Bareback

BAREBACK

This is the most physically demanding rodeo event. Using one arm, the cowboy holds onto the rawhide handhold of a riggin (a leather pad cinched around the horse's girth). The handhold is snug-fitting and is customized to the individual's grip. The stress on the rider's arm is intense as the riding arm absorbs most of the horse's power.

A bareback rider will be disqualified for touching the animal or equipment with his free hand, or bucking off before the end of the eight-second ride.

The bareback rider tries to reach as far forward as he can with his feet, then rolls his spurs back up toward the riggin. At the same time, he must keep from being pulled away from the handhold. The higher and wilder the rider spurs, the higher the marks.

Below is a list of contestants that have qualified for the Calgary Stampede.

Pool A

Chris Harris

Birth Date:
1976-10-14
Hometown:
Itasca, Texas
Career Earnings:
$655,956

Chris and his wife Stephanie have two daughters - Hailey and Jesse James. He is developing his own bucking horse program.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR (5)
Placed in 5 of 10 rounds at the Wrangler NFR and won Rodeo Austin, TX.
Chris is a past Rodeo Royal Champion and a co-champion of the Calgary Stampede in 1998.

Davey Shields Jr.

Birth Date:
1975-08-01
Hometown:
Bashaw, Alberta
Career Earnings:
$557,960

Davey won at the Calgary Stampede when he was just 21 years old and his highest marked ride is 95 points!
He and his wife Sonya have one daughter, Mercedes.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR (4)
CFR (12)
2007, 2006 Calgary Stampede $100,000 winner and a two time $50,000 winner.
Three time Canadian Bareback Champion.

Dusty LaValley

Birth Date:
1981-05-30
Hometown:
Crooked Creek, Alberta
Career Earnings:
$236,858

Dusty has been commpeting for 10 years and credits his older brother, Trevor for his start.
When not rodeoing Dusty works as a Rancher and Horse Logger.


PRCA Standings
CRF (5)
Dusty is the 2006 and 2007 Canadian Bareback Champion and a past Calgary Stampede and Canadian Novice Bareback Champion.

Jason Jeter

Birth Date:
1973-10-28
Hometown:
Mansfield, Texas
Career Earnings:
$883,674

Jason has travelled to Alaska and Africa to pursue his interest of hunting and when not competing, writes for various hunting magazines about his adventures.
In 2002 he appeared in the October issue of GQ Magazine with his mom as part of a feature on athletes and their moms.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR (6)
Won Round 1 of the Wrangler NFR with an 86.5 point ride on Calgary Stampede's "Coconut Roll".
In 2007 Jason won six major rodeos and tied a seventh.

Kelly Timberman

Birth Date:
1976-01-19
Hometown:
Mills, Wyoming
Career Earnings:
$751,591

Kelly started competing six years ago, and won his first $1 in rodeo from Bruce Ford.
Took a rodeo scholarship to Casper College, and studied Business Administration.
Kelly has one son Chris and a daughter Dayanera.


PRCA Standings
World Title (1)
Wrangler NFR (4)
Kelly placed in 4 of 10 rounds at the Wrangler NFR and placed 8th in the World Standings.

Russ Hallaby

Birth Date:
1978-09-26
Hometown:
Hanna, AB
Career Earnings:
$31,578

Russ has been riding professionally for seven years.
He is engaged to Teal Dunn, to be married July 15, 2008.


PRCA Standings
CFR(1)

Steven Dent

Birth Date:
1986-04-23
Hometown:
Mullen, Nebraska
Career Earnings:
$133,847

Steven grew up on a ranch in Mullen, Nebr. and attended 100 rodeos in his rookie year.
He is most consistent in Bareback, but also rides Saddle Bronc.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR(1)
Steven placed in 3 of 10 rounds at the Wrangler NFR in 2007.
College CNFR All-Around Champion 2007

Tom McFarland

Birth Date:
1983-11-02
Hometown:
Wickenburg, Ariz.
Career Earnings:
$528,820

Tom started riding at age seven and says he is still doing what he loves. Tom and his wife Ashley have three children, Hayley, Klowey Dawn, and a new baby welcomed to the family last June.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR (4)
Tom won Round 6 of the Wrangler NFR with a score of 88.5 points.
In 2007 he won 7 additional major rodeos.

Travis Whiteside

Birth Date:
1971-04-28
Hometown:
Longview, AB
Career Earnings:
$219,513

Contracting company owner.
Wife Dusti, daughters Kylie and Brodie.


PRCA Standings
CFR (9)
Canadian NBB Champion 1991
SK Circuit BB Champion 1995
CFR BB Aggregate Champion 1997
Canadian BB Champion 1997
BC Circuit BB Champion 2003
CPRA BB Season Leader 2003

Wes Stevenson

Birth Date:
1979-09-23
Hometown:
Kaufman, Texas
Career Earnings:
$619,885

Married wife Francie in May 2005.
Made the Dean⿿s list at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
His rodeo idol is Bruce Ford.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR (4)
In 2007 Wes won the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo and tied four others.
Won the first round at the 2006 Wrangler NFR with an 89 point ride.

