ProRodeo Sports News - March 3, 2023

“With him being at the Finals, we definitely knew quite a little about him. But I was never really good at that stuff anyway, remembering all that stuff,” Etbauer joked. What happened next was literal NFR history, as Etbauer held on for eight seconds, landed on his rear and popped up to see the scoreboard displaying a 93-point ride. That effort was good enough to stand alone as the highest saddle bronc scoring effort in NFR history. It didn’t stay by itself long. A year later, in Round 10 of NFR, Etbauer and Cool Alley were paired for a rematch. The sequel didn’t disappoint as Etbauer once again rode to 93 points, tying his own NFR record. A year after finishing seventh in the world standings, his record-tying final ride in Las Vegas propelled him to the last of his five PRCAWorld Championships in saddle bronc. “(The second ride) was definitely scary there. It was kind of the perfect scenario and a really cool deal all the way

records. In 2005, he broke the record for most saddle bronc earnings at NFR, a record he had already reset the year before. In 2007, he passed Tom Reeves for most NFR qualifications all-time in the event and continued to add to it, reaching 21 trips before concluding his career. But even Etbauer acknowledges that after 20 years it’s surprising that his 93 has only been tied, not broken. StetsonWright pulled even with the mark in 2021 on Vitalix Ricky Bobby fromCervi Championship Rodeo. And despite those two incredible rides that have

“I was scared to death, but just kind of went in and said, ‘Don’t worry about nothing. Just go take care of business. It is what it is when you get all done.’ And thank God it all worked out.” – BILLY ETBAUER

stood the test of time, Etbauer will argue they could have been better. That’s the mindset that made him a world champion then and helps him keep a grip on world records two decades later. “Whether it was actually a 93 or not, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you how much it was one way or another, but I can assure you I was always picking it apart, looking for where I could have done something else a whole lot better,” Etbauer said. “Anytime I got off, I always thought there was something I could have done better.”

around,” Etbauer said. “I was scared to death, but just kind of went in and said, ‘Don’t worry about nothing. Just go take care of business. It is what it is when you get all done.’ And thank God it all worked out.” Over the course of his career, Etbauer reset numerous NFR-related

Dan Hubbell photo Billy Etbauer didn’t know much about Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Cool Alley Dip when he climbed aboard in Round 5 of the 2003 Wrangler NFR, but it was hard to tell. Etbauer had a record-setting 93-point ride on the horse.

ProRodeo Sports News 3/3/2023

ProRodeo.com

45