Clay Guardipee/@RodeoReadyShop

The 2025 INFR got off to a fast start Tuesday in Las Vegas, with 24 of the top roughstock athletes in each event and 32 of the best timed event competitors in each event from across Indian Country competing in the first of four rounds. With such a large field, the opening two rounds are split into two performances each day at the Southpoint Arena.

In bareback riding, Cauy Betony got off to an ideal start with an 82-point ride on High Road of Muddy Creek. After Kashton Ford lead with 78 points in the First Performance, four cowboys topped in the evening. Clay Ramone, Evan Betony, and Shane O’Connell were all 81 points.

The steer wrestling also saw the top score from the afternoon performance fall in the evening. Tour winner Ty Allen Fischer set the mark with a 4.94-second run, but saw it bested by Tydon Tsosie (4.12), Hiyo Yazzie (4.39), and Tyler John Byrne (4.67).

Ahnie Jumper made it three straight events where the afternoon time wasn’t enough for the Round 1 win as she won the breakaway roping with a 2.62-second run, besting the 2.68 mark set by Kassidy Dennison and Kari Jo Lawrence.

Creighton Curley entered the INFR with five saddle bronc riding wins during the regular season and came away with a Round 1 victory in Las Vegas thanks to an 85-point ride on Bar C5’s Larry’s Sister in the First Performance. Cash Wilson was second with 83 points and Kash Deal was third with 82. Four cowboys in each performance were 76 points or better.

College National Finalist Dalton Porch was 9.71 to take Round 1 in the tie-down roping while in the team roping, Ty Vaile/Wyatt Gibson saw their 5.16 from the afternoon performance hold for the Round 1 win.

Erin Jones won the barrel racing with 15.35-second run and every cowgirl in the Top 10 was in the faster than 16 seconds. Last year, Quinley Inman won Round 1 with a 16.025-second run.

The bull riders put on a show in the afternoon performance, riding six of the first nine with Cole Brewer holding the lead at 83 points. In the second performance of the day, only Cole Wagner made the whistle, but it was good enough to give him the lead at 84 points. In 2024, four bull riders made a qualified ride in Round 1.

You can see a more in-depth recap and follow along all week on Youtube here: