PRORODEO Sports News - July 2, 2026

PLAYOFF SERIES

BY KENSIE DARST-TODD, SPECIAL TO PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS COLE REINER SETS NEW ARENA RECORD WITH WIN AT VERNAL

F or years, Cole Reiner had left Vernal’s (Utah) Dinosaur Round up Rodeo with a check but not the championship buckle. That changed when he delivered a 92-point ride aboard Powder River Rodeo’s Outta Hand, setting an arena record and claiming a victory that could serve as a turning point in his summer run. For the Buffalo, Wyo., the ride was the result of capitalizing on an op portunity he knew was there when he climbed aboard the horse June 19. “I kind of knew what that horse was,” Reiner said. “It’s been to the NFR in the bronc riding before; it’s a really, really nice horse. Expectations were high to place.” The ride carried added significance because of the horse beneath him. Outta Hand is part of the Powder Riv er Rodeo program and traces back to one of the contractor’s most influ ential bloodlines. Reiner knew the horse had shown promise in limited oppor tunities but exceeded expecta tions in Vernal. “I knew I had a chance,” Reiner said. “That horse

really has kind of stepped into its own.” The win provided a boost after what Reiner described as a slower start to his summer run. More importantly, it continued the group’s successful stretch he has been traveling with this season. Reiner has spent much of the sum mer alongside Jess Pope and fellow world champion Tim O’Connell. The trio has enjoyed success at multiple rodeos, and Reiner believes the atmo sphere inside the truck has played a role. “When you have a horse like that and I’m feeling really good and as healthy as I’ve ever been and then have the momentum of a traveling

he said. “It feels really, really good to be back in a little traveling crew of win ners. To have a kind of support group is more important than I thought, and I think it’s going to make a big difference this year for everyone in our truck.” Other winners from the PRORO DEO Playoff Series rodeo in Vernal, Utah, were ALL-AROUND COWBOY BODIE MATTSON ($2,583, tie-down roping and team roping); STEER WRESTLER TYLER WAGUESPACK (3.3 seconds); TEAM ROPERS CORY KIDD /CARSON JOHNSON (4.0 seconds); SADDLE BRONC RIDER WYATT CASPER (88 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Blue Northern); TIE-DOWN ROPERS (tie) BLANE COX and KINCADE HENRY (7.9 seconds); BARREL RACERS (tie) MEGAN MC LEOD-SPRAGUE and ALYSSA UR BANEK-WADE (17.12 seconds); and BULL RIDERS (tie) DALTON ALLRED (88.5 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Big Washita) and JOSH FROST (88.5 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Workin Man).

crew that is winning, it makes this so much easier and so much more fun to be

out here traveling and rodeo ing,”

Cole Reiner picked up one of the biggest wins of his career while also setting a

new arena record in Vernal. PRCA photo by Jake Hodnett

26 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE July 2, 2026