Bareback rider Jess Pope rides Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Foxhole Gunner for 88 points to win Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo.
(PRCA PHOTO BY KATHRYN COLEMAN)

 

LAS VEGAS – Jess Pope has never been afraid of going to work.

As a professional bareback rider, that’s part of the job description, but there are nights where the labor is a bit more intense. Pope was up to the task, scoring 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Foxhole Gunner to win Wednesday’s seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo, earning a $36,668 payday in the process.

“Getting on him in Oakley City (Utah in July), I knew he was going to be hard,” said Pope, the 2022 world champion from Waverly, Kansas. “I knew he was going to hit me in the back, so a guy has to be really deliberate with his feet and just be in control.

“I found video of him with Weston Timberman here last year. He didn’t do what he did today, but I was really excited for his trip today. It felt awesome, and everything worked out.”

Yes, it did. It was his first go-round victory since the ninth round of last year’s NFR, when he rode another Carr horse, Secret’s Out, for the title in Las Vegas.

“The finals have been kind of a slow start,” he said. “It’s been tough on me a little bit mentally, but I’m super blessed to be here and get that done, and now I look forward to three more rounds.”

Pope has placed in four rounds so far, which is a bit slow for him. He’s won more than $1 million in NFR money since his first trip to the finale in 2020. Alas, he keeps adding to his total. He’s finished third or better in three rounds and had a fifth-place check on the third night. Still, he’s earned just shy of $100,000 in Las Vegas – a tenth of that came via a $10,000 bonus all qualifiers earn.

How does he stay mentally sharp when things aren’t going his way?

“That’s the main reason I got married,” he said with a smile, pointing out the positivity his wife brings to the family dynamic. “Sydney does a good job of grounding me and reminding me what I’m supposed to be doing and what my purpose is here, just to remember to be thankful for the opportunities that I have.

“Without her, I’d probably be a wreck right now, but she’s kept me in it all week.”

Pope has ridden seven horses for a cumulative score of 596.25 points and is second in the average race. He’s been in this position before – he won three straight aggregate titles between 2020-22, finished second in the average in 2023 and was fifth last year.

He still has a lot of work to do to catch big money in the final three go-rounds and to reel in some of the deficit he has over the average leader, Oklahoman Wacey Schalla, who has an 8.25-point advantage. Pope, though, has pushed his season earnings to $303,525. If he remains second in the aggregate by Saturday night, he will pocket another $76,000. Should he surpass Shalla, the average titlist will win $94,000, so there’s a reason to keep riding the hot streak.

“This was a great confidence-booster to finish out strong,” Pope said. “It moves me up in the average and in the world standings a little bit, and now I’ve just got to finish.”