With all but one Resistol Rookie of the Year race determined, Oceane Veilleux has clinched the title in the barrel racing. Hailing from Quebec, Veilleux won the coveted title with $47,370 in earnings—an impressive $13,000 ahead of her nearest rival, Julie Plourde. To further underscore her dominance, Veilleux earned more than double what all but three other rookies managed this season.
For Veilleux, the Resistol Rookie of the Year Award was one she always had her eye on.
“I was like ‘well, I really want that title,’ I worked hard, this is one of the hardest years I’ve had and one of the most memorable years because I have learned so much this year,” she said.
A native French speaker, Veilleux said she thought learning English was hard, until she started rodeoing full time.
“This year, I learned to speak the rodeo language, I am never going back, rodeo has my heart now,” she said.
Veilleux’s horsepower for the 2024 season included two mounts, Ice Cream and Vegas.
Ice Cream, her main horse, excelled in the larger patterns, while Vegas stepped up during the summer after Ice Cream sustained an injury.
“He can do any pattern,” Veilleux said of Ice Cream. “He’s an amazing horse—he loves the rodeo, he loves the performance.”
As Veilleux looks ahead to 2025, she carries valuable lessons from this past season.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is to surround yourself with people who will push you to be better,” she said.
Early on, much of her journey was a solo endeavor, but with the support of her parents and a sharpened mental game, she’s ready to take on whatever comes next in 2025.
