By this point in the season, it’s normal to have three Playoff Series events in one weekend that all pay well over $200,000 in total. They do, however, start to feel a little (or a lot) different by the end of August. With each passing weekend the opportunities bank $5,000+ for a single ride or run dwindle until time runs out in September. And as we all know, there have been many World Titles and bubble races decided by much less than that number.

HORSE HEAVEN ROUNDUP

The Horse Heaven Roundup in Kennewick paid over $300,000 as part of a westward weekend swing that featured Playoff Rodeos.

In bareback riding, Orin Larsen made an 88-point ride in the Finals after being part of a three-way tie for the Long Round to win the Average with 174.5 points on two. He was 1.5 points better than Tilden Hooper and Jess Pope and still has a chance to make his 10th NFR at No. 21 in the World Standings.

World No. 1 Will Lummus won the steer wrestling thanks to runs of 3.8, 4.6 and 3.4 in the Short Round. His 11.8 seconds on three was seven-tenths faster than anyone else. Team roping was a different story with Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira sharing the title with Clay Smith/Nicky Northcott at 15.9 seconds on three.

The final timed event title went to sixth-ranked tie-down roper Kincade Henry. He was 8.7, 8.6, and 8.5 seconds on his three runs.

Saddle bronc riding belonged to Zeke Thurston, who continued a terrific summer that has seen him get into the Top 5 of the World Standings. He was 176.5 points on two. While in bull riding, Lane Vaughan was the champion with 171.5 points on two.

Makenzie Mayes won the barrel racing thanks in large part to winning the Finals with a 16.97-second run, which was a tenth faster than any other run in the rodeo. She ultimately was more than two-tenths clear of the rest of field.

As for breakaway roping, Josie Conner was victorious after making back-to-back 2.1-second runs.

KITSAP STAMPEDE

One of two Playoff Series Rodeos in Washington over the weekend, the Kitsap Stampede paid out about $238,000, which is a jump in more than $100,000 in prize money from what was paid just seven years ago.

Jess Pope got a big win in the bareback riding to win $6,803 and bring his Summer Run total to over $100,000. He is up to No. 3 in the World and is closing in fast on Bradlee Miller’s No. 2 spot as he is now just $1,000 back.

In steer wrestling, Grant Peterson made one of the 14 runs at the rodeo that was 4 flat or faster with a 3.3, while in team roping it was a 3.5 courtesy of Lightning Aguilera/Wyatt Cox that won it.

In saddle bronc riding, Statler Wright was 89 points on Korkow’s Jingle Jeans which was 1.5 points better than his brother Stetson and Damian Brennan.

Tie-down roping ended in a tie between two cowboys making their NFR debuts in 2024, as Cole Clemons and Dylan Hancock each posted a 7.4. On the ladies’ side, Josie Conner and Jordi Edens-Mitchell shared the win, both stopping the clock at 2.0 flat.

Halyn Lide won the barrel racing by the slimmest of margins, defeating Emily Beisel by one one-hundredth of a second. Her winning time was 17.07.

Meanwhile, the winning score in the bull riding was the highest in any roughstock event. With 89.5 crucial points, 20-year-old Bryce Jensen went from No. 18 to No. 14 in the World to get in position for his first NFR.

All of the champions of this one-header won between $4,784 and $6,803.

GOLDEN SPIKE RODEO

The lone Playoff rodeo over the weekend in Washington, the Golden Spike Rodeo in Tremonton, Utah, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025 by witnessing two legends in the making take home Ws.

Rocker Steiner and Stetson Wright are arguably the sport’s two biggest stars and both were 88 points to be victorious.

For Steiner, the win allows him to keep a commanding lead in the PRCA Bareback Riding World Standings despite competing in just six rodeos in August. It’s possible to keep a light schedule when you win as much as Rocker, though. He has cashed at least $3,455 at four of those rodeos and that includes $6,980 for his Golden Spike victory.

Wright’s win on the other hand was his sixth in August alone in the bronc riding. He has surged from the bubble into the Top 10, going from No. 15 to No. 9 this month thanks to $60,000 in prize money. He has ridden 14-of-19 horses in August for at least 85 points.

The timed events did not disappoint either. In steer wrestling, Rowdy Parrott made his fastest time of the season, a 3.2, to blow away the rest of the field while in tie-down, 19-year-old Buck Calhoun scratched his way up to No. 17 in the World with a 7.5-second run to win.

The remaining rodeo champions were Coy Rahlmann/Cole Curry in team roping (3.8 seconds), Wenda Johnson in barrel racing (16.94 seconds), Tristan Mize in bull riding (87.5 points) and Erin Johnson in breakaway roping (2.2 seconds).