TRU Rodeo Segment aired on Your Ag Network Affiliates on Tuesday, December 9. SPONSORED by TD Angus at Rishel Ranch.
LAS VEGAS — Rocker Steiner delivered one of the defining moments of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Monday night, riding the PRCA’s top bareback horse to seize the Round 5 victory at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Matched with Brookman Rodeo’s Lunatic Heaven — the 2025 Pendleton Whisky Let ’er Buck Bareback Horse of the Year — Steiner posted an 89-point trip to earn $36,668 and strengthen his bid for a first career world championship.
“I’m feeling like I should be on a box of Wheaties,” Steiner said. “It was the No. 1 guy in the world versus the No. 1 horse. It seemed like a match made in heaven.”
Steiner, of Weatherford, Texas, increased his season earnings to $497,478 and now holds a $130,000 lead over Sam Petersen with five rounds remaining.
Midwest bareback riders were active in the round as well.
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Garrett Shadbolt of Merriman, Neb. tied for seventh with an 86.5-point ride.
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Jess Pope of Waverly, Kan. finished 10th with 86 points and remains fourth in the average.
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Luke Mackey of Colorado was not listed among Round 5 qualifiers in bareback, saddle bronc or bull riding.
Guenthner rebounds in steer wrestling; Struxness places fourth
Canada’s Scott Guenthner posted the fastest bulldogging time of the NFR so far with a 3.4-second run to win Round 5 and earn $36,668.
“It was time to let it go and have fun,” he said.
Minnesota’s J.D. Struxness turned in a needed 4.0-second run to place fourth in the round. He now sits third in the average at 30.3 seconds on five head.
Schmidt/Torres surge again in team roping
A new NFR pairing continues to thrive as header Kolton Schmidt and heeler Jonathan Torres roped their steer in 3.7 seconds — the fastest run of the NFR — to win Round 5. The duo sits fourth in the average.
Brennan tightens the saddle bronc race; Patterson finishes 13th
Australia’s Damian Brennan climbed closer to Ryder Wright atop the world standings after winning Round 5 with a 90-point ride.
Weston Patterson of Waverly, Kan., finished tied for 13th with 83.25 points. Patterson sits 13th in the average and 12th in the world standings.
Douch finds his stride in tie-down; Pruitt picks up a check
Tie-down roper John Douch clocked a 7.4-second run to win Round 5 and earn his first go-round buckle since 2023.
Nebraska’s Riley Pruitt of Gering tied for fifth with an 8.1-second run, adding $7,688 to his season total. Pruitt remains eighth in the world standings.
Stratford delivers emotional bull riding victory
JR Stratford of Byers, Kan., earned one of the loudest ovations of the night with a 90.5-point ride on Rafter H Rodeo’s Deal Me In to win Round 5 of bull riding. The trip marked his first round win since his injury-shortened 2022 NFR.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Stratford said. “I’ve battled a lot of injuries to get back to this point. I’m just thankful to be here.”
Otero captures second barrel racing win
Texas cowgirl Carlee Otero continued her standout finals with a 13.43-second run to win Round 5. She has now earned more than $83,000 at this year’s NFR.
Other territory results
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Mason Moody of Letcher, S.D., did not earn a score Monday in bull riding.
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No Round 5 results were listed for Luke Mackey (Colorado) in any event.