ProRodeo Sports News - May 15, 2020

COWBOY GRILLE WITH MATT NABER

How have you grown as a competitor since 2011? Jesse: I think I’m a little more focused, and it seems easier to go down the road now than it was then. I’m not as stressed out. I’ve learned to be more patient since starting a family. I guess I’m just more relaxed and not as serious as I once was. You were still injured when you headed into the 2010 NFR. Do you still compete at big rodeos when you’re injured? Jesse: I’m all about getting recovered now. When I’m hurt there is too much at stake, so I wait until I’m 100% before I go. How did your first NFR experience compare to the rest? Jesse: Heck, every time feels like the first time to me. I remember having the jitters every night at my first one, but now I’m a lot calmer. But, there’s nothing like getting behind those yellow bucking chutes. Do you still have the 2011 RAM and camper with the modified Xbox center? Jesse: I sold it like two years after that “Cowboy Grille” printed, back in 2013. I put about 85,000 miles on it in one year and traded it in for a 2012 RAM, and I still have it (the 2012 RAM) and really like it. It has 170,000 miles on it now, but I don’t rodeo in it. CoBurn (Bradshaw) has a van that we use now, and Jake has a new Capri. I had a vehicle for five years, and now I mooch off them after they mooched on me. I’m buying a camper off Mitch Pollock later this year, too. What video games do you play now? Jesse: I don’t do that anymore really, but when I’m at home at night I play Mario Kart with my boys on the Wii. How have you and your family adjusted your approach to travel since then? Jesse: Heck, you have to make it work with the buddy system. It’s Saddle bronc rider Jesse Wright’s life and ProRodeo career have changed substantially since 2011. He and his wife, Aubrey, own a home in Milford Flat, Utah, and have four kids – daughters Rylee (13) and Ivy (6), and sons Kruz (8) and Ramzie (4). It takes a lot to stand out in the Wright family. Jesse and most of his seven brothers, two nephews and brother-in-law have competed at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. But Jesse has paved his own ProRodeo path with a world title in 2012, eight trips to the NFR (2010-14, 2016-17 and 2019) and $1.47 million in career earnings. Jesse and his twin brother, Jake, will celebrate their 31st birthdays in June, and neither of them are showing any signs of slowing down.

JESSE WRIGHT

CoBurn, Jake, Alex and me in one rig, but Alex and Jake were hurt, so then it was just CoBurn and me going down the road for most of last year. Cody took us when I first started. He took

us under his wing and showed us the ropes, and then we went on our own. Now, Cody isn’t going anymore, and it’s the younger kids in one and the older guys hanging out and traveling together in another. When we do meet up at a rodeo, it’s just luck.

In 2011, Cody was in charge of entering and the business side of competing in ProRodeo. Who does it now? Jesse: I did it for a couple years, but Alex, CoBurn and I swap off on it. Since Alex isn’t going this year, CoBurn is doing it. They just wanted to do it so they could learn how the system works. Cody does everything for the younger ones now. Back in 2011 you were asked about getting three brothers at the NFR, but you guys upped the ante to four in 2014 (Jesse, Jake, Cody and Spencer). Was it as fun as you thought it would be? Jesse: It’s awesome. It just makes it that much more exciting for us and the family. Being down there and the atmosphere of it, it feels like it should – just awesome. What’s it like going from competing with your brothers to competing with your brothers and nephews? Jesse: They’re just like my brothers, so it feels exactly the same. Stewart is an uncle and he is five years younger than Rusty, he’s Stetson’s age. It’s awesome, you always have someone to do stuff with, so you can’t beat it. We’re like a barn sour (a horse who needs his friends) when we’re all by ourselves. How often do you and Jake get confused for each other? Jesse: It happens all the time. I was riding with my cousin last weekend and he asked if I was Jesse or Jake. It’s easier on people if we’re both around. What’s the best and worst part about having a twin brother? Jesse: I’ve never done anything without him, there’s no worst part about it except that he’s slower than heck getting ready to do anything. His prep work takes so long in the chutes that I want to kill him, ha, ha. When you’re bucking after him in the rodeo, you’ll have your horse ready but he’s taking his sweet time while my horse is about to lay down in there.

ProRodeo Sports News 5/15/2020

ProRodeo.com

13