronc Riding
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! The Injune, Queensland, Australia cowboy might be from down under, but he is at the top of the World Standings. Damian Brennan is coming off of his first NFR qualification in 2023 and shows no signs of slowing down in 2024.
He has already been crowned the champion at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, along with winning Arcadia, Fla., and Jackson, Miss. The championship bonus at Houston sent him right to the top.
Brennan earned $166,751 while in Las Vegas last year at the NFR and has now already tallied $106,810 toward his second showing in 2024.
The famous Wright family is still holding strong at number two with Statler, who won $67,121. The young 20-year-old from Beaver, Utah, is working his way toward his first NFR qualification. With brothers like Rusty, Ryder, and Stetson, there is no doubt he has the support and guidance to be in Las Vegas in December.
Top 10 Saddle Bronc Riders
- Damian Brennan, $106,810
- Statler Wright, $67,121
- Lefty Holman, $61,721
- Wyatt Casper, $49,965
- Brody Cress, $43,461
- Logan Hay, $42,509
- Cole Elshere, $40,523
- Ryder Wright, $39,948
- Logan Cook, $39,822
- Parker Fleet, $39,163
Bull Riding
Missouri-man Creek Young is now the No. 1 bull rider in the World Standings. After three NFR qualifications, at just 23, Young is living his best life this year. In 2023 he finished sixth with $253,205 and in 2024, he is already at nearly $100,000 in earnings. The Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Champion is well on his way to his fourth consecutive NFR. His $50,000 bonus at Rodeo Houston moved him to the top with $98,970 in season earnings.
Sitting in No. 2 is Clayton Sellars from Wildwood, Fla., with $73,745.
Top 10 Bull Riders
- Creek Young, $98,970
- Clayton Sellars, $73,745
- Luke Mast, $46,619
- Roscoe Jarboe, $46,617
- Cody Teel, $44,680
- T.J. Gray, $44,155
- Jace Trosclair, $43,460
- Hayes Weight, $42,373
- Brody Yeary, $42,109
- Dustin Boquet, $40,573
Team Roping
For the 23-year-old from Mandaree, N.D., winning the $50,000 bonus was the biggest win of his professional career. From 2021 through 2023, J.C. Yeahquo roped with family member L.J. Yeahquo and had some success.
Finishing 2023 ranked at No. 27, J.C. earned $66,383. In just one rodeo, and looking like it will be a stop on his way to his first NFR qualification, Yeahquo earned $50,000 with his new partner, Buddy Hawkins.
Hawkins, who calls Stephenville, Texas his home, has six NFR qualifications to his name. The 37-year-old changed partners this year, and the chemistry is working.
Hawkins also had great success with his previous partner, Andrew Ward, who is now roping with Tanner Braden. Interestingly, both teams were in the final four rounds at Houston, and both looked stellar on the arena floor.
Top 10 Headers
- J.C. Yeahquo, $65,688
- Clint Summers, $55,410
- Andrew Ward, $42,676
- Dustin Egusquiza, $38,093
- Derrick Begay, $36,271
- Kaleb Driggers, $35,361
- Clay Smith, $35,318
- Jake Smith, $35,057
- Marcus Theriot, $34,332
- Cody Snow, $32,384
Top 10 Heelers
- Buddy Hawkins, $70,254
- Jake Long, $58,348
- Coleby Payne, $45,318
- Levi Lord, $38,093
- Colter Todd, $36,271
- Douglas Rich, $35,057
- Hunter Koch, $34,395
- Cole Curry, $34,332
- Kaden Profili, $29,897
- Trey Yates, $29,831
Tie-Down Roping
In the only event where the winner of Rodeo Houston is not the current No. 1, tie-down roper Shad Mayfield is still the No. 1 man in the land. Mayfield is having a storybook season and has already won $103,369 toward his goal of taking home a second World Championship.
No. 2 in the standings is Ty Harris from San Angelo, Texas. He had to rope off with his brother to be declared the Rodeo Houston champion. The win nearly tripled his earnings to date.
Harris had a bit of a rough 2023 NFR and is looking to go back to the big city and bright lights for the sixth consecutive time. With $76,183 already banked, he is well on his way.
Top 10 Tie-Down Ropers
- Shad Mayfield, $103,369
- Ty Harris, $76,183
- Riley Webb, $47,876
- John Douch, $46,688
- Joel Harris, $45,191
- Tuf Cooper, $41,039
- Chance Thiessen, $33,388
- Haven Meged, $31,709
- Brushton Minton, $29,935
- Marty Yates, $28,121
Steer Wrestling
Dakota Eldridge has been to the NFR 10 times over the course of his career. Of those 10 times, he has only missed one consecutive year, which was in 2018. In 2023, he finished the year at No. 12. This year has started off slow for the legend in steer wrestling.
Slow until Houston, that is.
With just the shot in the arm the big man needed, Eldridge now sits as the No. 1 man with $59,057 to his name.
Dalton Massey from Hermiston, Ore., is ranked No. 2 after earning $50,255 so far in 2024.
Top 10 Steer Wrestlers
- Dakota Eldridge, $59,057
- Dalton Massey, $50,255
- Will Lummus, $45,016
- Stetson Jorgensen, $44,987
- Jacob Talley, $38,482
- Tyler Pearson, $37,746
- Tanner Brunner, $34,682
- Walt Arnold, $34,502
- Tucker Allen, $31,701
- Stephen Culling, $30,170
Barrel Racing
The women of the WPRA have made big moves with stellar fast times in the arenas, none more so than Leslie Smalygo from Skiatook, Okla.
Smalygo and her equine buddy "Gus" registered as Justaheartbeattafame ran the fastest time of the entire Rodeo Houston in the Shootout round to take the win and cash the $50,000 check.
Gus is a 14-year-old gelding by Justaheartofawarrior and out of Yawl A Fame Maker by Dash ta Fame. The Houston win catapulted the duo right to the No. 1 spot.
Fan-favorite Lisa Lockhart and her string of barrel racing horses are currently ranked No. 2 in the world with $51,616 in earnings. Lockhart has ridden Promise Me Guys and Rosas Cantina CC to her winnings.
Top 10 Barrel Racers
- Leslie Smalygo $67,212
- Lisa Lockhart $51,616
- Kassie Mowry $40,114
- Sara Winkelman $39,657
- Ashley Castleberry $39,380
- Hailey Kinsel $39,241
- Abby Phillips $35,981
- Sissy Winn $34,274
- Emily Beisel $31,378
- Taylor Carver $28,298
Breakaway Roping
It shouldn't be a surprise that someone with 23 world titles would be at the top of the World Standings. Jackie Crawford has ended the year at the top so many times that it is easy to lose count, but the official number is 23, and she is working on making that number 24.
In her win interview, Crawford hinted at the possibility that she will retire sometime soon but clearly said she wouldn't retire before she got the Houston title. Well, that checkmark has now been made.
Veteran experience may have worked to her advantage when she was the only cowgirl to get a qualified time in the final four-man round.
Crawford now leads the field of breakaway ropers into the summer season with $76,408 to her credit.
The gunslinger, Danielle Lowman from Gilbert, Ariz., is second after having an incredible winter season, earning $54,408 with multiple runs under two seconds.
Top 10 Breakaway Ropers
- Jackie Crawford, $76,408
- Danielle Lowman, $54,408
- Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, $35,629
- Taylor Munsell, $33,228
- Maddy Deerman, $31,455
- Rickie Fanning, $30,629
- Macy Young, $27,723
- TiAda Gray, $24,949
- Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, $23,590
- Bradi Good, $23,576
