ProRodeo Sports News - 2021 Year End Edition

BAREBACK RIDING WORLD CHAMPION

Record Breaker

BY TRACY RENCK K aycee Feild added more chapters to his legendary bareback riding career at Thomas &Mack Center. The Genola, Utah, cowboy made that a reality when he won a PRCA record sixth bareback world championship at the 2021Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge Saturday night at theThomas &Mack Center. Feild finished the season atop the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $357,420. Jess Pope finished second with $340,499. “This is a numb feeling,” Feild said. “Honestly, I’ve dreamed about giving this speech a lot. I really have. It is an unreal feeling. What’s most important to me is my family and having them here and experiencing this with me. Then, the records I’m breaking and putting my name down in history, which will last a lot longer than I’m alive. That’s much more valuable than any business or any piece of land, I could leave for my kids. “The Feild name, the Feild legacy that my dad (late ProRodeo Hall of Famer Lewis Feild) started is something I’m very proud of.” Feild, who won world championships in 2011-14 and 2020- 21, broke the all-time bareback riding world championship tie at five with ProRodeo Hall of Famers Joe Alexander and Bruce Ford. Feild clinched his latest title with his 89.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s New Scarlet. That placed him second in the round, which earned him $21,336. He also placed second in the average with 872.5 points on 10 head and earned $56,171 to secure his historic world title. “My mindset in the chute (in Round 10) was deep breathes, a strong mark out and ride as perfectly as you can,” Feild said. “Nothing else matters. There’s one thing you can do and that is ride to the best of your ability and that’s what I did. I tried everything I possible could to get that horse to buck as hard as he could, and I pushed my body to its full limit. I rode for 12 seconds, way past the whistle to make sure everybody knew I was in control.” Feild’s final ride was part of the game plan when he arrived in Las Vegas. He won Rounds 3, 5, and 8 outright and split Round 4. He placed in nine rounds at the NFR. “I wanted to come down here and ride here with authority and finish stronger than anybody,” Feild said. “I feel that I accomplished all of my goals and did my job.” The now six-time and reigning bareback riding world champion is the all-time PRCA record holder in bareback riding round wins at the National Finals Rodeo now with 27 after his fourth-round win at the 2021 NFR. He surpassed the mark of 25 set by Bobby Mote. “I’m overwhelmed with that record and beating Bobby Mote,” said Feild, 34. “He was my toughest competitor in my early career.” Feild becomes PRCA’s winningest bareback rider

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Rod Connor

Kaycee Feild scored 84.5 points in Round 6 on Two Buck Chuck to propel him to the 2021 Gold Buckle. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Rod Connor

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

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