We may only just be heading in to spring, but some big events—both PRCA-sanctioned and non-sanctioned—have already created some compelling stories this rodeo season. Rodeo Houston is always an exciting few weeks for any rodeo competitor that can make the cut, and makes for an entertaining event for rodeo fans.

We’re used to seeing big names atop the leaderboard there, but this year a newbie in the herd rose to the top.

Barrel Battle Remains Strong

It’s hard to say who’s fighting the most riveting battle in the WPRA barrel racing action this year. First, the standings race was exciting to watch with Hailey Kinsel and Amberleigh Moore neck-and-neck as they fought for the No. 1 spot. 

But you couldn’t count the reigning world champion out, either. Although Nellie Miller wasn’t near the top of the standings before Rodeo Houston, the fact that the barrel racing money counts towards the world standings at the high-paying rodeo, and that Nellie Miller made the championship round, certainly left room for some movement on the leaderboard. 

Moore would not be successful in qualifying for the final four round, so that left her spot at No. 1 in jeopardy with Kinsel in the running for the $50,000—but she would have to beat a regular who’s who of contenders. When the dust settled, past Rodeo Houston champion Fallon Taylor knocked barrels with Carley Richardson, who also made the top four. Miller and Kinsel, who finished the 2017 WNFR as the No. 1 and 2 barrel racers in the world, respectively, finished first and second again with their nearly matched times of 14.86 and 14.88.

With her $27,000 in Houston earnings, Kinsel sits in the No. 1 spot in the world, with Moore still close at No. 2, but what make this race even more exciting now is the $58,750 in Houston earnings (almost 10 times what she had previously had on the board) that launched Miller in to the No. 3 spot in the world. 

Oh, Canada: Four Canadians On The Leaderboard At Rodeo Houston

Who can blame me for being excited about my fellow Canadians, eh?

Seven Canadians made it to the championship round of Rodeo Houston this year, with four of those Canadians going on to win or place in the shootout. Bareback rider Clint Laye, who has had some trouble with injuries the last couple years, saved his best ride for last in the shootout round. 

His 89-point score aboard Jr. Bonner of Three Hills Rodeo earned the Canadian cowboy the $50,000 Houston Championship. Steer wrestler Scott Guenther, who made his WNFR debut last year, nearly won his own Rodeo Houston championship after finishing just 0.1 behind Timmy Sparing to take home the $20,000 for second place. 

The 2015 Rodeo Houston champion Zeke Thurston finished in fourth place in the saddle bronc, and three-time WNFR qualifier Orin Larsen also finished in fourth to round out the Canadian contingent on the leaderboard. 

Curtis Cassidy also qualified for the long round of the Houston championships in the steer wrestling as well as 2016 world champion team ropers Levi Simpson and Jeremy "Fear the Beard" Buhler. 

Familiar Stock Names Atop The Leaderboard: Show Stomper And Maple Leaf

Two familiar Frontier Rodeo horses have been at it again, this time in Montgomery, Alabama, for the Southeastern Livestock Exposition. Bareback horse “Show Stomper” and saddle bronc horse “Maple Leaf” helped their cowboys win both events in Montgomery. 

These two horses became familiar to us after they dominated The American for the past several years, winning the event five times between the two horses since its inception in 2014—and they continue to show their stuff at PRCA events. 

Tanner Aus and Show Stomper have tangoed before with extreme success—the two won The American in 2016—so you can bet he was excited when he drew the big bay that’s known for being a bit tough to handle in Alabama. The pair danced to the tune of 89 points, besting their score at The American by half a point and putting $4,202 towards Aus’ PRCA standings. 

Then came the saddle bronc matchup of Brody Cress and Maple Leaf. Cress is busy chasing saddle bronc front-runner Jacobs Crawley, who holds a $25,000 lead at the moment, and great draws will be what he needs to catch up.

Cress and Maple Leaf impressed the judges and earned a 90.5-point score to claim the $4258 first-place prize. 

How About That Tyler Milligan?

Youngster Tyler Milligan has been making headlines lately at non-sanctioned rodeo events like The American and Rodeo Houston. 

Back in February, Milligan won first and second as an underdog in The American semifinals before qualifying for the final four round of the finals. He was unsuccessful in the final four, but turned heads all the same. 

Then, just three weeks later, the 20-year-old went on the win Rodeo Houston, putting $56,000 in the bank and adding one of those “bucket list” rodeo titles to his resume very early in his career. Milligan went up against two reigning world champions in the final round—Marcos Costa (reigning tie-down roping world champion) and Tuf Cooper (reigning all-around world champion)—and his 7.8-second run would easily clinch the title by 1.9 seconds. 

Not a bad early birthday present for the cowboy, who turns 21 next month.

Although neither of these rodeos counts towards the world standings, the 2017 PRCA tie-down roping rookie of the year has been no slouch at sanctioned events either. Milligan currently sits in the 20th spot in the PRCA world standings and a couple small wins would be all it would take to get him within the top 15. 

If this roll continues, the Pawhuska, Oklahoma, cowboy could be making his first trip to Las Vegas this year.