PRORODEO Sports News - Nov. 7, 2025

Kade Bruno tunes up for NFR with saddle bronc win at Boot Barn Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo By Shawn Harrison, Special to PRORODEO Sports News

I f Kade Bruno wasn’t a fan of the color blue, he may be now. The Challis, Idaho, cowboy drew a pair of horses with blue in their names to begin the Boot Barn Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo Oct. 16 18. Both rides paid off nicely, as did the third. Bruno went into the com petition securely in first place in the saddle bronc riding and put an exclamation point on his season in the circuit. The 25-year-old won all three rounds held at the First

“I had seen that horse throughout the year, and there had been some good scores on that horse,” Bruno said. “I had never been able to get on that one. Everyone was excited to see how she would handle the bigger stage, and she was outstanding.” The Idaho cowboy earned $11,061 for his three rides in Redmond — the biggest payday for any competitor there. Bruno nearly doubled the winnings of second place for the season in saddle bronc riding in the Columbia River Circuit. His latest performance is no surprise as Bruno will be heading to Las Vegas in De

Interstate Bank Center in Redmond, Ore., propelling him to the average victory as well with 252.5 points on three head. His third horse did not have “blue” in its name. “I had about a $12,000 lead, but I’m not going to say I had it sewed up,” Bruno said. “I had to show up and do my job, but yeah, I had a little bit of a lead. “I chose this circuit mostly because of the circuit rodeos. I love coming up here … I really like coming up here to Pend leton (Ore.) and Ellensburg (Wash.) and Sisters (Ore.).” Bruno rode Aces Wild Pro Rodeo’s Blue Duck Oct. 16. He won the first round with an 82-point ride and didn’t know much about the horse. “I talked to guys in the locker room, and they said he was a super nice horse,” Bruno said. “Really, all the horses out that first night were really nice horses.” On Oct. 17, he climbed aboard Flying 5 Rodeo’s Blue Heaven. Bruno bettered his score from the first round with plenty of spurring action as Blue Heaven gave him a nice opportunity to score. His 84.5-point mark was tops in the second round. “That’s a good horse,” Bruno said of Blue Heaven. “He has consistently been marked high all year. He had a little scoot, threw his head back at me and circled around. I had seen some videos of that horse and was pretty excited for that matchup. “There are so many good bronc riders that at the end of the day you have to have a good draw. That one bucks pretty hard. That is one to have, and it gives you a better chance.” He was not done winning. On Oct. 18, Bruno matched up with Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Felicity Shagwell, a younger horse. The pairing worked for Bruno, who notched his best score of the finals, receiving 86 points and also winning the third round to make it a clean sweep.

Kade Bruno tuned up for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with a win at the Boot Barn Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo. (PRCA photo by Roseanna Sales)

cember to compete in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the fourth straight time. He ended the 2025 regular sea son at No. 5 in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings and has had a number of big wins this year. He wants to improve on his ninth-place finish in 2024. He was third in 2023 and ninth in 2022. “I’ve had a couple of good Finals, but also ones where I haven’t ridden the best, stubbed my toe one or two times out there,” Bruno said. “I’m looking forward to this year. I’m going to treat it like every day is a new day. The average does pay a lot, but you can’t be worrying about that at the begin ning of the week. You just have to do your job on whatever they draw you. At the end of the day, the cards are going to fall where they fall.” To get ready for the NFR, Bruno will be getting on some practice horses, as well as competing at several rodeos, including ones in Indianapolis and Phoenix. “I don’t like just sitting around and waiting for the Finals,” Bruno said. “I ride a little better at the Finals if I show up having gotten on some … Time home is nice, but you have to stay sharp. Anything can happen in Vegas. You have to be on your ‘A’ game when you show up.” Other winners from the Boot Barn Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo included all-around cowboy Jett Stewart ($5,848 in team roping and steer roping); bareback rider Mason Stuller (243.5 points on three head); steer wrestler Jesse Brown (14.8 seconds on three head); team ropers Cole Eiguren/Breck Ward (18.0 seconds on three head); tie-down roper Lucas Potter (26.0 seconds on three head); steer roper Roger Nonella (27.6 seconds on two head); and bull rider Cole Hill (227 points on three head).

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