Jess Pope is making a powerful statement early in the 2025 rodeo season. Over the weekend, the bareback rider secured a $13,000 payday with a dominant performance at the Darby Xtreme Bareback in Darby, Montana.
Pope kicked off the event with an impressive 87-point ride in the long round, advancing him to the finals. There, he delivered a standout 91.5-point ride aboard Pickett Pro Rodeo Co.'s ‘Uncapped ‘to claim the event title.
This wasn’t the first time Pope and ‘Uncapped’ have been paired together. The two previously matched up during the 2020 National Finals Rodeo, where Pope posted an 89.5-point ride to secure his first NFR Average title. That ride marked a pivotal moment in his career, and their reunion in Darby added another highlight to the story.
“This one’s special,” Pope said. “It was my goal from the first time I saw the buckle they handed out—it was a goal of mine to win.”
Pope’s win in Darby caps off an incredible May, during which he captured back-to-back titles at the Guymon Pioneer Days and the Kansas City Royal. With the Darby victory under his belt, Pope now sits No. 8 in the PRCA World Standings.
“I’m doing this for a living, but I love riding bareback horses,” Pope said.
It’s a major turnaround from this time last year, when Pope found himself outside the top 40 in the world. Now, with momentum building heading into the busy summer run, he’s firmly back in the Top 10—and shows no signs of slowing down.