Cole Reiner is now a four-time National Finals Rodeo bareback riding qualifier entering this year as the No. 13 cowboy. The Wyoming native has finished fifth or seventh in the World in the three previous years and although he has some ground to make up, a good 10 rounds in Las Vegas can get anybody to the top.
Reiner’s summer run this regular season had him climbing toward the top until a knee injury slowed him down. He toughed out the final weeks of the regular season to bring his regular season earnings total to $118,220, which was enough to secure this fourth consecutive trip.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
RodeoHouston, $13,875
At the highest paying winter rodeo, Reiner found himself making a standout performance in Super Series 2 winning the first two Go-Rounds. From there he tied for third in the Semifinals before winning the Championship Round. He would go on to finish fourth in the Championship Shootout.
Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo, $13,592
Reiner put together a ride of 87 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Cash & Carry in the Fourth Performance to move on to the Gold Medal Round in Salt Lake City. In that round, he matched up with Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetic’s Shoutin’ Shoes to be 88.5 points and bring the Gold Medal to Wyoming.
St. Paul Rodeo (Oregon), $12,486
Another Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics horse that landed Reiner in the winner’s circle was Mustard. The two met up in St. Paul on the eve of Fourth of July, but in the heat of Cowboy Christmas. By just half a point, Reiner cinched another huge win when he put an 88-point ride on the board.
Reno Rodeo, $10,530
After placing fourth in the first two Go-Rounds with an 84.5 and an 85.5, Reiner went into the Finals of the rodeo that kicks off the Summer Run as the cowboy to beat. He put up an 81-point ride in the Finals to ultimately finish second in the Average with 251 points on three, first-time NFR qualifier Jayco Roper totaled 253.
HIGHEST MARKED RIDES
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, 90 points
In Round 2 of Bracket 1, Reiner shined with his first 90-point ride of the season. Aboard Brookman Rodeo’s Sos, Reiner not only made the first 90 of his season but the first 90-point ride at the 2023 FWSSR. This ride helped him be the No. 1 cowboy to go on from Bracket 1.
RodeoHouston, 90 points
In the Championship Round of one of Reiner’s highest paying rodeos all season, he would meet up with Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party. They would top a tough field of competition with a whopping 90-point ride to secure Reiner’s advancement to the next round.
Darby Extreme Barebacks (Montana), 91 points
At the iconic Darby Extreme Bares, Reiner battled it out in the Finals to make his highest marked ride of the season and it was good enough for a second-place finish, which came with a total payday of almost $10,000. It came upon United Pro Rodeo’s Happy Days and a total of six cowboys cleared 90 in the Finals.
NOTABLE WINS
Silver State Stampede (Nevada), 85.5 points
With an 85.5-point ride on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Gander Goose, Reiner cinched another win and hefty payday in Nevada, this time in Elko. By a point and a half, Reiner walked away with a first place payday of $4,900.
Sheridan WYO Rodeo, 88.5 points
The closest thing to a hometown rodeo for the Buffalo, Wyoming cowboy came with a win this year. Another great matchup from Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics for Reiner, Land of Fancy, landed him a hometown win to the tune of $6,007.
World’s Oldest Rodeo (Arizona), 88.5 points
Another almost $7,000 payday came in Prescott, Arizona. Reiner drew Championship Pro Rodeo’s Pass The Hat to be another 88.5 points to be Tanner Aus by just one point to claim the title and add to an already successful Cowboy Christmas run.
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