DUNCAN, Okla. – The aches and pains that Roper Kiesner felt were getting the better of him.
He needed – and took – a break from the game of rodeo. He did that for more than a couple years before returning to action late in the 2023 season. Now at age 30, he’s at the top of his game and is the No. 1 saddle bronc rider heading into this year’s Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan.
“For the past two years, I had stopped just because my body got to hurting too much,” said Kiesner, now competing at the regional finale for the 10th time in his career. “I’ve broken 17 bones, and I’ve had seven surgeries over my career. My body couldn’t do what I was wanting it to do. It was getting in my head a little bit, and I just wasn’t riding to the ability that I know I could ride.
“So, I took just a little bit of time off from rodeo to get my head right and let my body heal. I went to training rope horses down in Texas, and then I was going to a little open rodeo in Meeker, Oklahoma, to team rope at, and I got to talking to my old bronc-riding buddy, Joe Lufkin.”
The two decided to ride broncs again for the fun of it.
“Joe got off his horse, and he was like, ‘Man, that was a lot of fun; that’ll be the last one I ever get on, though,’ ” Kiesner recalled. “I was like, ‘You know what? My body still feels pretty dang good. I think I’ve still got a few more years left on me.’ So, I went ahead and bought my (PRCA) card again.
“That was right at the end of July (2023), so I had about a month to make the circuit finals. I won about $7,000 in August and made the circuit finals last year. I rodeoed through the wintertime and got into some of the big rodeos. I won about $10,000 outside my circuit, but I was just focused on my circuit this year and trying to get my qualifications up so I could rodeo a little bit more for 2025.”
It worked. He has earned $17,119 in the region made up of contestants and events primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. He picked up seven victories, four in the region and three others that were outside the region but co-approved so that money counts toward the Prairie Circuit: Kansas stops in Longford, Eureka, Fredonia and Phillipsburg and rodeos in Ashland, Missouri; Magnolia, Arkansas; and Dayton, Iowa.
“Probably my biggest win would be Phillipsburg, where I was 90 (points) to win it,” said Kiesner of Ripley, Oklahoma. “That was pretty exciting. I put on a good ride, and I tipped my hat, and then when they said 90, boy, I threw my hat, and I jumped around. The whole crowed enjoyed it.”
He built off that victory, and it was a major stepping stone into why he’s the top man on the money list heading into the three-day championship. He owns a lead of nearly $6,000 over the No. 2 bronc rider, Cooper Thatcher. Ean Price, the defending year-end titlist, is third and still in contention to catch the leaders.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to win my circuit,” Kiesner said. “Going in No. 1 and having a good lead on the standings makes me feel really good. I’ve set myself up for a good chance to win the circuit, and I’m excited to see what happens.”