PRORODEO Sports News - Nov. 7, 2025

PRCA photo by Hailey Rae

TIE-DOWN ROPING MARKED UP CAT “RUDY” Owner & Rider: Riley Webb

PRCA photo by Mallory Beinborn

TEAM ROPING HEELER CUT OFF MY SPOTS “COON” Owner & Rider: Coleby Payne Why the horse is special: The reunification of Coon and Payne in 2022 has paid dividends for the pair. Coon was originally sold by Payne at 6 years old. At 13, Payne bought him back. Coon’s speed in any arena – big or small – has been key for the pair’s success in accom plishing goals Payne set for himself in his rodeo career. Coon is 16 years old. He is 15 hands and weighs 1,000 pounds. Coon and Payne are making their second Wran gler National Finals Rodeo appearance together. Hear it from Coleby: “This horse means everything to me. He’s helped me accomplish a lot of goals that I’ve dreamed of my whole life. I hope we’re nowhere near finished but without that horse, I wouldn’t have accom plished those things. He’s family to me.”

Why the Horse is Special: In an event heavily re liant on horsepower, Rudy hasproven to be a force to be reckoned with for the last few years, thanks to his versa tility and consistency. Rudy has led Webb to back-to-back PRCA World Championships in the tie-down roping and a regular season earnings record this past year. Rudy performs well in long and short arenas, is tailor-made for fast starts and is a winner. Rudy is 12 years old. He’s 15 hands and weighs 1,200 pounds. This is his first Nutrena Horse of the Year Award. Hear it from Riley: “I bought him the same year I won my first world title and it changed my career. I won both of my world titles on him and that (decision) changed everything and the trajectory of where I was headed… Everything that I have and that I own now is because of him.”

PICKUP MAN BABY HES HOT “BABY” Owner: Tyler and Vanessa Kraft Rider: Tyler Kraft

Why the Horse is Special: Baby displayed the heart and grit necessary in a standout pick up horse. Last season, Baby suffered an injury in Texas, and Tyler Kraft wasn’t sure if he’d be able to perform in the arena again, but he returned later in the summer. He’s one of the most traveled pick up horses in PRORODEO, venturing as far north as Alaska, as far south as Texas, and as far east as St. Pete, Quebec, Canada. Baby is 12 years old. He weighs 1,200 pounds and is 15.1 hands. The Krafts have owned Baby since he was 3 years old. It’s his second time winning the Nutrena Horse of the Year Award and his first since 2023. The Krafts’ pickup horses have won the last three years. Hear it from Tyler: “He’s just tough and gritty and can run a hole in the wind. He’s just a lot of fun. It doesn’t matter if it’s in small arenas or in Pendleton, Ore., he can get them gathered up. He’s kind of like riding a race car, he can go from 0 to 60 in no time flat and he can throttle back.”

PRCA photo by Billie Jean Duff

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