Rodeo’s most physically taxing event has seen records break and young guns take over during the Texas Swing in 2023. However, multi-time World Champions are still hanging on to spots at the top in the bareback riding.
No. 2 Keenan Hayes, $83,203
Colorado cowboy Keenan Hayes broke the record for money earned on his permit in 2022. This year, he is already sitting at the top as he cashes in big almost everywhere he goes. His most recent win came by way of Rodeo Austin. The rookie matched up with National Finals Rodeo bucking horse, Black Kat of Beutler and Son Rodeo, to be the highest marked ride of the Final Round on a clean slate. He raked in over $14,000 in Austin while also placing at Cave Creek Rodeo Days in Arizona to add another $1,000.
No. 4 Kaycee Feild, $52,770
As a six-time World Champion, Feild knows the game and he plays it well, being very selective on which rodeos he goes to. The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and Rodeo Houston are where he has brought in his season earnings and there is still over $15,000 between him and No. 5 bareback rider in the World, Garrett Shadbolt.
No. 13 Tim O’Connell, $28,947
O’Connell is another multi-time World Champion who enters strategically, and it has worked out for his 2023 season so far. With six rodeos under his belt, O’Connell has left five of them with hefty checks. His most recent came in Watford City, North Dakota at the PRCA Exctreme Broncs and Bares aboard Burch Rodeo’s Grug & Tug right after he took home $10,250 from Rodeo Houston.
With the California run right around the corner and the summer run after that, there is still big money to be won and big moves to be made in the bareback riding. Take a look at the PRCA Top 20 in the bareback riding.
| World Rank | Name | Earnings |
| 1. | Leighton Berry | $108,056 |
| 2. | Keenan Hayes | $83,203 |
| 3. | Rocker Steiner | $58,464 |
| 4. | Kaycee Feild | $52,770 |
| 5. | Garrett Shadbolt | $37,000 |
| 6. | Jayco Roper | $35,591 |
| 7. | Kade Sonnier | $35,259 |
| 8. | Jacob Lees | $34,996 |
| 9. | Sam Petersen | $34,071 |
| 10. | Chad Rutherford | $33,226 |
| 11. | Dean Thompson | $31,798 |
| 12. | Taylor Broussard | $31,496 |
| 13. | Tim O’Connell | $28,947 |
| 14. | Cole Reiner | $28,923 |
| 15. | Clayton Biglow | $28,028 |
| 16. | Tanner Aus | $23,716 |
| 17. | Luke Thrash | $21,981 |
| 18. | Cole Franks | $21,100 |
| 19. | R.C. Landingham | $21,098 |
| 20. | Jacek Frost | $20,996 |
Standings current as of PRCA on March 27, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET.