Contestants enjoy the spirit of the Lethbridge rodeo

By Lethbridge Herald on August 23, 2024.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Dawson Hay focuses before his Thursday ride at the Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo. Hay thinks the rodeo is getting bigger and better every year.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Rodeo life can be a busy one, but for many contestants the stop at the Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo, they enjoy this stop for its hospitality and the implications this late in the schedule.

Manitoba’s Orin Larsen has been to nine Nationals Finals Rodeos (NFR) and five Canadian Finals Rodeos (CFR) and said it’s definitely a stepping stone towards it, when asked what the Lethbridge rodeo means towards the finals.

“Just like every rodeo (at) this time of year,” said Larsen.

“It’s kind of winding down to the end, so every kind of dollar we can make from here on out (is) kind of crucial, so we’re making the most of it for sure.”

Larsen was asked about the pressure at this time of year.

“There’s definitely pressure between the guys riding that bubble,” said Larsen.

“If you kind of keep your wits about you (and) keep your head on straight, like you’ve done the whole rest of the year, good results should come your way,” said Larsen.

Larsen thought his season’s been good.

“I think I’ll be sitting good for Canadian standings and I’ll be kind of working my way into Vegas this year,” said Larsen.

“ So got a lot of road ahead of us, so we’re just making (the) most of it right now.”

While Larsen figures it was either his second or third time to the Lethbridge rodeo, he enjoys the fans and horses alike.

“Camaraderie between the guys (and) contestants is top shelf so it’s always fun to come here,” said Larsen.

Larsen led the bareback riding uno offically after opening night of  the rodeo with 85.5 points and he sits third in the SMS Equipment Pro Rodeo Tour standings with 790 points.

Saddle bronc rider, Dawson Hay, finished his ride with a 5th place finish on Thursday night and spoke about the competition level at Lethbridge tour stop.

“Duane Kesler and Calgary Stampede do a great job of bringing the livestock out here and it’s a big rodeo, and (at) this time of year it’s crunch time for everyone trying to make the Canadian Finals and the National Final,” explained Hay.

“It’s a huge stop on our way for getting our qualifications.”

Hay said it’s great, on his thoughts of pro rodeo in Lethbridge.

“It’s getting bigger and better every single year and the horses and also the competition,” said Hay.

“There’s been a lot of names in the last couple years that you may not have seen before and guys are coming from the south. And as (for) Canada itself, there’s some great, great competitors coming up. So it’s not probably as easy as it may have once been to win the Lethbridge stampede here.”

Hay sits 23rd in the  tour standings with 425 points.

The top 12 in each category at next week’s finals in Armstrong go to the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton in October.

The rodeo winds up tonight at the Exhibition Grandstand during the last day of Whoop-Up Days.