Three Animals. Three Year-End Honors. And a season full of some of the biggest rides in PRORODEO.

The 2026 Pendleton Whisky’s Let ’Er Buck Bucking Stock of the Year Awards have been announced, with Calgary Stampede’s D-508 Disco Party, Summit Pro Rodeo’s R9 Heavy Feathers, and Universal Pro Rodeo’s 12 Smokey Joe taking the top honors.

 

Bareback Horse of the Year: Calgary Stampede’s D-508 Disco Party

Disco Party’s resume speaks for itself.

After carrying Rocker Steiner to a 92-point Round 10 win that helped seal his first World Championship at the 2025 NFR, the 10-year-old mare came right back with another massive season.

Tilden Hooper went 92 on her to win in Fort Worth. Wacey Schalla matched her for 91 in San Antonio. Steiner reunited with her for 90.5 at RODEOHOUSTON, and Keenan Hayes added another 91-point performance in Puyallup.

Seven of Disco Party’s nine outs this season resulted in scores of 90 points or better.

Summit Pro Rodeo’s F12 Game Trail finished second in the voting, followed by Pickett Pro Rodeo’s 2708 Boot Barn’s Night Crawler in third.

 

Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year: Summit Pro Rodeo’s R9 Heavy Feathers

Heavy Feathers turned potential into a championship season.

The 7-year-old was covered on eight of 10 trips this season, averaging a 44.75 stock score and an 86.88-point total score.

His biggest moment came with Brody Cress, who matched him for 92 points at Cheyenne Frontier Days. The next-best was with Rusty Wright, who rode him for 90.5 points in Salt Lake City. Both performances became the highest-scoring rides of their respective rodeos.

J Bar J Rodeo’s Q230 Shady Jacket finished second in the voting, with Yule Rodeo Ltd.’s -91 Mary Lou third.

 

Bull of the Year: Universal Pro Rodeo’s 12 Smokey Joe

Making eight seconds on Smokey Joe was no easy assignment in 2026. But when a cowboy did, the scoreboard reflected it.

Smokey Joe was only covered twice this year. Noah Lee conquered him for 93 points and the San Angelo title. Hudson Bolton put together a 92-point ride to win the Darby Xtreme Bulls.

The 5-year-old, 1,600-pound bull competed under the Pete Carr Pro Rodeo name before being sold to Universal Pro Rodeo in June, and now closes the regular season with one of PRORODEO’s biggest stock honors.

Diamond G Rodeo’s 105H Rick’s Honky Tonk finished second, followed by Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s 013 Richard Slam in third.

From 90-point rides to championship-winning trips, these three proved all season long that the animal underneath the cowboy is every bit as much a part of the story.