In a rematch with Rafter H Rodeo’s Medicine Show, bareback rider Leighton Berry scored 89 points to take the early lead at the Lea County Rodeo. He was also 89 two months ago when he won his hometown rodeo in Weatherford, Texas.
(PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER)
LOVINGTON, N.M. – Now in his eighth year in professional rodeo, bareback rider Leighton Berry is still getting an education.
He missed five months of the 2025 season because of injury – he suffered a broken hand, and he opted to have a damaged hip repaired while he was out of commission. Since his return in mid-September, Berry has been on a winning streak. From Hempstead, Texas, last October to Salinas, California, last month, he’s picked up several top five finishes.
“I really took time to reevaluate myself mentally, physically and spiritually,” said Berry, 27, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Weatherford, Texas. “Last year was a learning curve for me, becoming a new dad, starting a new business and just working from home.
“To get back out here on the road just makes me realize why I crave this job so much and why it’s so enjoyable to do.”
The blessings carried over to Wednesday’s first performance of the Lea County Rodeo. He rode Rafter H Rodeo’s Medicine Show for 89 points to set the tone for the fair and rodeo, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary. He has a pretty solid history inside Jake McClure Arena himself.
“I had a one-year hiatus, because I came here in 2024 and had (Pickett Pro Rodeo’s) Shady Nights,” said Berry, who was 88 points and finished second two seasons ago. “We’re a point better today, and hopefully that will give me the win I want here.”
He credited his success to knowing a little more about the animal. He won the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Frontier Days and PRCA Rodeo in Weatherford this past June on the powerful bay, also with an 89-point ride.
“All I’ve ever known about that horse is that everyone says she rides like a Cadillac and says she’s super fun to get on,” he said. “When I had her in Weatherford, I thought she might buck me off every jump. I was bared down through the whistle, but it paid off, and I got the win at my hometown rodeo for the fifth time in my career.
“When I saw I had her here in Lovington, I knew I had another opportunity. I thought she might let up and maybe have one of her old trips. That horse is 18, 19 years old and always been super nice. We’ve taken her in our (easier) pen at the NFR and won rounds on her there, but if she goes back, she’s going to be in the semi-eliminator pen, because there’s nothing easy about her.”
He makes his living riding bucking horses, so he knows what it takes to spur rank ones. He’s eighth in the world standings with $122,505 and is eager to close out the final two months of the regular season with hopes of returning to Las Vegas in December to ride for the biggest purse in the game.
“I’m just blessed to be rodeoing,” Berry said.
Lea County Fair and Rodeo
Lovington, N.M.
Aug. 5-8
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Leighton Berry, 89 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Medicine Show; 2. Colton Clemons, 84; 3. Connor Griffith, 78; no other qualified rides.
Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Colten Leech, 4.2 seconds; 2. J.D. Struxness, 4.5; 3. Cash Robb, 5.0; 4. Trace Harris, 5.8; 5. Darcy Kersh, 5.9; 6. Teel Sikes, 6.2; 7. Riley Duvall, 6.3; 8. Jake Holmes, 7.0. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Shayde Etherton and Riley Reiss, 4.3; 3. (tie) Sam Shofner and Jake Holmes, 4.8; 5. Dirk Tavenner, 4.9; 6. Riley Duvall, 5.3; 7. Colin Fox, 5.6; 8. Cody Harmon, 6.1. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Riley Reiss and Riley Duvall, 11.6 seconds on two runs; 3. Jake Holmes, 11.8; 4. Darcy Kersh, 13.3; 5. Cody Harmon, 14.2; 6. J.D. Struxness, 18.1; 7. Shayde Etherton, 19.2; 8. Trace Harris, 20.1.
Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Kyan Wilhite, 9.4 seconds; 2. Blane Cox, 10.3; 3. (tie) Quade Hiatt and Ace Reese, 11.9 each; 5. Titan Quigg, 12.5; 6. Gator Goodrich, 13.5; 7. Pecos Tatum, 14.2; 8. Luke Potter, 14.9. Second round leaders: 1. Pecos Tatum, 9.4 seconds; 2. Jacob Walters, 9.5; 3. Quade Hiatt, 9.8; 4. Ty Harris, 10.0; 5. Macon Murphy, 1`2.5; 6. Luke Potter, 12.9; 7. Ace Reece, 13.0; 8. Joel Harris, 17.0. Average leaders: 1. Quade Hiatt, 21.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Pecos Tatum, 23.6; 3. Ace Reece, 24.9; 4. Luke Potter, 27.8; 5. Macon Murphy, 30.9; 6. Titan Quigg, 33.0; 7. Joel Harris, 45.9; 8. Kyan Wilhite, 9.4 seconds on one run.
Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Sawyer Gilbert, 2.4 seconds; 2. Hailey Schafer, 2.7; 3. Kassidy Dennison, 3.1; 4. Emilee Charlesworth, 3.3; 5. Taylor Raupe, 4.0; 6. Martha Angelone, 11.8; no other qualified runs. Second round leaders: 1. Bailey Bates, 2.5 seconds; 2. Kerrigan Graves, 3.2; 3. Kassidy Dennison, 3.4; 4. Sawyer Gilbert, 3.6; 5. Macy Young, 12.4; 6. Amber Coleman, 12.6; no other qualified runs. Average leaders: 1. Sawyer Gilbert, 6.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Kassidy Dennison, 6.5; 3. Bailey Bates, 2.5 seconds on one run; 4. Hailey Schafer, 2.7; 5. Karrigan Graves, 3.2; 6. Emilee Charlesworth, 3.3; 7. Taylor Raupe, 4.0; 8. Martha Angelone, 11.8; 9. Macy Young, 12.4; 10. Amber Coleman, 12.6.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Tom Webster, 80.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Honor Guard; 2. Blake Steuck, 78; no other qualified rides.
Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 4.6 seconds; 2. Curry Kirchner/Tanner Braden, 4.9; 3. Brenten Hall/Wyatt Cox, 5.0; 4. (tie) Kolton Schmidt/Paden Bray and Aaron Tsinigine/Ty Romo, 5.3 each; 6. Tyson Charley/Shawn Murphy, 5.8; 7. Jayse Tettenhort/Belden Cox, 10.7; 8. Wyatt Bray/Chris Young, 11.7. Second round leaders: 1. Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 4.8 seconds; 2. Wyatt Bray/Chris Young, 5.2; 3. Wawa Ben Jr./Brandon Ben, 5.8; 4. Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili, 9.7; 5. Brenten Hall/Wyatt Cox, 10.6; no other qualified runs. Average leaders: 1. Brenten Hall/Wyatt Cox, 15.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Wyatt Bray/Chris Young, 16.9; 3. Wawa Ben Jr./Brandon Ben, 22.1; 4. Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili, 28.9; 5. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 4.6 seconds on one run; 6. Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 4.8; 7. Curry Kirchner/Tanner Braden, 4.9; 8. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Ty Romo and Kolton Schmidt/Paden Bray, 5.3.
Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. Erich Rogers, 14.4 seconds; 2. Keo Wever, 16.1; 3. Joseph Allen, 16.9; 4. Seth Ross, 17.3; 5. Tyrel Taton, 17.5; 6. Micah Northington, 19.9; 7. Paul Patton, 26.0; 8. Bobby Jackson, 27.4. Second round leaders: 1. Jarett Holliday, 12.0 seconds; 2. Cash Myers, 12.5; 3. John Clark, 13.9; 4. Erich Rogers, 15.6; 5. Paul Patton, 19.8; 6. Keo Wever, 21.6; no other qualified runs. Third round leaders: 1. Jarett Holliday, 12.0; 2. Cash Myers, 13.9; 3. Micah Northington, 15.7; 4. Erich Rogers, 17.4; 5. Joseph Allen, 17.8; no other qualified runs. Average leaders: 1. Erich Rogers, 47.4 seconds on three runs; 2. Jarett Holliday, 24.0 seconds on two runs; 3. Cash Myers, 26.4; 4. Joseph Allen, 34.7; 5. Micah Northington, 35.6; 6. Koe Wever, 37.7; 7. Paul Patton, 45.8; 8. John Clark, 13.9 seconds on one run.
Barrel racing leaders: 1. Makenzie Mayes, 17.57; 2. Emma Parr, 17.61; 3. Mary Zabel, 17.99; 4. Lisa Fernandez, 18.17; 5. Kayln Hazen, 18.36; 6. Jeanette Scott, 1864; 7. Tara Seaton, 22.98; 8. Ivy Hurst, 28.36; no other qualified runs.