Bareback riding NFR newcomer Rocker Steiner matches up with Championship Pro Rodeo’s Frontier Coffee Rocks. Cole Reiner was 90 points on the horse in January at the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo. Tilden Hooper takes on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s San Angelo Sam. Fellow NFR bareback rider Jess Pope was 88 points on San Angelo Sam at RodeoHouston, March 18.
In saddle bronc riding, eight-time NFR qualifier Zeke Thurston gets on J Bar J’s Straight Jacket. Two-time PRCA World Champion Ryder Wright had a 91.5-point trip on the horse at the Xtreme Broncs Finals in Rapid City, S.D., Aug. 21. Canadian Kole Ashbacher looks to make some noise by matching up with Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic From Hell. Ashbacher has failed to reach the pay window in each of the first two nights, his battery mate tonight may change his fortunes. The 2018 Pendleton Whisky’s Let ‘er Buck Bucking Stock of the Year winner had another strong outing in 2022, posting an average score of 88 points in 13 qualified rides.
Bull rider Jared Parsonage aims to reach the pay window for the first time in his career, drawing Powder River Rodeo’s Chiseled. The two-time Pendleton Whisky’s Let ‘er Buck Bucking Bull of the Year winner (2020, and 2021) bucked off all four bull riders on him this year, while boasting a stock score of 45 points. Two-time NFR qualifier Josh Frost looks to regain his footing in Round 3, matching up with Frontier Rodeo’s Gladiator’s Hammer. The bull finished third in the running for this year’s Pendleton Whisky’s Let ‘er Buck Bucking Bull of the Year, collecting an average score of 90 points in three qualified rides. Fellow NFR competitor Garrett Smith rode him to a 91-point ride at the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo in May.
BULL RIDER REID OFTEDAHL OUT OF 2022 NFR AFTER ROUND 2 INJURY
Bull rider Reid Oftedahl was injured during Round 2 while aboard Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Under the Influence. Oftedahl, who is from Raymond, Minn., was thrown forward and hit the bull’s head and tossed to the arena dirt. Oftedahl, who was wearing a helmet, was diagnosed with a closed head injury by the Justin Sportsmedicine Team and was transported for further evaluation. Dr. Tandy Freeman, co-medical director, and orthopedic surgeon for the Justin Sportsmedicine team, provided ProRodeo Sports News with the following update Saturday morning. “He was admitted to the ICU at UMC Trauma Center (Friday night, Dec. 2), with a head injury and neck injury and he’s in stable condition and they will be doing further evaluation on him today (Dec. 3),” Freeman said. “What I can tell you is that he is out of competition for the remainder of the rodeo.” Oftedahl, 28, was making his Wrangler NFR debut in 2022. He qualified in the No. 15 spot in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $97,944.
Record times and scores for Round 3 of the Wrangler NFR:
Bareback riding: 91.5 points, Justin McDaniel, 2007
Tim O’Connell, 2017
Kaycee Feild, 2020
Steer wrestling: 3.1 seconds, Ricky Huddleston, 1985
Team roping: 3.7 seconds, Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 2019
Saddle bronc riding: 90.5 points, Allen Boore, 2020
Tie-down roping: 6.6 seconds, Cody Ohl, 2013
Barrel racing: 13.11 seconds, Hailey Kinsel, 2017
Bull riding: 94 points, Colby Yates, 2002
PROVIDED COURTESY OF PRORODEO.COM