Pool B

Bobby Mote

Birth Date:
1976-06-03
Hometown:
Culver, Oregon
Career Earnings:
$1,140,133

Bobby credits Chris LeDoux's songs for his interest in Bareback. He and his wife Kate have two sons, Charlie and Trey Lucky, and one daughter Laura.
His hobbies include horse training, roping and fishing.


PRCA Standings
World Titles (2)
Wrangler NFR (7)
Won Round 4 and shared title in Round 8 of the Wrangler NFR on the way to his second World Title.
Clinched the gold buckle in Round 10.
Won 7 titles and shared 4 others in 2007.

Cimmaron Gerke

Birth Date:
1982-06-02
Hometown:
Brighton, Colorado
Career Earnings:
$532,061

Started his career as a kid at the Little Britches Rodeo, and worked up from there, becoming professional in 2001. Highest marked ride is 92 points on Calgary Stampede's "Fearless Warrior".


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR (4)
CFR (2)
Placed in 3 of 10 rounds at the Wrangler NFR.
CPRA BB Season Leader
AB Circuit Bareback Champion 2007
Cimmaron won the average title at the Calgary Stampede in 2005.

Evan Jayne

Birth Date:
1982-06-27
Hometown:
Marseille, France
Career Earnings:
$71,898

Born Yvan Pierre Jayne and originally from France, Evan met his wife Leslie while studying at Sam Houston State University. He used to trick ride at European rodeos, and was convinced to try Bareback in the USA.


PRCA Standings
Won 9 major rodeos in 2007 and tied at the Kansas Biggest Rodeo.

Heath Ford

Birth Date:
1977-08-22
Hometown:
Greeley, Colorado
Career Earnings:
$308,038

Nephew of 5X World Champion Bareback Rider, Bruce Ford.
Heath also writes old-style country and country gospel music.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR (2)
CFR (1)
Placed 3 of 10 rounds at the Wrangler NFR, and won round 5 at the CFR, finishing fourth in the average.

Jason Havens

Birth Date:
1977-03-15
Hometown:
Bend, Oregon
Career Earnings:
$435,724

Influenced by his cousin, a Saddle Bronc rider, Jason started competing in 1992.
He has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Montana State University.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR (2)
Jason placed in 4 of 10 rounds at the Wrangler NFR in 2007 and finished as biggest money winnder at the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Championship in Dallas, TX.

Jess Davis

Birth Date:
1981-03-14
Hometown:
Payson, Utah
Career Earnings:
$390,711

Six years ago Jess began competing as a Bareback rider and says he does it for the fans, the lights and the travel.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR (1)
Jess placed in 7 out of 10 rounds at the Wrangler NFR.

Justin McDaniel

Birth Date:
1986-10-10
Hometown:
Porum, Oklahoma
Career Earnings:
$262,788

Justin played baseball, basketball and football before concentrating on rodeo. He wants to be the first roughstock cowboy since Murray to win the All-Around Gold Buckle.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR(1)
Won Rounds 3 and 7 of the Wrangler NFR and finished third in the average in 2007.
Set a NFR record with a 91.5 ride
Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Champion

Matt Lait

Birth Date:
1983-03-08
Hometown:
Seven Persons, AB
Career Earnings:
$77,617

Matt has been competing since age 12 and also rides horses and does woodworking when not competing. He is married to wife, Allie.


PRCA Standings
CFR (3)
2007 Stavely Pro Rodeo All-Around and Bonnyville Pro Rodeo BB Champion.
2006 Strathmore Heritage Days BB Champion
2004 CPRA Season Leader and Calgary Stampede $25,000 Reserve Champion.

Ryan Gray

Birth Date:
1983-07-11
Hometown:
Cheney, Wash.
Career Earnings:
$430,262

Ryan began competing professionally in 2002 and says his favorite thing about rodeo is seeing the country.
Married to wife Lacy and when not competing, builds log beds.


PRCA Standings
Wrangler NFR (3)
Placed in 4 of 10 at WNFR.
Co-Champion at four rodeos and won three major rodeos in 2007.

Will Lowe

Birth Date:
1982-12-24
Hometown:
Canyon, Texas
Career Earnings:
$1,179,087

Will has appeared in Sport's Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" for tying the Bareback World Record. He is married to wife, Tiffani, and enjoys training horses and fishing.


PRCA Standings
World Titles (3)
Wrangler NFR (6)
Won 3 of 10 rounds of the Wrangler NFR in 2007 on his way to winning the average title.
In 2006 he won his third World title, also setting a single season earnings record in bareback riding.