LAS VEGAS – Prior to Friday’s second go-round of the National Finals Rodeo, saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper celebrated his little girl.
Cheyenne Casper had just turned 5 years old, and the family was in Las Vegas. It was the perfect way to spend a day before getting on a bucking horse that evening.
“We went to Circus Circuis, did the roller coasters and all that, and they had a blast,” said Casper, 28, of Miami, Texas. “We just enjoy Vegas so much that we never want it to come to an end.”
He matched moves with J Bar J’s Painted J for 83 points to finish sixth in the round, worth $5,433. It’s not a lot considering the overall payout and the fact that round winners earn nearly $34,000 for 10 straight nights, but it’s a start. He is sixth in the world standings with $235,217.
“My riding feels good, feels crispy,” said Casper, the 2016 intercollegiate champion while competing at Clarendon (Texas) College. “It feels like nothing should throw me off. I’ve got a lot of confidence in my saddle and how it’s set up. I just hope they keep running some good ones under me.
“I tied for seventh (Thursday) night and got sixth today, so it’s not really the start I was looking for, but we’ve got two scores. That’s better than I’ve done in the past.”
The Texan will be matched with Diamond G Rodeo’s Lindsey’s Thunder Rollz for Saturday’s third round, which features horses that bronc busters call “souped-up hoppers,” animals that should allow the cowboys to make solid spur rides. Casper likes his chances when it comes to horses like that.
“I like my chances in that pen,” he said. “We’ve just got to get a good dancing partner that the judges like.”
This is his fifth straight NFR qualification. He had some big wins that propelled him into contention for the world championship, and he’s proven over time that he’s comfortable being among the elite bronc riders in the game. When he arrives in Las Vegas, it’s his time to shine, but it’s also a business trip that everyone can enjoy.
This is more than a birthday party. This is a celebration of a year’s worth of work and a big opportunity to earn Sin City cash.
“There’s no better feeling than being in this small arena,” Casper said. “Everybody’s pumped up; it pumps you up. It’s just the best two weeks of our lives. This is what we rodeo for all year, and it’s just a blast.”