The ProRodeo season may still be in its early stages, but the significance of the Texas Swing cannot be overstated. By the time the dust settles in San Angelo this April, history suggests that more than 75 percent of the athletes ranked in the Top 10 will go on to qualify for the NFR.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise to see familiar names dominating the leaderboard. A breakout star from the 2024 NFR is setting the pace in bareback riding, while the bronc rider leading the pack spent last summer battling for the No. 1 spot. As for the bull riding leader, let’s just say he’s right where he belongs.

BAREBACK RIDING

Comparing to March 1, 2024, there’s good news and bad news when it comes to the bareback riding. The good news is every cowboy in the Top 10 on that date went on to make the NFR. The bad news is none of them ended up the World Champion, that was Dean Thompson, who was outside the Top 20 after San Antonio a year ago.

1. Bradlee Miller – $66,761: Miller made the Finals in San Antonio and Fort Worth and is fresh off of a victory in San Antonio thanks to five straight rides of 85.5 points or better. He finished No. 4 in the World Standings in 2024.

2. Nick Pelke – $50,113: Pelke won Fort Worth with a 91.5-point ride in the Finals. In November, he won close to $12,000 for winning the North American Rodeo Championship (Kentucky). He also won Round 1 and $5,500 at the New Years Eve Buck & Ball (Wyoming).

3. Garrett Shadbolt – $40,795: Shadbolt took fifth at the National Western in January before winning Rodeo Rapid City and finishing third in San Antonio in February. All 17 of his rides this season have been marked 80 points or better.

4. Dean Thompson – $38,244: The reigning World Champion finished third in the Average at La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros (Arizona) last week and second at the Silver Spurs Rodeo (Florida). Earlier this season, he made the Finals of the National Western and finished second at the Wilderness Circuit Finals.

5. Cole Franks – $36,360: Franks has made the Finals of both Texas Swing rodeos so far, finishing third in Fort Worth and fourth in San Antonio to bring in a combined $23,880. All nine of his rides at those two rodeos have been 84 points or better.

6. Mason Clements – $35,862: Clements won over $17,000 for his second place finish in Fort Worth, where he made three rides of 86.5 points or better, including 90.5 in the Finals. Back in November, he was the Champion of the Wilderness Circuit Finals.

7. Waylon Bourgeois – $30,593: Bourgeois is coming off of a weekend where he recorded two wins in the Southeast that combined to pay nearly $8,000. Those were his fourth and fifth wins of the season.

8. Taylor Broussard – $29,741: Broussard made his third trip back to Las Vegas a season ago and has started 2025 with a trip to the Finals in San Antonio and Denver and a second place finish at the Southeastern Circuit Finals.

9. Jayco Roper – $28,364: Roper recently moved up eight spots in the standings for a win in the Average in Tucson, where he took second in both rounds. The 2023 NFR qualifier also won $4,900 in Fort Worth and he made four straight rides of 85.5 or better there. He picked up $6,780 in Denver as well by finishing third.

10. Jacob Lees – $25,466: Lees finished fourth in Fort Worth and also made almost $6,000 for winning Round 2 in Denver.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

Prize money in saddle bronc riding is more top-heavy than usual this season. At this point last year, the World No. 1 had yet to surpass $50,000 in earnings. This year, five cowboys have already hit that mark, with two exceeding $60,000. And that No. 1 rider from last year? He was no slouch, it was Ryder Wright, who went on to claim his third Gold Buckle.

1. Kade Bruno – $68,755: Bruno won the lion’s share of his money with two impressive showings – the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and the Brad Gjermundson Extreme Broncs (North Dakota). In Fort Worth, he finished the job with a 92-point ride and in North Dakota, he was 92.5 in the Short Round and ended up second in the Average by a half-point. Those two wins combined to pay $51,000.

2. Dawson Hay – $66,603: The winner of that Brad Gjermundson X Broncs was Hay, and he won almost $36,000 by doing so. Couple that with a win in San Antonio, where he made $23,908, and that’s why he is No. 2 in the PRCA World Standings.

3. Ryder Wright – $55,572: Wright has only competed in six rodeos this season and has fared pretty well in most of them. He has finished third at the Brad Gjermundson Xtreme Broncs, first at the Wilderness Circuit Finals, second at the National Western, and third in San Antonio this season.

4. Sage Newman – $54,190: Since Jan. 26, Newman has won three Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeos and the Rodeo Rapid City Xtreme Broncs Match.

5. Statler Wright – $52,621: Since the beginning of Fort Worth, Wright has four rides of 86 points or better, including a 91.5-pointer on the Black Tie for second in the Finals inside Dickies Arena. In October and November, he took fourth at the Brad Gjermundson Xtreme Broncs and second at the Wilderness Circuit Finals.

6. Ryder Sanford – $35,526: Since Jan 24, Sanford has stacked eight checks. Most recently, a 10-day run through Florida saw finish second in Brighton and Kissimmee, third in Fort Myers and first in Davie.

7. Brody Cress – $33,070: Cress made the Finals in San Antonio thanks to five rides of either 85 and 85.5 points. He also won the first two rounds of his bracket in Fort Worth with rides of 90.5 and 89.5 points.

8. Weston Patterson – $32,091: The 23-year-old made the Finals in San Antonio and Denver and earlier in the season, won the Prairie Circuit Finals and the Three Hills FFA Rodeo (Indiana) with a 92-point ride.

9. Zac Dallas – $31,925: Dallas won the National Western in January and it paid him over $10,000. He went on to win a round in Fort Worth and San Antonio as well.

10. Shorty Garrett – $25,506: Garrett has made the most out of just about every rodeo he has entered this season. He made the Finals of the Brad Gjermundson Extreme Broncs and Rodeo Rapid City X Broncs, took second at the Badlands Circuit Finals, and made the Finals in San Antonio most recently.