Keenan Hayes started his Resistol Rookie year on a high and he ended it dripping in gold. The now 21-year-old entered his first National Finals Rodeo as the No. 1 ranked bareback rider in the World with over a $100,000 lead all thanks to regular season success.
From Day 1 of the 2023 season Hayes was collecting wins. The Permit Finals kicked it off with two Go-Round wins before he went to his home state of Colorado to sweep the Mountain States Circuit Finals. It was there that the 2023 Resistol Rookie of the Year put together the second highest marked ride of his season: a 90-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s On Second Thought.
Hayes’ biggest paydays of his rookie year came from the Texas Swing and the last big rodeo of the season. A second-place finish at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo added $20,000 to his earnings while another $20,000 would come from Rodeo Houston. Fast forwarding to Sept. 30, 2023, Hayes would finish second at the inaugural Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup to bring in another $19,000.
Hayes’ highest marked ride of the season is what landed him a shot at the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup in the first place and it came to the tune of 90.5 points on the iconic Calgary Stampede bronc, Yippee Kibitz.
In 2024, Hayes followed up his Gold Buckle with a second consecutive trip to the Thomas and Mack, this one ending with a third place finish in the World Standings.
His success started early as he cashed in a 91 in the Finals of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and a 91.5 earned him the win at the San Angelo Cinch Chute-Out.
Hayes claimed 13 victories throughout the 2024 season including the New Years Eve Buck & Ball, NFR Open, and Dinosaur Round-Up.