Two-Time NFR Qualifier Trey Holston Has Big Goals Following Difficult Comeback

Two-Time NFR Qualifier Trey Holston Has Big Goals Following Difficult Comeback

Published On: February 3, 2025Categories: Featured, News, PRCA, Rodeo

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On July 1, 2024, Trey Holston rode Salt River Rodeo’s Tatonka for 88 points to win the rodeo in Prescott, Arizona. However, a few days later, it was discovered that during his get off, he had broken two vertebrae in his back.

At the time, he was No. 16 in the PRCA Bull Riding World Standings and fresh off of consecutive NFRs before age 25.

“It’s definitely unfortunate, he said at the time. “But what I’m going to do about it is more important than what happened to me.”

What he did about it was get to work on some of the hardest training he has ever done, mentally more so than physically.

The work was very slow and methodical and he was gaining strength over time, but at times, it felt like he wasn’t making progress. For Holston, a cowboy who prides himself on embracing the process and having a sharp mind, that meant plenty of time to think about the fundamentals.

“Just not forgetting the basics and the cues that help me perform (was very important to me),” he said. “Being as clear as possible on these things was my goal to help minimize any gap between coming back and time off.”

That said, nothing replaces being in the arena and when Holston returned to action in Dec. 21 at the Chase Hawks Roughstock Rodeo in Montana, he felt he was good to go. He made a 78-point ride and picked up a sixth place check in his return from a six month layoff.

“I feel like I was as ready as I could be when I returned in December. There are zero guarantees in bull riding, however, I feel like I set myself up for success when I came back, I’m still learning, I still have to grow. That’s the mentality,” he said.

After bucking off his next three bulls following his December return, Holston competed in Bracket 5 of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo over the weekend. On the biggest stage he has rode on since the injury, he delivered rides of 87 and 89.5 points to win $6,550 and advance to the Semifinals, marking the second time he has made it in the last three seasons.

“It’s always a great feeling hearing the whistle any place, but two high scores in Fort Worth are a great boost of confidence,” he said. “The moment was simply an opportunity to be confident, the moment didn’t provide confidence for me.”

Holston had one more thing to add when asked his general thoughts on the 2025 season.

“Put simply, my goal is to be a World Champion bull rider in 2025.”

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