BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
With a Gold Buckle in the saddle bronc riding in 2021, Stetson Wright has packed a career’s worth of achievements into the last four seasons.
By making it to the NFR in both saddle bronc riding and bull riding again in 2022, Wright now has seven total NFR qualifications to go along with five World Titles (three all-around to go along with one in both bull riding and saddle bronc riding). Furthermore, he has all but locked up fourth straight All-Around Gold Buckle already and enters the NFR No. 2 in saddle bronc riding and No. 1 in bull riding.
For this story, we are going to focus on Wright’s saddle bronc riding in 2022.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, $25,880
Wright showed his rapid improvement in saddle bronc riding in 2021 was no fluke early in 2022. Wright won the last three rounds he competed in during Fort Worth and was 88.5 points or more in all three, including 92 in the Semifinals and 91.5 in the Finals.
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, $25,750
Wright left San Antonio the champion as well and made five straight rides of 85 points or better. He was 90.5 points on Larry Culpepper to win the Final Round by a half-point over fellow NFR qualifiers Kolby Wanchuk and Layton Green.
NOTABLE WINS
We’re going to skip the usual highest marked rides section because most of them came at the big rodeos that Stetson won, and that list is extensive.
Cheyenne Frontier Days, 88 Points in the Finals
For the second consecutive year, Wright was the bronc riding champion in Cheyenne. He was 88 points in the Finals and won $12,198 at The Dad. He placed in the Top 3 of the performance on all three of his rides.
Ellensburg Rodeo, 178 Points on Two
Wright won both rounds in Ellensburg with 89.5 in the Long Round and 88.5 in the Short Round. He was five points clear of second place Dawson Hay and won more than $9,000.
Gooding Pro Rodeo, 88 Points
At the one-header in Idaho, Wright was 88 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Dry Creek to add $4,634 to his season earnings.
Horse Heaven Roundup, 174 Points on Two
Ten days prior to Ellensburg, Wright had a similar win in Kennewick when he was 87 in both rounds to finish first in Round 1 and second in the Finals. His 174 points on two won him the rodeo by 1.5.
Lea County PRCA Rodeo, 88 Points
Wright won close to $5,000 for an 88-point ride on Fox Hole Gunner to win the New Mexico rodeo.
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