Garrett Shadbolt came from a fifth-generation cattle ranch in Nebraska when he decided to be a bareback rider a little later in life. He has now locked in his second National Finals Rodeo qualification.
He grew up going to amateur rodeos with his father in Nebraska with zero interest the sport until he hit high school. Shadbolt started out in the ranch bronc riding before moving on saddle bronc and then eventually bareback.
In 2018, Shadbolt went to his first ProRodeo before he took on his rookie year in 2019 against some of the best bareback riders today. He looks back at that year and it was full of growth before 2020 brought on challenges for everyone.
In 2021, his career took off. It was consistency and starting to figure out the mental side of the game that gave Shadbolt a new edge. He made his first NFR and has only kept it going from there.
Shadbolt enters this year’s NFR ranked No. 15 and more mentally prepared now that he is a veteran bareback rider in the Thomas and Mack.
