By Ted Harbin//Photo Courtesy of Peggy Gander

High-marked rides make for legendary stories.

PBR world champion José Vitor Leme holds that association’s record with a 98.75-point ride on Woopa in 2021. Thirty years previously, Wade Leslie was perfect with his 100-point ride on Wolfman.

Will anyone be that close to perfection again? Likely not, but in 2022, the bronc busters staked their claim atop the scoring margin. Reigning world champion bareback rider Rocker Steiner rode C5 Rodeo’s Virgil for 95 points, and a few weeks later, saddle bronc rider Logan Hay rode Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies for 95.5 points.

At the Farm-City Pro Rodeo a little more than a week ago, there were four bull rides of 90 points or better, led by Stetson Wright’s winning 92-pointer on Bridwell’s X14. Bronc buster Brody Wells was 90 on Korkow’s Rubber Match, while bareback rider Jacob Lees was 92.5 points on Calgary’s Disco Party.

It’s a great time for huge scores, a little more than a month remaining in ProRodeo’s regular season. On Aug. 4, the Lea County Xtreme Bulls paid out $50,995 to eight places, and five of them were 90 points or more. Rookie Cimarron Rucker won the title with a 92.5-point ride on Pete Carr’s E.T.O.

During the rodeo in Lovington, New Mexico, later that week, Jace Trosclair was 91 on Carr’s Pay Day. Two bareback riders – Leighton Berry and Kade Sonnier – and a trio of bronc riders – Brody Cress, Zac Dallas and Mitchie Story – all shared the Lea County win with 89s.

Berry was also 89 points the next week in Billings, Montana, and tied for second place. Wyatt Warneke won Rodeo Billings’ bareback riding title with a 91. Reigning world champion Statler Wright won the bronc riding title with a 90.5-point ride.

In the October-November issue of Rodeo Life Magazine, the TwisTed Rodeo Report will highlight ProRodeo officials. It will provide readers with peak inside the lives of the men in stripes, rodeo cowboys who are dedicated to enforcing the rules and ensuring fair competition.

How do they come up with such high scores? What separates Lees’ 92.5-point ride in the Hermiston, Oregon, short round from the two 76.5s produced in the same performance?

There are two officials in the arena who make their judgments based on criteria from both the horse and the rider. The more the values are met, the more points each judge writes down. Disco Party had a great day, as did Lees.

As with any professional sports referee, rodeo judges receive plenty of backlash from contestants and fans alike. Nonetheless, they still show up and do the job to the best of their abilities, and that’s all anyone can expect.