Clayton Biglow has always enjoyed competing at the Gooding Pro Rodeo. He also posted the highest-marked ride of Wednesday’s “Beauty and the Beast” performance, an 88-point effort on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Red Feathers.
(PHOTO BY LARA ST JACQUES)
GOODING, Idaho – Just seven years ago, bareback rider Clayton Biglow was on top of the rodeo world.
He is the 2019 world champion who had the best finish at that year’s National Finals Rodeo. He finished the 10-day championship with nearly $250,000 and the world champion’s gold buckle. Since he was the 2016 Rookie of the Year, he qualified for eight straight NFRs.
The last few years haven’t quite been as special. Injuries have played a role in that, but there’s more to it. He may have found his way over that hump in 2026, and it showed with an 88.5-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Red Feathers during Wednesday’s performance to take the Gooding Pro Rodeo lead.
“The last four years has been a grind, and I finally feel like I’ve got my chickens gathered up and getting some consistency again,” said Biglow, 30, of Clements, California. “I’m feeling strong and healthy, and I think that’s the main thing. I’m feeling healthy again mentally and physically. When you’re struggling on either end of those things, its pretty hard out here riding bareback horses.
“When you’ve got them both put together, it makes it a little bit easier.”
It’s been a decade since Biglow earned his first NFR qualification and won the rookie title. Much has changed over that time for the northern California cowboy. He’s now a husband and a father, and that plays into how things go when it’s time to perform.
His experience paid off on Red Feathers.
“That horse is a little touchy in the bucking chute,” he said. “They want to get her in and out of there. It’s a great horse. I actually got on it here four or five years ago. It’s been a great horse ever since, and I knew if I went out there and did what I needed to do, I knew that horse was going to perform.”
So did Biglow. With just six weeks left in ProRodeo’s regular season, he needs everything to continue coming together. He has earned $98,270 this season but sits 19th on the money list. He needs to be among the top 15 in the world standings when Sept. 30 rolls around to advance to nis ninth NFR, the first since 2023.
“We get on a lot of bareback horses in a year, so you get your bumps and bruises,” Biglow said. “It’s August, so it’s just part of the game. I would like to be drawing better, but that all started (Wednesday).”
Contestants are matched with their animals via a random draw. In bareback riding, half the score is based on how well the horse bucks, so that’s an important ingredient in a winning mixture. Victories will help push the California bronc buster back to Las Vegas in December.
“I want that more than anything in the world, but everything’s out of my control,” he said. “All I can do is focus on what I get done in the arena. Being on the (NFR) bubble for the first time is a little stressful, but I’ve just really got to trust God’s timing and focus on the job at hand.
“The rest will take care of itself.”
Gooding Pro Rodeo
Aug. 19-22
Bareback riding: 1. Clayton Biglow, 88.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Red Feathers; 2. Jayco Roper, 84.5; 3. Jacob Lees, 84; 4. R.C. Landingham, 81.5; 5. Tristan Hansen, 81; 6. Mason Yancy, 80; 7. Owen Brouillette, 77; 8. (tie) Jasek Frost and Chett Dietz, 73.
Steer wrestling: 1. J.D. Struxness, 3.3 seconds; 2. (tie) Riley Duvall, Mike McGinn and Ringo Robinson, 3.5; 5. Trisyn Kalawaia, 3.6; 6. (tie) Bridger Anderson, Dalton Massey and Justin Shaffer, 3.7; 9. Will Lummus, 3.9; 10. (tie) Nick Guy, Ty Allred and Chance Howard, 4.0; 13. Curtis Cassidy and Tyke Kipp, 4.1; 15. (tie) Tristan Martin, Ben Mitchell and Mason Couch, 4.2.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Stetson Wright, 86.5 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Molly Brown; 2. Rusty Wright, 85.5; 3. (tie) Brody Cress and Cooper Thatcher, 83; 5. (tie) Ryder Wright and Brody Wells, 82.5; 7. (tie) Statler Wright and Kaden Horrocks, 81.5.
Breakaway roping: 1. (tie) Kadin Jodie and Maklee Larsen, 2.4 seconds; 3. Maddison Rogers, 2.8; 4. Rickie Engesser, 3.0; 5. (tie) Josie King and Saydee Davis, 3.2; 7. Shaylee Warner, 3.3; 8. Brylee Smith, 13.2.
Bull riding: 1. Luke Mackey, 88 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Howdy Rowdy; 2. Roscoe Jarboe, 86.5; 3. (tie) Cimarron Rucker and Dakota Adams, 86; 5. Stetson Wright, 85; 6. (tie) Colten Fritzlan and Clayton Sellars, 83; 8. (tie) Kobie Olson and Robbie Taylor, 82.