While household names in the bareback riding have been climbing higher and higher, Utah Days of ’47, California Rodeo Salinas and Cheyenne Frontier Days have crowned their champions adding to an already electric year of bareback riding.
No. 3 Kade Sonnier, $132,846
Sonnier’s rookie season has been nothing short of spectacular. A huge wave of momentum has come his way in July and he is riding it to the bank. At California Rodeo Salinas, he was 84.5 points to finish second in Round 1 before he tied for second in the average cashing in on over $8,000 while in Salinas. He followed it up by being one of three cowboys to tie for the championship at the Daddy Of ‘Em All with an 87.5-point ride on MLW’s Irish Eyes of Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics.
No. 4 Cole Reiner, $118,777
Reiner has also had a lead foot on the gas pedal, picking up wins almost everywhere he goes. He took home the Gold Medal from Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo and added over $6,500 to his season earnings. At Fiesta Days Rodeo down the road in Spanish Fork, he matched up with Frontier Rodeo’s Full Baggage to make an 86.5-point ride that was worth another $6,700. He was another one of the three Cheyenne Frontier Days Champions as well after his 87.5-point ride on Chosen One of New Star Pro Rodeo.
No. 5 Tim O’Connell, $117,870
O’Connel got a piece of Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo when he matched up with Sunday Sinner of C5 Rodeo. His big payday of the week came from Ogden Pioneer Days in Utah. An 88.5-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Jessie’s Girl proved to be good enough for the win and over $8,000. He ended July with another check from the Aulick Industries Champions Challenge in Mitchell, Nebraska.
No. 7 Clayton Biglow, $101,035
The end of July ended with the World Champion moving closer to the Top 5. A matchup with High Heels in Spanish Fork, Utah that ended up being worth $3,500, kick started Biglow’s week. At California Rodeo Salinas, he placed in Round 1 and finished fifth in the Short Go and fifth in the Average. The highlight of his week was being the third of the three cowboys to claim the Cheyenne Frontier Days championship with his matching 87.5-point ride on Atomic Blonde of Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics.
No. 13 Sam Petersen, $77,854
The third highest ranking rookie bareback rider and Petersen is on a mission. Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo added over $5,300 to his earnings after a fourth-place finish in Round 1 and a third place finish in the average. From there, a tie to win Ogden Pioneer Days with an 88.5 on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Mr. Harry brought in another $8,000 before an appearance in California Rodeo Salinas Short Go pulled him a Go-Round check and an average check. In two weeks, Petersen has moved up five holes in the World Standings.
Take a look at the Top 20 in the PRCA Bareback Riding World Standings.
| World Rank | Name | Earnings |
| 1. | Keenan Hayes | $192,086 |
| 2. | Leighton Berry | $147,789 |
| 3. | Kade Sonnier | $132,845 |
| 4. | Cole Reiner | $118,777 |
| 5. | Tim O’Connell | $117,870 |
| 6. | Tanner Aus | $101,908 |
| 7. | Clayton Biglow | $101,034 |
| 8. | Kaycee Feild | $98,067 |
| 9. | Rocker Steiner | $97,935 |
| 10. | Orin Larsen | $93,752 |
| 11. | Jayco Roper | $90,414 |
| 12. | Jess Pope | $81,700 |
| 13. | Sam Petersen | $7,853 |
| 14. | Jacek Frost | $71,241 |
| 15. | Jacob Lees | $67,113 |
| 16. | Taylor Broussard | $64,544 |
| 17. | Kody Lamb | $63,573 |
| 18. | Dean Thompson | $60,266 |
| 19. | Richmond Champion | $60,066 |
| 20. | Mason Clements | $59,018 |
Standings current as of prorodeo.com on August 2, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST.
