ProRodeo Sports News 2022 Wrangler NFR Preview Issue

BAREBACK RIDING

Rises to Top Cole Reiner in Finals as leader for first time

QUOTABLE “It was definitely finding that consistency for me. I think I went to a little more than 50 rodeos this year and I think there were only four times that I didn’t place all year.” – Cole Reiner

BY TANNER BARTH C ole Reiner is in just his fourth year of ProRo deo, but the Buffalo, Wyo., native continues to perform like a savvy vet inside the arena. Of those four years, he has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in three of them. He heads into theThomas & Mack Center in 2022 with a new title added to his name, the No. 1 bareback rider in the PRCA | RAM World Standings at the conclusion of the regular season. Reiner’s 2022 season got off to a slow start in the winter, with all his wins coming after the month of April. He said the outlook on his year changed after a successful trip back to his home state of Wyoming at the midway point of the season. “I didn’t have a major win in the wintertime,” said Reiner, 23. “Then, I was kind of able to get things moving in the spring with winning Clovis (Calif.). Then came my favorite time of the year, the week of all the Wyoming rodeos with Cody, Casper, and Sheridan. “I was really able to boost myself up in the standings during that time. It’s one of my favorite weeks all year and that was really a big boost to the amount of money I had won at that point in the year.” And finding consistency inside and outside the arena the rest of the way was key in his climb to the top of the standings. “It was definitely finding that consistency for me. I think I went to a little more than 50 rodeos this year and I think there were only four times that I didn’t place all year,” he said. “So, it definitely came down to consistency and knowing when to get on the right horses and where to get on the right horses at. I have a bunch of good traveling partners that helped me do that.” It’ll be the first time that Reiner has entered the NFR as the season leader. He said while going into the Finals No. 1 shows his hard work has paid off, it far from guarantees him walking out of Las Vegas as a world champion at the end of 10 days of competition. “Going in No. 1 can only really work out a couple of ways,” said Reiner said. “You either come out No. 1 with a gold buckle or you don’t. I’m only really focused on what kind of effort I put in right now. It’ll be more on performance than outcome. If you go out there and you want to win so bad that you can’t focus on anything else, it’s pretty hard to win. I’m excited to see what happens at this year’s NFR.”

2022 BAREBACK STANDINGS

1. Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo....................... $160,971 2. Jess Pope, Waverly, Kan.......................... 159,259 3. Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mont................. 147,290 4. Rocker Steiner, Weatherford, Texas. ........ 134,328 5. Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah....................... 131,143 6. R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif.. ......... 130,524 7. Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas. ........ 130,194 8. Tim O'Connell, Zwingle, Iowa................... 129,563 9. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn................ 127,132 10. Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas. ............... 116,426 11. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas............... 113,188 12. Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba.................. 111,659 13. Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif............... 109,820 14. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D.......................... 104,195 15. Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb............ 103,949

FROM THE CHAMP

“Looking back at it and having some time to think about it, it was one of the most fun 10 days I’ve ever had,” said Kaycee Feild, a 13-time Wrangler NFR qualifier. He continued his dominance inside the yellow bucking chutes last season. Feild won Rounds

Cole Reiner had an 88.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Flight to place fourth in Round 5 of the 2021 Wrangler NFR presented by Teton Ridge in Las Vegas. Reiner finished seventh in the PRCA | RAM World Standings last year. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Roseanna Sales

Feild

3, 5, and 8 outright and split Round 4 on his way to the world title. He said having his entire family by his side made No. 6 just that much more special. “My whole family was with me. My kids are at the age where they understand the hard work at home and how we are gone all year. They get to come be a part of what Vegas has to present to the families. At a young age winning four world titles and having it happen so fast you know there were so many things that I missed that I just didn’t know how to handle or just didn’t look for. Now, to experience this with my friends to my family to my support system it’s a fun gratifying feeling.” – Kaycee Feild

ProRodeo Sports News 11/18/2022

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

DEC. 1-10, 2022

ProRodeo Sports News 11/18/2022

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